No. 3 Akron Zips Open MAC Tournament Against No. 6 Bowling Green

GAME PREVIEW: Akron vs Bowling Green, Thursday, March 11 at 7 PM | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse | ESPN+

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No. 3 Akron Zips Open MAC Tournament Against No. 6 Bowling Green

No. 3 Akron Zips (14-7, 12-6 MAC) vs No. 6 Bowling Green (14-10, 10-8 MAC)
Thursday, March 11 • Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse • Cleveland, Ohio • 7:00 p.m. • ESPN+

AKRON HEAD COACH
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 249-179 (13th Season)
Record at Akron: 69-48 (4th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 40-32 (4th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 74-62 (at Ohio and Akron)

BOWLING GREEN HEAD COACH
Michael Huger (BGSU, 1994)
Overall Record: 103-85 (6th Season)
Record at BGSU: 103-85 (6th Season)
MAC Record: 53-55 (6th Season)

ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 41-28 - Groce vs. Bowling Green: 4-3 (7-9 Overall)
Last Meeting: BGSU 83, Akron 71 at James A Rhodes Arena Feb. 26, 2021
First Meeting: Akron 52, BGSU 29 in Akron 1937-38 season
MAC Tournament: 2-2

BROADCASTS
TV/Video: ESPN+: Michael Reghi (PxP) and Dave Bacon (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 looking to snap a three-game setback skid as the Zips enter the 2021 Mid-American Conference Tournament as a No. 3 seed, playing No. 6 Bowling Green on Thursday night at approximately 7 p.m. at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

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-BOWLING GREEN SERIES
Thursday's game marks the 70th meeting in series history between Akron and Bowling Green, and 18th meeting for a Groce coached squad. Akron holds an all-time 41-28 series advantage while Groce is 8-9 against BGSU and 5-3 at Akron. The Zips have won 30 of the last 35 games, including a 69-57 win at the Stroh Center earlier this year, but Bowling Green won the rematch at the JAR, snapping the Zips 14-game winning streak and 9-0 record in 2021. The two teams split last season's series with a 78-60 setback at the Stroh Center and a 74-59 win at the JAR. Both teams protected home court and split the 2018-19 series . Akron dropped the last season's series opener at the Stroh Center (73-69) and bounced back with a lopsided 91-67 triumph. Akron swept 2017-18 season's series with an 80-78 win at Rhodes Arena (1/13/18) and an 81-79 win at the Stroh Center (2/20/18). Both games came down to the final possession.

In 2016-17, the two teams split the season series. The Zips opened Mid-American Conference play with an 89-84 win over BGSU at the JAR (1/3/17). BGSU picked up the win in the closing seconds at the Stroh Center, 66-65, snapping the Zips' 17-game winning streak against the Falcons. It was Akron's first loss to BGSU since March 1, 2009, a 50-46 loss at Rhodes Arena. Akron has won nine consecutive games at the JAR and 13-of-14 at the Stroh Center.

In addition, Akron posted three wins in the 2015-16 season, including an 80-66 win during the semifinal round of the MAC Tournament. The Zips have met the Falcons four times in the MAC Tournament with the series being tied at two games apiece. In addition, the 2017 MAC opener was the third time in series history that Akron and Bowling Green have met to open the MAC schedule. Akron holds a 3-0 advantage in conference openers, posting a 53-51 win in 1992-93, 71-45 victory during the 2009-10 season, and an 89-84 win in 2016-17 – all at Rhodes Arena.

SCOUTING THE FALCONS
The Bowling Green enters the game with a 14-10 overall record and 10-8 league mark. The Falcons are 4-7 at home and 10-3 on the road this season. BGSU averages 79.0 points per game on 42.3 percent shooting from the floor and 32.9 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 8.5 triples a game. In addition, Bowling Green shoots 73.9 percent from the free throw line with 14.3 per game.

