GAME PREVIEW: Akron Travels to Ball State on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 PM | Worthen Arena | CBS Sports Network

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Akron Travels to Ball State for Friday Night #MACtion on CBS Sports Network

Akron Zips (13-4, 11-3 MAC) at Ball State (7-10, 5-7 MAC)
Friday, Feb. 19 • Worthen Arena • Muncie, Ind. • 7 p.m. • CBSSN

AKRON HEAD COACH
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 248-176 (13th Season)
Record at Akron: 68-46 (4th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 39-29 (4th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 73-59 (at Ohio and Akron)

BALL STATE HEAD COACH
James Whitford (Wisconsin '94)
Overall:124-128 (8th season)
Record at BSU: 124-128 (8th season)
MAC Record: 57-81 (8th season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 25-18 - Groce vs. Ball State: 2-3 (5-6 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 74, Ball State 42 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 30, 2021
First Meeting: Ball State 39, Akron 38 in Akron 1937-38 season
The Zips in Akron 15-6, at Neutral Site 2-0, in Muncie 8-12

BROADCASTS
TV/Video: CBSSN: Alex del Barrio (PxP) and Tim Doyle (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 Akron Zips are riding a three-game winning streak and have won nine of its last 10 games, including a 4-1 showing on the road as Akron travels to Muncie, Ind. to battle Ball State on Friday, Feb. 19 at Worthen Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised to a national audience by CBS Sports Network, the Zips fourth national broadcast appearance.

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-BALL STATE SERIES
Friday's game marks the 44th meeting in series history between Akron and Ball State, and 12th meeting for a Groce coached squad, sixth at Akron. Akron holds a 25-18 all-time series advantage while Groce is 5-6 against the Cardinals and 2-3 at Akron. Akron is 15-6 all-time against BSU at home, 8-11 at BSU and 2-0 in neutral site games. Akron is 1-1 all-time versus Ball State in the MAC Tournament.

The Zips won the first game in the series 74-42 on Jan. 30, 2021 at James A. Rhodes Arena. Last season Akron snapped the Cardinals three-game winning streak with a convincing 75-60 win on Jan. 10 at The JAR. Ball State ended Akron's 15-game winning streak in 2017-18 which included a double overtime thriller in Muncie, Ind. (111-106). UA's Jimond Ivey broke Worthen Arena's all-time scoring mark of 41 points previously held by Bonzi Wells (Ball State, 1996) and Earl Boykins (Eastern Michigan, 1998). Ivey's nine 3-pointers set an arena record and he tied the arena record for made field goals (15) set in 1992 by Xavier's Brian Grant. In addition, the 217 combined points are the most in Worthen Arena history, while Akron's 106 points are the most ever by a visiting team and by the losing team in that arena.

The Cardinals won the second meeting of 2017-18 by a 90-77 score at Rhodes Arena and claimed 2018-19 lone meeting 57-56 on a tip-in at the buzzer. In 2016-17, Akron claimed both games. Isaiah Johnson lifted Akron to a 65-63 win in dramatic fashion with a buzzer-beating jumper at James A. Rhodes Arena (Feb. 7, 2017). A few weeks later, the two teams met in the semifinal game of the MAC Tournament as the No. 1 seeded Zips defeated the No. 4 Cardinals 74-70 at Quicken Loans Arena (March 8, 2017). Ball State's previous win against Akron came in the 2003-04 season when the Cardinals defeated the Zips 76-72 in the first round of the MAC Tournament at Worthen Arena. Ball State also won the regular season matchup that season 77-71 in overtime.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
The Cardinals own an 7-10 overall record and 5-7 in league play, standing 4-3 at home and 3-7 on the road. Ball State averages 70.2 points per game on 42.7 percent shooting from the floor and 32.8 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 7.8 triples a game. In addition, the Cardinals shoot 72.0 percent from the free throw line on 12.9 attempts per game.

Ball State has two players scoring in double figures and four players with double-digit 3-pointers as K.J. Waslton leads the way with 15.7 points per game. Walton has attempted only one triple this season, scoring all his points as a perimeter player with two's and free throws. He connected with 82 field goals and 56 free throws and shoots 52.6 percent from the field and 76.7 percent from the charity stripe. He owns a team-best 81 rebounds (5.8 REB/G), a second-best 21 steals and 20 assists.

Ishmael El-Amin returned for a senior season and averages 15.0 points per game. He is shooting 38.7 percent from the floor with 87 field goals, including a team-best 35 trifectas. He shoots 31.0 percent average from deep while adding a team-high 52 assists, 46 rebounds (4th) and a team-best 28 steals. El-Amin also converts 86.8 percent of his free throws, tallying a second-best 46-of-53.

In addition, Luke Bumbalough adds a second-best 28 long-distance strikes on 34.1 percent shooting en route to 7.6 points per game. Thomas Miryne and Zach Gunn round put the double-digit 3-point marksmen with 20 and 14, respectively. Miryne adds 76 rebounds (5.4 REB/G).

