GAME PREVIEW: Akron vs Central Michigan, Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6 PM | James A. Rhodes Arena

GAME PREVIEW: Akron vs Central Michigan, Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6 PM | James A. Rhodes Arena | ESPN+

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Akron Zips (6-3, 4-2 MAC) vs. Central Michigan (6-8, 2-5 MAC)
Thursday, Jan. 21 • James A. Rhodes Arena • Akron, Ohio • 6 PM ET

Central Michigan Head Coach
Keno Davis (Iowa, 1995)
Overall Record: 215-190 (13th Season)
Record at CMU: 141-135 (9th Season)
MAC Record: 61-89 (9th Season)

AKRON ZIPS Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 241-175 (13th Season)
Record at Akron: 61-44 (4th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 31-28 (4th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 65-58 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 35-15 - Groce vs. Central Michigan: 3-1 (6-3 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 80, Central Michigan 67, Feb. 14, 2020 at McGuirk Arena
First Meeting: Akron 29, Central Michigan 23, 1938-39 season in Akron
In Akron:20-5, Neutral: 1-0, In Mount Pleasant: 14-10

Broadcast
TV: ESPN+ - Michael Reghi (PxP), Jacki Windon (Analyst)
Radio: Akron Sports Network - Dave Skoczen (PxP), Joe Dunn (Analyst) WHLO 640 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio, TuneIn.com/Akron Zips
Live Stats: GoZips.com/Schedule - Live Stats

What's Ahead
The University of Akron men's basketball team continues Mid-American Conference three-game stretch this week after defeating Bowling Green 69-57 on Tuesday evening, and now hosting Central Michigan on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena.

The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron-IMG Sports Network WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen and Joe Dunn calling the action. The pregame show starts 30 minutes prior to the contest. The free audio stream is available at iHeart Radio and TuneIn.com/Akron Zips. Fans can also follow the action on GoZips.com via Live Stats.

The Akron-Central Michigan Series
Thursday's game marks the 51st meeting in series history between Akron and Central Michigan, and 10th meeting for a Groce coached squad, fifth at Akron. The Zips hold an all-time 35-15 series advantage while Groce is 6-3 overall and 3-1 at Akron.

The Zips have won 20 of the last 23 meetings. Akron claimed the lone 2019-20 meeting 80-67 at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich. and the two teams split the 2018-19 season series. Akron fell in overtime 88-86 at McGuirk Arena in the first meeting, but bounced back with a 70-67 win at Rhodes Arena. The Zips claimed sole meeting in 2017-18 at James A. Rhodes Arena, 69-63.

The Zips have won five of the last seven games against the Chippewas, dating back to the 2015-16 season. Central Michigan won 92-81 on January 12, 2016 at McGuirk Arena, and later that season (Feb. 5), the Zips won 92-87 at home. In addition, Akron posted an 89-85 win at McGuirk Arena on Jan. 10, 2017. UA is 20-5 at Rhodes Arena, 14-10 at McGuirk Arena and 1-0 in neutral site games against CMU.

Scouting the Chippewas
Central Michigan enters the contest with a 6-8 overall record and 2-5 in MAC play. The Chippewas are 1-4 in the last five games, defeating Eastern Michigan 75-64 for a second time this season and 87-60 previously. Central Michigan is 4-2 (1-2 MAC) at home and 2-5 (1-3 MAC) on the road. CMU averages 79.7 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the floor (402-of-892) and 33.8 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc (92-of-272), draining 6.6 triples a game. In addition, the Chippewas shoot 63.6 percent from the free throw line (220-of-346) with 15.7 bonus buckets a night.

CMU has three players scoring in double figures led by Travon Broadway, Jr. , averaging 17.5 points per game on 47.9 percent shooting from the floor and 37.7 percent from deep. Broadway owns a team-best 88 trips to the charity stripe and shoots 71.6 percent with 63 made free throws. He adds 5.6 rebounds per game (78 REBS), 23 assists and 25 steals.

Meikkel Murray and Caleb Huffman follows with 13.6 and 10.8 points per game respectively. Murray is the team leader on the glass with 6.1 rebounds per game or 86 total boards. He generated 13.6 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting from the floor. In addition, he collected a third-best 22 steals per game and dishes out 18 assists.

Huffman buries 50.0 percent of his shots from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the 3-point arc with 13 made triples. Huffman adds 20 assists, 13 steals and four blocked shots.

In addition, Devontae Lane is the team leader in assists (44) and steals (26) and contributes 8.7 points per night with 12 made 3-pointers on the season. Matt Beachler paces the squad from deep with 24 made 3-pointers and a 35.1 percent rate. CMU has four players with double-digit 3-point buckets made – Ralph Bissainthe (14)

Defensively, CMU limits its opponents to 77.5 points per game on 44.0 percent shooting from the floor and 32.2 percent from 3-point range, allowing only 8.0 long distance strikes per night. The Chippewas caused 208 turnovers (14.9 to/g) with 126 steals (9.0 stl/g). CMU holds the edge on the glass, outrebounding opponents by a +0.4 margin with 551 total boards (39.4 rebs/g) compared to the 546 total rebounds secured (39.0 rebs/g) by the opposition.

The LeBron James Shoe Deal and Nike Apparel
Since June 2008, the Akron men's basketball program has been partnered with Nike under which the Zips' shoes, game uniforms, warm ups and accessories are licensed under the Nike and LeBron James Trademarks. The Zips are just one of three college programs in the country that are partnered with the LBJ line of Nike equipment, the others are Ohio State and Duquesne. Akron rocks six pairs of LBJ kicks in three different styles all customized to Akron Basketball.

The Akron Zips men's basketball team has five different uniforms. Akron will continue to sport the grey set of uniforms modeled after the Team USA uniforms, which were new for 2017-18. The Grey uniforms feature the script Akron on the chest in blue outlined in the university gold. The numbers are depicted the same way which matches the blue piping that outlines the uniform. The shorts feature the Z-logo on both sides of the leg and are piped with the blue.

In 2018-19, the Zips will showcased new home and away, whites and blues, with combinations that brought back the Akron gold. Both sets feature the script Akron across the chest in gold with the white set accented by blue outlines and piping, while the blues are outlined in white. The pants feature the Z-Logo on one leg and script Akron on the opposite side. Also, the Roo-Head debuts on the waistband.

Speaking of Gold, Akron's "Gold Standard" uniforms are back. Yes, Akron will be rockin gold uniforms once again. The Team USA inspired uniforms feature the script Akron in blue across the chest with the Roo-Head on the sides of the shorts. The waistband features the Z-Logo. The final uniform is a Fear The Roo uniform that is anthracite (dark grey) as the base color. The front of the jersey features the blue and gold Roo Head Logo with a blue number outlined in gold. The shorts features Zips in gold script on the waistband with a Roo Head on the left leg and script Akron logo on the right leg in gold.

UP NEXT
Akron will wrap-up the three-game week by traveling to Kalamazoo, Mich. for a 5 p.m. bout with Western Michigan at Read Fieldhouse/University Arena. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+, WHLO 640 AM or GoZips.com.

The University of Akron Athletics

GAME PREVIEW: Akron vs Central Michigan, Thursday, Jan. 21 at 6 PM | James A. Rhodes Arena | ESPN+

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