BGSU has four players scoring in double figures led by the MAC second leading scorer Justin Turner with 19.9 points on 41.2 percent shooting from the floor with a team-best 162 made field goals. He buried 32 long-distance buckets and adds 4.3 rebounds per game. Turner leads the team in assists (107) and has a team-high 37 steals and six blocked shots.

Daeqwon Plowden follows with 13.2 points per game and connected with 116 made field goals at a 43.9 percent clip, including a 35.6 effort from downtown (31-of-87). He is the team's top rebounder, pulling down 8.1 boards per night and has 195 total rebounds. Plowden is the leader in blocked shots (21) and is fourth in steals (21).

Trey Diggs leads the squad from behind the 3-point arc with 55 made triples on 142 attempts for a 38.7 shooting percentage from deep. He shoots 41.8 percent from all areas of the court with 89 made field goals.

Kaden Metheny rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.5 points per game with 89 made field goals and more than half coming from deep (55). He adds 48 assists and 27 steals.

Defensively, BGSU limits its opponents to 75.5 points per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the floor and 34.1 percent from 3-point range, allowing 8.5 long distance strikes per night. The Falcons caused 342 turnovers (14.3 to/g) with 178 steals (7.4 stl/g). Bowling Green is slightly outrebounded by the opponent by a -0.8 margin as the opponent grabbed 939 total boards (39.1 rebs/g) compared to the 921 total rebounds (38.4 rebs/g) secured.

ZIPS IN THE MAC TOURNAMENT
Akron is 30-19 all-time in the MAC Tournament, 23-8 in its last 31 tournament games. The Zips have won at least one game in the MAC Tournament every year since the 2004-05 season and has advanced to the MAC Tournament title game in nine consecutive seasons with an unprecedented 12-of-13 semifinal appearances. The Zips' runs of the consecutive title game (7) and semifinal appearances (13) are the longest streaks in MAC history. The Zips are 24-13 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Akron is 7-6 in opening round games, 1-0 second round, 10-4 in the quarterfinals, 9-3 semifinals, and 3-6 in title games.

THE LAST MEETING
The Akron Zips battled the visiting Bowling Green Falcons from opening tip to final buzzer, but dropped a 83-71 decision in a late-season Mid-American Conference battle Friday night at The JAR. The Falcons ended the Zips 14-game winning streak at The JAR and handed the Zips their first home loss of the season.

After trailing by just one point (38-37) at the break, the Zips briefly elbowed their way into the lead as senior guard Loren Cristian Jackson shot out of the gate in the second half, draining his first two 3's of the period to turn a three-point deficit into a 43-40 lead.

However, a cold stretch from the field caused the Zips to fall behind by as many as seven points in the ensuing moments and despite a late rally, they were unable to come away with the win. Jackson led the way with 29 points and was the only Zip to reach double figures. Jackson's 29-point performance moved him to seventh in all-time scoring at Akron with 1,502 career points in 84 games, passing Romeo Travis, who scored 1,491 career points (2004-07, 122 games).

Sophomore forward Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) added eight points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals and senior forward Camron Reece (Oakland, Calif) contributed six points, three rebounds and three blocks.

Akron blocked eight shots on the night, held a 17-14 edge in bench points and committed just 10 turnovers in the game, keeping itself in the game on a night when it shot just 34.4 percent from the field and made just seven 3-pointers.

There wasn't much separation for either team in the opening half as the largest lead in the frame was six points. Akron made its mark at the Foul line, drawing 13 Bowling Green fouls and tallying 10 points at the charity stripe.

On the defensive end, the Zips rejected five shots in the first 20 minutes, with Freeman sending two attempts back. An aggressive defense also staked the home team to a 12-2 edge in points off turnovers in the half and helped Akron stay in the game despite making just three shots from beyond the arc. Jackson tallied a team-high nine points in the half, while Reece recorded six, including four in a short burst that helped the Zips take a 29-23 lead. Senior guard Justin Turner led the Falcons with 19 points along with six rebounds and freshman guard Kaden Metheny added 15.

