Akron Travels to Top-Ranked Toledo on Tuesday

GAME PREVIEW: Akron vs Toledo, Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 PM | Savage Arena | ESPN+

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Akron Travels to Top-Ranked Toledo on Tuesday

Akron Zips (10-3, 8-2 MAC) vs Toledo Rockets (15-4, 10-1 MAC)
Tuesday, Feb. 2 • Savage Arena • Toledo, Ohio • 7 p.m. • ESPN+

AKRON HEAD COACH
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 245-175 (13th Season)
Record at Akron: 65-44 (4th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 36-28 (4th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 70-58 (at Ohio and Akron)

TOLEDO HEAD COACH
Tod Kowalczyk (Minnesota-Duluth '89)
Overall Record: 335-260 (19th Season)
Record at UT: 199-148 (11th Season)
MAC Record: 104-81 (11th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Toledo Leads: 36-29 - Groce vs. Toledo 1-4 (6-5 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 95, Toledo 94 (OT) at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 16, 2021
First Meeting: Akron 37, Toledo 8 in Akron 1915-16 season
In Akron:17-12, Neutral: 1-1, In Toledo: 10-24

BROADCASTS
TV/Video: ESPN+: Mason Lowry (PxP), Rhett Boyd (Analyst) and Normandie Berl (Sideline)
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 is riding a six-game winning streak to Savage Arena to battle the top-ranked Toledo Rockets on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The Zips winning streak started with a 95-94 overtime win against the Rockets on Jan. 16 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-TOLEDO SERIES
Tuesday's game marks the 66th meeting in series history between Akron and Toledo, and 12th meeting for a Groce coached squad (sixth at Akron). Toledo owns a 36-29 all-time series advantage while Groce is 6-5 all-time and 1-4 at Akron against the Rockets. The Zips have won nine of the last 17 meetings and snapped a four-game losing skid with a 95-94 overtime win on Jan. 16, 2021, at James A. Rhodes Arena.

In 2018, the two teams met at Savage Arena (Jan. 5) on CBS Sports Network as Toledo claimed a narrow 67-65 advantage. Almost a month later (Feb. 3), Toledo claimed its second win of the season, 77-56, at Rhodes Arena. Over the last two seasons, Toledo claimed the lone matchups at Savage Arena 63-52 (Feb. 5, 2019) and at James A. Rhodes Arena 99-89 (Jan. 18, 2020).

UA is 17-12 all-time at Rhodes Arena, 10-24 on the road at Savage Arena, and 1-1 in the MAC Tournament with a loss at Quicken Loans Arena.

SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
The Rockets own an 15-4 overall record, including a league-best 10-1 MAC record and standing 8-0 at home, 6-3 on the road and 1-1 in neutral site games this season. UT averages 80.6 points per game on 45.7 percent shooting from the floor and 38.8 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 10.7 triples a game. In addition, Toledo shoots 76.8 percent from the free throw line on 13.4 attempts per game.

Toledo has five players averaging double-digits in points as Marreon Jackson leads the way with 16.9 points per game and distributes the squad's most assists with 107 helpers and is the leader in the takeaway category with 39 steals. Jackson has buried a second-best 55 triples, shooting 34.4 percent from deep while adding 87 rebounds for 4.6 boards per game.

Ryan Rollins follows with 14.7 points per game and is second on the glass with 5.7 rebounds per game (107 total rebounds). He has buried 30 3-pointers at a 36.6 percent rate and collected 19 steals. Spencer Littleson is the squad's top 3-point marksman with 64 made trifectas while shooting a league-best 47.8 percent from long distance en route to averaging 13.2 points per game.

Setric Millner, Jr. and JT Shumate round out the double figure scorers with 12.8 and 11.4 points per game, respectively. Millner is the leader on the glass with 123 total boards for 6.5 per game.

Defensively, UT limits its opponents to scoring 70.6 points per game on 42.7 percent shooting from the floor and 28.6 percent from 3-point range, allowing 7.1 long distance strikes per night. The Rockets caused 243 turnovers (12.8 to/g) with 115 steals (6.1 stl/g). Toledo outrebounds the opponent by a +1.5 margin as the opponent grabbed 686 total boards (36.1 rebs/g) compared to the Rockets 714 total rebounds (37.6 rebs/g) secured.

THE LAST MEETING
Senior guard Maishe Dailey (Beachwood, Ohio) laced a game-winning 3-pointer from the right wing with 2.9 seconds remaining as the Akron Zips stunned the Mid-American Conference-leading Toledo Rockets in a 95-94 overtime win at James A. Rhodes Arena.

Dailey's big shot came on a cross-court assist from senior guard Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.), capping a monster day for both players.