Defensively, Ball State limits its opponents to scoring 73.0 points per game on 42.3 percent shooting from the floor and 29.6 percent from 3-point range, allowing 6.8 long distance strikes per night. The Cardinals caused 220 turnovers (12.9 to/g) with 99 steals (5.8 stl/g). Ball State is outrebounded the opponent by a -2.2 margin as the opponent grabbed 655 total boards (38.5 rebs/g) compared to the 617 total rebounds (36.3 rebs/g) secured.

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 has five 30-plus point performances this season, Ranking No. 2 in the NCAA
• Jackson scored double-digits 16-of-17 games and has two double-doubles
• Jackson leads the team in scoring (21.4 ppg) and assists (6.4 APG)
• Jackson has buried three or more 3-point FG in seven games with a 7-of-14 best against Kent State
• The Zips are 9-0 at James A. Rhodes Arena and currently own an 14-game winning streak at the JAR
• Enrique Freeman's 21-rebound effort stands as the most by an Akron player since 1985.
• Freeman leads the league in FG % (.758) and DReb with 7.07 per game (99 DREBS)
• Bryan Trimble, Jr. posted a career-high 6-of-6 from deep against Ohio and 25 points against CMU
• Trimble has hit four or more 3-point FG in nine games with a 7-of-14 best performance (CMU)
• Jackson, Dailey and Trimble combined for 14-of-20 from beyond the arc against Ohio 70.0 Percent

THE POLLS - ZIPS RANK IN MID-MAJOR TOP 25 POLL
Akron basketball returned to the The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll on Feb. 1, 2021 the Zips entered the poll at No. 18. after wining six-straight games all against league opponents, and now the Zips rank No. 12. Last season, the Zips finished with their best ranking at No. 12 (2/24/20) and Akron received one vote for the AP Poll on Jan. 27 and Jan. 13 of 2020.

The Zips rank No. 90 in the NCAA NET Rankings. In the Ken Pom rankings, Akron is currently 99th overall and owns the second-best defensive efficiency rating in the MAC (99.5) and stands 130th in the NCAA (100.2). The Zips rank third in the MAC in offensive efficiency according to Ken Pom (110.8) and 76th in the NCAA (108.6).

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 with a six-game winning streak, 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 Ball State, 74-42. The Rockets ended the Zips consecutive game win streak, 91-76, but the Zips bounced back with a rivalry sweep of the Kent State Golden Flashes, 72-61,a win over Miami, 83-76 - both on the road. The Zips avenged a loss to NIU with an 81-76 victory.

The Zips are 11-3 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 73-19 (.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 194-92 overall (.669), including a 120-25 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 194 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 111 of their last 159 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.

THE LAST MEETING
The Akron Zips extended its winning streak to six games and limited the Ball State Cardinals to 42 points while remaining undefeated at James A. Rhodes Arena this season with a 74-42 win on Jan. 30.

Akron has won 13-straight games at the JAR, dating back to Feb. 8, 2020, as senior guard Loren Cristian Jackson led the Zips in scoring and assists with 16 points and six helpers. Junior guard Michael Wynn followed with 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the floor, including a 2-of-2 effort from long distance.

The Akron scoresheet was balanced with 11 players scoring and six players with at least six points. Senior Camron Reece and sophomore Mikal Dawson followed the double-digit scorers with nine points each. Reece corralled a second-best seven rebounds while Dawson secured three. Sophomore Enrique Freeman led the squad on the glass with 8 rebounds as Akron controlled the glass 40-30.

The Zips defense caused problems for the Cardinals all afternoon as Akron denied Ball State a field goal from the 7:11 mark of the first half until 16.2 seconds left in the initial stanza.

The Zips capitalized during that span, outscoring BSU 17-0 for a 32-13 advantage. The Cardinals ended the scoring drought by hitting a 3-pointer with 16-seconds remaining in the first half. Jackson responded with a driving layup as time expired to lift Akron to a 34-16 lead at intermission.

The second half was much of the same as Akron led by as many as 34 points and maintained a double-digit advantage for the final 24 minutes of the game. The Zips never trailed in the contest while limiting the opponent to the lowest point totals of the season, only allowing the Cardinals to score 16 points in the opening half and 26 in the second half.

Akron forced 18 turnovers as seven different players recoded a takeaway with Reece and Dawson leading the way with two steals each. Akron held Ball State to shooting just 34 percent from the field (17-of-50) and 18.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc (4-of-22).

Ishmael El-Amin led Ball State's scoring efforts with 13 points as Akron triumphed at home for the eighth time this season. Akron owns the longest winning streak in the Mid-American Conference at six games and has won the last five games by double digits.

WALK-ON TO A STARTING ROLE - ENRIQUE FREEMAN
Starting forward sophomore Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) is a walk-on player that joined the Zips for the 2019-20 season. He is on a full academic scholarship and spent the 2018-19 year completely focused on his academics. During his second year on campus he walked into the gym for walk-on tryouts. Groce and staff added him to the team, and Freeman quickly adjusted to the role of student-athlete. He appeared in seven games last season, scoring five total points with a 1-of-1 showing from the floor and 3-of-4 effort from the free throw line. He grabbed four rebounds and had one block. In the offseason, Freeman put on 20 pounds with workouts and eating habits.