LCJ - ACTION JACKSON
Jackson was named first team All-MAC after leading the MAC in scoring with 21.62 points per game and is second in the MAC in assists with 6.29 per game. Jackson has scored in double figures in 20-of-21 games and totaled 454 points on 41.3 percent (143-of-346) shooting from the field and 34.0 percent (53-of-156) from beyond the 3-point arc with five 30-plus point performances. Jackson notched three double-doubles in points and assists this season and ranks third in the league in free throw percentage (87.8; 115-of-131).

Jackson currently ranks 7th all-time in scoring at Akron with 1,529 points in 85 games played. For his career Jackson has scored 1,725 points. He has dished out 424 assists which ranks 8th among active players in the NCAA. He is the only player in NCAA DI this year to average 20+ points and 6+ assists per game.

In the national rankings, Jackson ranks 9th in points per game (21.6) and assists per game (6.3), 14th in total assists (132), 18th in free throws made (115), 26th in total points (454), 27th in free throw percentage (87.8), 31st in field goals attempted (346), 46th in free throw attempts (131), 69th in 3-point field goal attempts (156), 75th in field goals made (143), 80th in assist to turnover ratio (2.13), 80th in 3-point field goals per game (2.52), 87th in 3-point field goal percentage (34.0), 88th in minutes per game (34:4) and 109th in 3-point field goals made (53). Jackson earned the #LuteOlsonAward National Player of the Week award along with two MAC Player of the Week honors.

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) was tabbed honorable mention All-MAC while leading the Zips' offensive attack from deep. Trimble played in all 21 games with 18 starting appearances and averages a second-best 12.2 points per game (256 pts) while leading the team from beyond the 3-point arc. Trimble connected with 70 triples out of 85 field goals made and is second in the MAC and No. 7 in the NCAA with 3.33 trifectas made per game. Trimble shoots 40.2 percent from long distance, ranking fourth in the MAC and 35th in the NCAA. He buried 70-of-174 from deep, ranking third in the MAC and 21st in 3-point field goals made and third (MAC) and 33rd (NCAA) for 3-point field goals attempted.

Senior Maishe Daily (Iowa) adds 6.1 points per game with 21 made 3-pointers. Dailey is third in rebounds (70), grabbing 3.5 per game while dishing out 1.5 helpers for 30 total assists.

Michael Wynn (Wake Forest) has been making an impact offensively and defensively. 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.

WALK-ON TO A STARTING ROLE - ENRIQUE FREEMAN
From walk-on in 2019-20 to starter in 2020-21, and now, MAC All-Defensive team honoree, Freeman had a breakout season. He leads the MAC in blocked shots (1.86 per game), defensive rebounds (6.29 per game) and field goal percentage (76.6), while ranking second in total rebounds per game (8.95) and fifth in offensive rebounds (2.67 per game).

This season he played in all 21 games with 18 starting appearances. Against Malone, he had a career-high showing with 22 points and 21 rebounds. That effort stands as the most rebounds by an Akron player since 1985.

Currently, Freeman is third in scoring for the Zips with 8.0 points per game (168 pts) and leads the squad on the glass with 8.95 rebounds per game (188 rebs). He registered four double-doubles and ranks No. 38 in the NCAA in rebounds per game, 41st in blocked shots per game, 44th in defensive rebounds per game, 51st in total blocks (39), 70th in total rebounds (188) and 78th in offensive rebounds per game (2.67).

Enrique Freeman 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.

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.

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 and defeated Ball State, 88-79, on the road to extend a new winning streak to four games, Ohio snapped that streak on Tuesday, 90-73.

The Zips are 12-4 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 74-19 (.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 195-93 overall (.669), including a 120-25 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 195 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 112 of their last 161 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
The Akron Zips will look to advance to the semifinal game against the winner of the Buffalo and Miami game.

No. 3 Akron Zips Open MAC Tournament Against No. 6 Bowling Green

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Enrique Freeman

Loren Cristian Jackson

Camron Reece

Michael Wynn

The University of Akron Athletics