The Mid-American Conference's leading scorer delivered another standout performance as Jackson notched 34 points and seven assists for the Zips (5-3, 3-2 MAC), none bigger than his diagonal pass to Dailey as time wound down. Junior guard Bryan Trimble, Jr. (Kansas, City, Mo.) dropped 19 points and Dailey added 14 in victory, while freshman guard Garvin Clarke (Euclid, Ohio) led the bench brigade with seven as part of an 18-point day for the supporting cast.

Akron won by overcoming a seven-point (92-85) deficit in the final 1:46 of the extra period, knocking Toledo off its perch as the only unbeaten team in MAC play.

It was a close game for much of the afternoon as the MAC-leading Rockets (11-4, 6-1 MAC) converted 12 3-pointers, but each time they looked to deliver a potential knockout punch, the Zips absorbed the blow and delivered one of their own. Often, those replies came in the form of an Akron triple as the Zips drained 14 of their own with Jackson and Trimble each making five.

When the visitors unleashed an 11-3 run midway through the second half to edge out to a 64-55 lead, it was Dailey who ignited the Zips' response with an offensive rebound putback. The ensuing 7-0 run whittled the Akron deficit back to two (64-62) and set the stage for the game's dramatic finish.

Sophomore forward Mikal Dawson (Huntington, W.Va.) came up clutch with a conventional three-point play, converting a layup and foul shot following a missed shot with 2:47 remaining to put Akron ahead 78-76. Moments later, a putback by sophomore forward Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) allowed the Zips to retake the lead as the two sides went back and forth.

The biggest shot of regulation came with 4.8 seconds remaining, as sophomore forward Ali Ali (Kendallville, Ind.) calmly stroked a corner 3-pointer to tie the game at 83-all. Akron forced a Toledo turnover as time expired to send the game to overtime.

Akron won the contest in large part due to an all-around rebounding effort that saw six players grab four or more caroms, pacing the Zips to a 43-34 advantage on the glass.

In a game with seven ties, 16 lead changes and too many momentum swings to count, the intensity was peaking from the opening tip and every rebound, foul and loose ball was vital.

Down 15-7 minutes into the game, the Zips unleashed a ferocious 21-0 run over a span of 5:53, suffocating the Rockets defensively while shooting 6-of-8 from the field, including two made 3-pointers, and sank all three of their free throws to claim a 28-15 lead.

Jackson notched eight points in the run and delivered a slick assist to senior forward Camron Reece (Oakland, Calif.) for a dunk during the surge, while Clarke had four points and a steal in short succession.

It was a half marked by runs, as the two teams swapped leads and momentum throughout. Both the Zips and Rockets appeared poised to seize control of the contest in the early going, but the game eventually settled into a nip-and-tuck affair with Toledo thriving from beyond the arc and Akron bolstered by its strong bench play.

Senior guard Marreon Jackson led Toledo with 24 points and senior guard Spencer Littleson chipped in with 21 in defeat.

AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron opened 2020-21 MAC play with a 90-70 win over Ohio and followed with a 66-62 win over rival Kent State, before falling to Eastern Michigan, 71-59, and Northern Illinois, 67-65. Akron bounced by winning five games in 11 days, knocking off the top-ranked Toledo Rockets in overtime, 95-94, the top-ranked Bowling Green Falcons for the first road win, 69-57, the Central Michigan Chippewas, 81-67, the Western Michigan Broncos, 79-68, the rematch against Eastern Michigan, 86-65 and most recently, Ball State, 74-42.

The Zips are 8-2 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 72-18 (.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 191-91 overall (.669), including a 119-24 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 191 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 108 of their last 155 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.

UP NEXT
On Friday, Feb. 5 the Zips travel to crosstown rival Kent State for the second Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel showdown of the season. The name will be televised nationally on ESPNU and tipoff is scheduled for 7 PM. Fans can follow the action on ESPNU, 640 WHLO AM or GoZips.com.

QUICK HITS

• Jackson named Lute Olson and Lou Henson National Player of the Year Mid-Season Watch List
• LCJ, Lute Olson National Player of the Week (1/4), MAC Player of Week last two weeks (12/28 & 1/4)
•Jackson leads the team in scoring (20.5 ppg) and assists (6.7 APG)
• The Zips are 8-0 at James A. Rhodes Arena and currently own an 13-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 against Ohio and 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: 11th DRebs/g (26.7), 18th 3Pt. FG/g (9.9), 13th 3PT FG % Def (28.2), 23rd Rebs/g (40.2), 24th FT % (76.5), 28th Reb Margin (+6.8), 34th Scoring Margin (+11.7), 34th W-L % (76.9), 44th Scoring Offense (79.1), 61st 3PT FGA (387), 70th 3PT FGM (129), 75th FG% (46.3), 85th AST-TO Ratio (1.15), 93rd AST/g (14.6) and 99th Fewest Turnovers (165)

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Players Mentioned

Ali Ali

Garvin Clarke

Maishe Dailey

Mikal Dawson

Enrique Freeman

Loren Cristian Jackson

Camron Reece

Bryan Trimble, Jr.

The University of Akron Athletics