This season he has appeared in all 17 games with 14 starting appearances. Against Malone, he had a career showing with 22 points and 21 rebounds. That effort stands as the most rebounds by an Akron player since 1985.

Currently, he is third in scoring for the Zips with 7.8 points per game (132 pts) and leads the squad on the glass with 9.4 rebounds per game (160 rebs). He has three double-doubles and is leading the MAC in field goal percentage (.737, 56-of-76), defensive rebounds (6.9 - 118), rebounding (9.4 - 160) and blocked shots (1.6 - 27) and 7th in offensive rebounds (2.5 - 42). In addition, he ranks No. 26 in the NCAA in defensive rebounds, No. 31 in rebounds per game, No. 59 in total rebounds and 76th in blocked shots.

LCJ - ACTION JACKSON
Jackson leads the MAC in scoring with 21.4 points per game and is second in the MAC assists with 6.4 per game. Jackson has scored 364 total points on 43.1 percent (116-of-269) shooting from the field and 33.9 percent (42-of-124) from beyond the 3-point arc with five 30-plus point performances. His five 30-point games ranks second in the NCAA behind Iowa's Luka Garza's six 30-plus point efforts. Jackson notched two double-doubles in points and assists this season and ranks third in the league in free throw percentage (88.2; 90-of-102).

Jackson currently ranks 10th all-time in scoring at Akron with 1,439 points in 81 games played. For his career Jackson has scored 1,635 points and dished out 401 assists which ranks 8th among active players in the NCAA. He is the only player (NCAA) this year to average 20+ points and 6+ assists per game.

In the national rankings, Jackson ranks 10th assists per game (6.4), 10th points per game (21.6), 23rd total assists (102), 43rd free throw percentage (87.0), 47th free throws made (79), 53rd total points (345), 72nd field goals attempted (254), 75th 3-point field goals per game (2.56), 80th minutes per game (34:45), 83rd 3-point FG % (34.7), 87th assist turnover ratio (2.12), 90th field goals made (112), 95th free throw attempts (92), 99th 3-point field goal attempts (110) and 125th 3-point field goals made (41).

HIGH MAJOR PLAYERS
The Zips have three players from high-major schools that are making an impact in 2021. Junior Bryan Trimble,Jr.(St. Johns) averages a second-best 13.1 points per game and leads the team from beyond the 3-point arc, connecting with 60 triples out of 74 field goals made. He leads the MAC and No. 7 in the NCAA with 3.4 trifectas made per game. Trimble shoots 40.8 percent from long distance, ranking 4th in the MAC and 48th in the NCAA. He is 60-of-147 from deep, ranking 34th (3FGM) and 39th (3FGA).

Senior Maishe Daily (Iowa) adds 6.6 points per game with 20 made 3-pointers and ranks 33rd in the MAC in 3-point field goal percentage (.317). Dailey is fourth in rebounds (58), grabbing 3.4 per game while dishing out 1.5 helpers for 26 total assists.

Michael Wynn (Wake Forest) has been making an impact offensively and defensively the last two weeks. He scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds against EMU. He knocked down a crucial 3-pointer that sparked the Zips' run to put away the eagles. He followed with a season-high 10-point performance against Ball State, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 2-of-2 from deep and the charity stripe.

JACKSON NAMED TO LUTE OLSON AND LOU HENSON PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Senior Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) was named to a pair of mid-season watch lists, appearing on the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award and Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award lists, CollegeInsider.com. On Jan. 4, Jackson garnered the Lute Olson National Player of the Week accolades, placing him in the conversation for the Lute Olson National Player of the Year Award. Jackson is one of 35 players mentioned for early consideration for national player of the year honors. In addition, Jackson made his second appearance on the Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award watch list in 2020-21, which is presented annually to the top mid-major player in division I college basketball. Jackson appeared on the preseason Lou Henson list after being named a finalist in the 2019-20 voting and earning Lou Henson All-America Team honors. Jackson is one of three players in the Mid-American Conference to receive recognition this season, and one of 40 players in division I basketball. Joining Jackson on the list in the MAC were Toledo's Marreon Jackson and Bowling Green's Justin Turner.

HOME SWEET HOME
Akron is riding an 14-game homecourt winning streak, including a 9-0 start to the season. The Zips own a 429-130 (.766) all-time record at Rhodes Arena. In the last 16 seasons, Akron has posted a 223-34 (.866) record at the JAR. Under coach Groce Akron is 50-9 (.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
The Mid-American Conference announced an adjustment to the league schedule and the Zips game at Ohio has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 23 with the time and game details to be announced. Fans can follow the action on 640 WHLO AM or GoZips.com.

GAME PREVIEW: Akron Travels to Ball State on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 PM | Worthen Arena | CBS Sports Network

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Players Mentioned

Mikal Dawson

Enrique Freeman

Loren Cristian Jackson

Camron Reece

Bryan Trimble, Jr.

Michael Wynn

The University of Akron Athletics