The University of Akron Athletics

Zips Fall in First Wagon Wheel Game
January 14 | Men's Basketball
Zips Fall in First Wagon Wheel Game
Follow Akron Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram | Follow Coach Groce on Twitter
Box Score PDF | Box Score
Â
KENT, Ohio – The Akron Zips dropped a tough 67-55 decision to the Kent State Golden Flashes in a Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Wagon Wheel Challenge game at the M.A.C. Center on Friday. With the win, Kent State earned a half point to push its lead to 1.5-3.5 overall.
Â
The Zips trailed by just three at the half, but Kent was able to pull away in the second half in a defensive battle that saw both rivals shoot below 47 percent. The Flashes earned a Mid-American Conference win by limiting Akron to 35.2-percent shooting from the floor.
Â
Junior guard Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill.) led the Zips with 21 points and five assists, including three of his team's four 3-point makes. Sophomore forward Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) also reached double figures with 13 points and snared a team-best seven rebounds.
Â
With shots not falling from the field, Akron (9-5, 2-2 MAC) once again looked to get its offensive attack going at the foul line. Outscoring the Flashes 13-8 from the charity stripe kept the Zips close for much of the night before a 10-1 run than began with just over six minutes remaining and covered 3:56 on the clock expanded the hosts' lead to 15 (63-48).
Â
Even then, Akron continued to battle and closed to within 12 on a 3-pointer by junior guard Bryan Trimble, Jr. (Kansas City, Mo.) with 1:32 remaining. It was a contest Kent (8-8, 3-3 MAC) led for much of the night, but the Zips used a strong start to capture a 17-13 edge at the 11:32 mark of the first half.
Â
Despite a tough night shooting the ball, committing just 10 turnovers helped the Zips maximize their scoring chances. Ultimately, the first edition of the rivalry series for the season went to the Flashes, but Akron will have its chance at revenge in less than a month when Kent visits James A. Rhodes Arena for the return match on Feb. 12.
Â
Redshirt junior guard Sincere Curry led Kent with 32 and redshirt senior guard Tervell Beck chipped in with 11 for the Flashes.
Â
The next contest on the agenda for the Zips is a Jan. 18 home game against MAC rival Western Michigan. Tip-off time is slated for 6 p.m., with the contest set to air on ESPN3.
Â
Follow Akron Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram | Follow Coach Groce on Twitter
Box Score PDF | Box Score
Â
KENT, Ohio – The Akron Zips dropped a tough 67-55 decision to the Kent State Golden Flashes in a Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Wagon Wheel Challenge game at the M.A.C. Center on Friday. With the win, Kent State earned a half point to push its lead to 1.5-3.5 overall.
Â
The Zips trailed by just three at the half, but Kent was able to pull away in the second half in a defensive battle that saw both rivals shoot below 47 percent. The Flashes earned a Mid-American Conference win by limiting Akron to 35.2-percent shooting from the floor.
Â
Junior guard Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill.) led the Zips with 21 points and five assists, including three of his team's four 3-point makes. Sophomore forward Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) also reached double figures with 13 points and snared a team-best seven rebounds.
Â
With shots not falling from the field, Akron (9-5, 2-2 MAC) once again looked to get its offensive attack going at the foul line. Outscoring the Flashes 13-8 from the charity stripe kept the Zips close for much of the night before a 10-1 run than began with just over six minutes remaining and covered 3:56 on the clock expanded the hosts' lead to 15 (63-48).
Â
Even then, Akron continued to battle and closed to within 12 on a 3-pointer by junior guard Bryan Trimble, Jr. (Kansas City, Mo.) with 1:32 remaining. It was a contest Kent (8-8, 3-3 MAC) led for much of the night, but the Zips used a strong start to capture a 17-13 edge at the 11:32 mark of the first half.
Â
Despite a tough night shooting the ball, committing just 10 turnovers helped the Zips maximize their scoring chances. Ultimately, the first edition of the rivalry series for the season went to the Flashes, but Akron will have its chance at revenge in less than a month when Kent visits James A. Rhodes Arena for the return match on Feb. 12.
Â
Redshirt junior guard Sincere Curry led Kent with 32 and redshirt senior guard Tervell Beck chipped in with 11 for the Flashes.
Â
The next contest on the agenda for the Zips is a Jan. 18 home game against MAC rival Western Michigan. Tip-off time is slated for 6 p.m., with the contest set to air on ESPN3.
Â
Team Stats
UA
KentSt
FG%
.352
.463
3FG%
.167
.409
FT%
.722
.615
RB
29
40
TO
10
12
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
2024-25 Akron Zips Men's Basketball NCAA Tournament Pre-Game - Press Conference - 3/20/2025
Friday, March 21
2024-25 Zips Weekly with John Groce - Episode #12 - 3/18/25
Wednesday, March 19
2024-25 Akron Zips Men's Basketball Post-Game Press Conference vs. Miami (MAC Championship)
Sunday, March 16
2024-25 Akron Zips Men's Basketball Post-Game Press Conference vs. Toledo (MAC Semifinal) - 3/14/25
Saturday, March 15