Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge Game 1 at Kent State on CBS Sports Network

Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge Game 1 at Kent State on CBS Sports Network
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Game 14 Notes: Akron at Kent State

Akron Zips (9-4, 2-1 MAC) at Kent State (7-8, 2-3 MAC)
Friday, Jan. 14 • M.A.C. Center • Kent, OH • 8 PM • CBS Sports Network

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 261-185 (14th Season)
Record at Akron: 79-53 (5th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 42-33 (5th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 76-63 (at Ohio and Akron)

Kent State Head Coach
Rob Senderoff (Albany '95)
Overall: 203-137 (11th season)
Record at KSU: 203-137 (11th season)
MAC Record: 101-80 (11th season)

All-Time Series
Series Tied: 78-78 • Groce vs. Kent State: 5-3 (9-8 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 72, Kent 61 at JM.A.C. Center on Feb. 5, 2021
First Meeting: Akron 37, Kent 16 in Kent 1915-16 season
In Akron:44-24, Neutral: 8-2, In Kent: 26-52

Broadcast
TV/Video: CBS Sports Network – Alex Del Barrio (PxP) and Steve Wolf (Analyst)
Radio: Akron Sports Network -Dave Skoczen (PxP), Joe Dunn (Analyst)-WHLO 640 AM (iHeart Radio)
Live Stats: GoZips.com/Schedule - Live Stats

What's Ahead
The first installment of the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Wagan Wheel Challenge rivalry game between Akron and Kent State is here, starting at the M.A.C. Center in 2022 as the Zips travel to Kent State on Friday, Jan. 14 for an 8 p.m. tip-off on CBS Sports Network. The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron 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. Fans can also follow the action on GoZips.com via Live Stats.

The Akron-Kent State Series
Friday's game marks the 157th meeting in series history between Akron and Kent State. The first meeting was during the 1915-16 season at Kent State where Akron pulled out the win, 37-16. The Zips have won 16 of the last 27 meetings, including three consecutive games to even the all-time series record at 78-78, dating back to March 6, 2020.

In 2020-21, Akron swept the season series, claiming the New Year's Day game at The JAR (66-62) and followed with a win at the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio on Feb. 5 (72-61). The season sweep marked the first time either team swept the series since the 2011-12 season when Akron posted three wins.

In 2019-20, the two teams split the series as Akron posted a 79-76 victory at James A. Rhodes Arena (March 6) and KSU claimed the earlier contest 68-67 (Jan. 31) at the M.A.C Center. In 2018-19, Akron and Kent State split the series -- Zips won at home 72-53 (Feb. 8) and Kent State won 68-65 in Kent (March 8).

The team from the east entered 2018-19 season winning 2-of-3 contests, including a split in the 2017-18 season series (W 78-68 in Kent), (L 67-65 in Akron) and the 2017 MAC Championship game (W 70-65 in Cleveland).

Akron was the last team to earn a season series sweep, during the 2011-12 season. In fact, the Zips posted three consecutive wins that season, defeating the Flashes 84-75 at home (Jan. 21), 61-55 in Kent (March 2) and 78-74 in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament in Cleveland (March 9).

In addition, Akron won 2-of-3 games the following season (2012-13), winning on the road (71-67, Jan. 15) and falling at home (68-64, March 8) before winning its second consecutive semifinal matchup in the MAC Tournament (62-59, March 15). During that stretch, Akron won 5-of-6 games.

Akron is 44-24 against Kent State at home, posting wins in eight of the last 10 games at the JAR. Akron is 25-52 all-time at the M.A.C. Center and 8-2 at neutral sites against the Golden Flashes. In 2016-17, Kent State snapped Akron's 30-game home-court winning streak at the JAR. The longest winning streak in the series for Akron is 9-games from 1941-1947 and Kent State's longest winning streak in the series is 5-games, and it happened twice, 1991-1994, and 1980-1985.

Akron and Kent State have met in the MAC Tournament eight times. Akron is 5-3 in the MAC Tournament against the Golden Flashes. In addition, Akron and Kent State have played for the MAC Tournament championship three times. Kent State leads 2-1 in MAC title games. Kent State won the tournament in 2007-08 (74-55), Akron won the title in 2010-11 in overtime (66-65), and Kent State won the tournament in 2016-17 (70-65).

Scouting the Golden Flashes
Kent State looking to bounce back from two-straight MAC losses (at Ohio 80-72 and vs NIU 65-63) and owns a 7-8 overall record and 2-3 in league play. KSU is 4-4 at home, 1-3 on the road and 2-1 in neutral site games. The Flashes average 69.4 points per game on 41.9 percent shooting from the floor and 29.5 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 6.9 triples a game. In addition, the Cardinals shoot 80.0 percent from the free throw line on 15.1 attempts per game.

Kent State has two players scoring in double figures and two players at 9-plus points led by Sincere Carry with 17.3 points per game, shooting 39.9 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from deep with a team best 30 trifectas. he also leads the squad in assists (76) and steals (26). He is 67-of-78 from the free throw line for an 85.9 shooting percentage.

Malique Jacobs follows with 12.4 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with 7.1 boards per game and 100 total rebounds. He is second in assists (34) and steals (18), while Justyn Hamilton and Giovanni Santiago add 9.5 and 9.0 points per game. Hamilton is second on the glass (6.5 reb/g and 97 Rebs) and Santiago is second in behind the 3-point arc with 24 made triples.

Defensively, Kent State limits its opponents to scoring 63.9 points per game on 40.6 percent shooting from the floor and 30.9 percent from 3-point range, allowing 7.5 long distance strikes per night. The Flashes caused 218 turnovers (14.5 to/g) with 111 steals (7.4 stl/g). Kent State outrebounds the opponent by a +2.8 margin as the opponent grabbed 488 total boards (32.5 rebs/g) compared to the 529 total rebounds (35.3 rebs/g) secured.

The NCAA Player Rankings
Enrique Freeman ranks among the Top 20 Players in the NCAA in six categories, including a No. 5 ranking in field goal percentage (.660, 66-100) and a pair of No. 6 rankings in rebounds per game (11.2) and offensive rebounds per game (3.92). In addition, Freeman ranks No. 11 in double-doubles (9), No. 12 in defensive rebounds per game (7.23) and No. 17 in total rebounds (145). Freeman leads the MAC in all six categories. Xavier Castaneda is ranked No. 17 (NCAA) and No. 2 (MAC) in free throw percentage (.90.6, 48-53), Bryan Trimble, Jr. is ranked No. 51 (NCAA) and No. 2 (MAC) in 3-point field goals per game (2.82) and Aziz Bandaogo is ranked No. 77 (NCAA) and No. 1 (MAC) in blocked shots per game (1.62).

On the Road
Akron is 1-1 on the road this season, dropping the season opening game to Ohio State (67-66) as time expired and defeating Wright State by a decisive 18 points (66-48).

UP NEXT
Akron continues MACtion with three games next week, two at the JAR and one on the road, as Western Michigan visits Akron on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. on ESPN3. Fans can also follow the action on Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (analyst) or live stats on GoZips.com

Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge Game 1 at Kent State on CBS Sports Network

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Players Mentioned

Aziz Bandaogo

Xavier Castaneda

Enrique Freeman

Bryan Trimble, Jr.

The University of Akron Athletics