Akron Hosts Rematch Against Eastern Michigan

GAME PREVIEW: Akron vs Eastern Michigan, Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 PM | James A. Rhodes Arena | ESPN3

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Akron Hosts Rematch Against Eastern Michigan

Akron Zips (8-3, 6-2 MAC) vs Eastern Michigan (4-7, 1-6 MAC)
Tuesday, Jan. 26 • James A. Rhodes Arena • Akron, Ohio • 7:30 p.m. • ESPN3

AKRON HEAD COACH
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 243-175 (13th Season)
Record at Akron: 63-44 (4th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 34-28 (4th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 68-58 (at Ohio and Akron)

EASTERN MICHIGAN HEAD COACH
Rob Murphy (Central State '96)
Overall Record: 163-150 (10th Season)
Record at EMU: 163-150 (10th Season)
MAC Record: 76-87 (10th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 31-23 - Groce vs. EMU 3-3 (5-5 Overall)
Last Meeting: Eastern Michigan 71, Akron 59 at EMU Convocation Center on Jan. 9, 2021
First Meeting: Akron 62, Eastern Michigan 55 in Akron on Feb. 3, 1968
In Akron:17-9, Neutral: 3-1, In Ypsilanti: 11-13

BROADCASTS
TV/Video: ESPN3: Michael Reghi (PxP) and 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 is ready for their fifth game in 11 days as the Zips host Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN3 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Akron owns a four-game winning streak, winning all four games within the last eight days. In addition, the Zips own an 11-game home winning streak at The JAR this season and are 6-0 at home this season.

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-EASTERN MICHIGAN SERIES
Tuesday's game marks the 55th meeting in series history between Akron and Eastern Michigan, and 11th meeting for a Groce coached squad, seventh at Akron. Akron holds a 31-23 all-time series advantage while Groce is 5-5 overall against the Eagles, 3-3 at Akron.

The Zips have won 21 of the last 27 meetings, including 8-of-11 games. Eastern Michigan won the first meeting this season 71-59 at EMU Convention Center. Akron won both meetings last season (59-58 H and 64-45 A) and the lone meeting in 2018-19 season (51-49 A), snapping EMU's two-game winning streak. In 2017-18, Eastern Michigan snapped Akron's five game winning streak in the series with a 63-49 win at the Convocation Center. In addition, the Eagles came from behind to advance to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament with a 67-58 win. EMU overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half, 47-28 Zips with 12:30 remaining in the game.

The Zips won both regular-season meetings in 2016-17, 70-63 on Jan. 20, at Rhodes Arena and 87-76 on Feb. 10, at the EMU Convocation Center. The Zips and the Eagles played a third time during the 2016-17 season. Akron met Eastern Michigan in the quarterfinal of the MAC Tournament for the second-straight season. The No. 1 ranked Zips defeated the No. 8 ranked Eagles, 79-62, at Quicken Loans Arena on March 9, 2017. Akron is 5-1 in the MAC Tournament against the Eagles.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Eastern Michigan enters the contest with a 4-7 overall record and 1-6 in MAC play. The Eagles have won two of the last three games, but fell 91-74 to Toledo and 87-60 to Central Michigan in league play.

EMU is 4-3 at home and 0-4 on the road. the Eagles averages 72.3 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting from the floor (279-of-674) and 41.4 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc (73-of-261), draining 6.6 triples a game. In addition, the Eagles shoot 76.7 percent from the free throw line (164-of-215) with 14.9 bonus buckets a night.

EMU has three players scoring in double figures led by Yeikson Montero, averaging 13.6 points per game and a team-high 19 made triples. He shoots 32.0 percent from behind the 3-point arc an is the team leader in steals (24) and rebounds (6.8 reb/g; 75 rebs).

Bryce McBride follows averaging 13.5 points per game on 34.2 percent shooting from the floor and 26.3 percent from deep (15-of-57). McBride owns a team-best 33 assists and a second-best 21 steals.

Ty Groce rounds out the double-digit scoring with 12.9 points per game and is second-best on the glass, grabbing 5.8 rebounds per game for 64 total boards. He also owns the team-best in blocks (13) and is third in steals (13).

Defensively, EMU limits its opponents to 74.9 points per game on 48.0 percent shooting from the floor and 36.4 percent from 3-point range, allowing 9.1 long distance strikes per night. The Eagles caused 189 turnovers (17.2 to/g) with 105 steals (9.5 stl/g). EMU holds is slightly outrebounded by opponents by a -0.8 margin with 388 total boards (35.3 rebs/g) compared to the 397 total rebounds secured (36.1 rebs/g) by the opposition.

THE LAST MEETING
The Akron men's basketball team suffered their first Mid-American Conference loss of the season, falling on the road 71-59 to Eastern Michigan. Seniors Maishe Dailey (Beechwood, Ohio) and Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) led the Zips with 10 points and two assists each. Dailey grabbed four rebounds and Jackson secured two as juniors Jermaine Marshall (Birmingham, Ala.) and Michael Wynn (Albany, N.Y.) garnered six and five rebounds, respectively.

