Zips Travel to Central Michigan

Zips Travel to Central Michigan
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Game 18 Notes: Akron at Central Michigan (PDF)

Akron Zips (12-5, 5-2 MAC) at Central Michigan (2-12, 1-2 MAC)
Tuesday, Jan. 25 • McGuirk Arena • Akron, OH • 7 PM • ESPN3

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 264-186 (14th Season)
Record at Akron: 82-54 (5th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 45-34 (5th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 79-64 (at Ohio and Akron)

Central Michigan Head Coach
Tony Barbee (Massachusetts '93)
Overall Record: 133-139 (9th Season)
Record at CMU: 2-12 (1st Season)
MAC Record at CMU: 1-2 (1^st Season)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 36-15 • Groce vs. Central Michigan: 4-1 (7-3 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 81, Central Michigan 67 • Jan. 21, 2021 at James A. Rhodes Arena
First Meeting: Akron 29, Central Michigan 23 • 1938-39 season in Akron
In Akron: 21-5, Neutral: 1-0, In Mount Pleasant: 14-10

Broadcast
TV: ESPN3 – Adam Jaksa (PxP) and Matt Devries (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 Zips are back on the road for MACtion after posting three wins in five days, traveling to Mount Pleasant, Mich. for a battle against Central Michigan on Tuesday, Jane. 25 at 7 p.m. 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-Central Michigan Series
Tuesday's game marks the 52nd meeting in series history between Akron and Central Michigan, and 11th meeting for a Groce coached squad, sixth at Akron. The Zips hold an all-time 36-15 series advantage while Groce is 7-3 overall and 4-1 at Akron.

The Zips have won 21 of the last 24 meetings. Akron claimed the lone meeting in 2020-21(81-67 at James A. Rhosdes Arena) and 2019-20 (80-67 at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Mich.) The two teams split the 2018-19 season series. Akron fell in overtime 88-86 at McGuirk Arena in the first meeting, but bounced back with a 70-67 win at Rhodes Arena. The Zips claimed sole meeting in 2017-18 at James A. Rhodes Arena, 69-63.

Central Michigan won 92-81 on January 12, 2016 at McGuirk Arena, and later that season (Feb. 5), the Zips won 92-87 at home. In addition, Akron posted an 89-85 win at McGuirk Arena on Jan. 10, 2017. UA is 21-5 at Rhodes Arena, 14-10 at McGuirk Arena and 1-0 in neutral site games against CMU.

Scouting the Chippewas
Under the direction of first-year head coach Tony Barbee, the Chippewas own a 2-12 overall record and stand 1-2 in MAC play. Central Michigan has not played since Jan.11 when they fell to Eastern Michigan, 99-68. The Chippewas also fell to Toldeo (82-54) after winning the MAC opener against Kent State (72-69).

The Chippewas average 64.6 points per game on 40.5 percent shooting from the floor and 37.3 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 8.4 triples a game. In addition, the Chippewas shoot 65.0 percent from the free throw line with 10.9 FT made per game.

CMU has two players scoring in double figures as Jermaine Jackson Jr. leads with 11.4 points per game and adds a second-best 30 assists and 10 steals. He is second on the squad from deep with 25 made 3-pointers at a 37.7 percent clip.

Oscar Lopez Jr. follows with 10.0 points per game, while Kevin Miller, Harrison Henderson and Ralph Bissainthe add nine-plus points per outing. Bissainthe leads the team on the glass, grabbing 7.1 rebounds per game (78 tot rebs.). In addition, Cameron Healy leads CMU from beyond the 3-point arc with 29 made triples at a 50.9 percent clip. He averages 8.6 points per game.

Defensively, Central Michigan allows its opponents to score 83.9 points per game on 48.3 percent shooting from the floor and 37.3 percent from 3-point range, allowing 8.4 long distance strikes per night. The Chippewas caused 153 turnovers (10.9 to/g) with 86 steals (6.1 stl/g). CMU is outrebounded by the opponent by a -7.7 margin as the opponent grabbed 546 total boards (39.0 rebs/g) compared to the 438 total rebounds (31.3 rebs/g) secured.

Home Sweet Home
The Zips own a 439-132 (.766) all-time record at Rhodes Arena. In the last 16 seasons, Akron has posted a 234-36 (.866) record at the JAR. Under coach Groce Akron is 54-12 (.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 in 2019-20 en route to the regular season MAC Championship. Last season the Zips posted a 9-2 mark at the JAR. 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. The Zips are 9-1 at The JAR this season.

On the Road
Akron is 2-2 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). The Zips second road setback came against Kent State (67-55) in the first installment of the 2021-22 Wagon Wheel series. Zips bounced back with 91-66 win over Bowling Green wher Bryan Trimble, Jr. buried 10 3-pointers.

Up Next
Akron travels to Toledo for a CBS Sports Network game on Friday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. 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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Bryan Trimble, Jr.

The University of Akron Athletics