The tightly played first half, featured six tied scores and five lead changes which included an offensive rebound and put back by sophomore Taylor Currie (Clarkston, Mich.) that knotted the score 30-30 at the 3:43 mark. The Eagles ended the half with a 7-0 run to take a 37-30 advantage at intermission. Dailey led the Zips with eight points, while Jackson and sophomore Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) tallied six points each. The EMU zone proved to be trouble for Akron as the Zips struggled from deep, connecting with only 4-of-15 from outside. Eastern Michigan scored 11 points from the charity stripe to kept the game close and eventually take the halftime lead.

EMU scored on its initial four possessions of the second frame which included a dunk, a layin and a pair of 3-pointers, forcing the Zips to call a quick timeout, 47-34. The Eagles added two additional long-range jumpers and increased the lead to as many as 22 points by the 10:53 mark. Zips held EMU scoreless for three minutes while Clarke and Jackson knocked down 3-pointers, but he Eagles still held a double-digit advantage 63-48 with 5:00 minutes remaining in the game. Eastern Michigan had five players score in double figures as Drew Lowder led the way with 18 points which included a 3-of-6 effort from downtown. Yeikson Montero tallied 14 points, while Ty Groce, Bryce McBride and Noah Morgan chipped in 10 points apiece.

The Zips won the battle of the boards 35-31, but could not overcome 17 turnovers that led to 17 points.

AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron opened 2020-21 MAC play with a 90-70 win over Ohio and posted a second win over rival Kent State, 66-62. The Zips are 2-0 under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 68-17 (.795) at home in league play since the start of the 2011 MAC schedule. UA has seen a ton of success in league play since the start of the 2004-05 season, and is 185-90 overall (.669), including a 114-24 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 185 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 103 of their last 149 MAC games (.685). Previously, the Zips posted a 59-36 mark (.617) in the last 95 games against the MAC East dating back to the start of the 2012 league schedule. Akron is 6-3 against the MAC East at the conference tournament during that stretch. Akron is 112-53 in the regular season against the West Division (.679), including winners of 55 of the last 72 regular-season games since divisional play began during the 1997-98 season.

HOME SWEET HOME
Akron is riding an 11-game homecourt winning streak, including a 6-0 start to the season. The Zips own a 426-130 (.766) all-time record at Rhodes Arena. In the last 16 seasons, Akron has posted a 220-34 (.866) record at the JAR. Under coach Groce Akron is 47-9 (.839) at home. Akron went 12-4 at Rhodes Arena in Groce's first year as head coach and followed with a 14-3 effort. The Zips went 15-2 at home last year en route to the regular season MAC Championship. Groce became the third Akron coach since 1940 to win his first six home games in the first season as head coach. The Zips rattled off seven straight wins at the JAR before falling in the MAC home opener to Buffalo. The Zips set the all-time longest home winning streak record at Rhodes Arena with 30 consecutive wins during the 2015-17 seasons, replacing the 26-game run the Zips made during the 1985-87 seasons under head coach Bob Huggins. The streak ranked No. 2 in the NCAA.

UP NEXT
On Saturday, Jan. 30 the Zips are scheduled to continue its home stand against Ball State. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 PM (ET). Fans can follow the action on ESPN3, 640 WHLO AM or GoZips.com.

QUICK HITS

• Loren Cristian Jackson named Lute Olson National Player of the Week (Jan. 4) and MAC Player of Week last two weeks (Dec. 28 & Jan.4)
•Loren Cristian Jackson leads the team in scoring (22.0 ppg) and assists (7.1 APG)
• The Zips are 6-0 at James A. Rhodes Arena and currently own an 11-game winning streak at the JAR
• Enrique Freeman's 21-rebound effort stands as the most by an Akron player since 1985.
• Bryan Trimble posted a career-high 6-of-6 from deep in MAC opener against Ohio and a career-high 25 points against CMU
• Jackson, Dailey and Trimble combined for 14-of-20 from beyond the arc against Ohio 70.0 Percent
• Akron Top 100 NCAA rankings: 13th FT % (78.9), 15th 3Pt. FG/g(10.1), 32nd DRebs/g (28.55), , 33rd 3PT FG % Def (28.9),43th Rebs/g (39.4), 55th Scoring Offense (78.9), 57th Reb Margin (+5.4), 61st W-L % (72.7), 32nd Scoring Margin (+15.0), 84th Fewest Turnovers (143), 86th 3PT FGA (3330, 90th 3PT FGM (111), 93rd FG% (45.9) and 95th Fewest Fouls (199)

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Currie

Maishe Dailey

Enrique Freeman

Loren Cristian Jackson

Jermaine Marshall

Michael Wynn

The University of Akron Athletics