Akron is Back in Action at The JAR Against NIU on Thursday

Akron is Back in Action at The JAR Against NIU on Thursday
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Game 25 Notes: Akron vs Northern Illinois (PDF)

Akron Zips (16-8, 9-5 MAC) vs Northern Illinois (7-16, 4-9 MAC)
Thursday, Feb. 17 • James A. Rhodes Arena • Akron, Ohio • 7 PM • ESPN3

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 268-189 (14th Season)
Record at Akron: 86-57 (5th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 49-37 (5th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 83-67 (at Ohio and Akron)

Northern Illinois Head Coach
Rashon Burno (DePaul '02)
Overall: 7-16 (1st season)
Record at NIU: 7-16 (1st season)
MAC Record: 4-9 (1st season)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 29-13 • Groce vs. NIU 5-2 (9-2 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 70, Northern Illinois 64 at NIU Convocation Center on Feb. 8, 2022
First Meeting: Akron 75, Northern Illinois 68 in DeKalb on Jan. 23, 1988
In Akron:18-2, Neutral: 0-0, In DeKalb: 11-11

Broadcast
TV: ESPN3 – Michael Reghi (PxP) and Jacki Windon (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
Akron continues it's third three game in five days weeks at James A. Rhodes Arena, hosting Northern Illinois on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. on ESPN3). The Zips and the Huskies played on Feb. 8 in DeKalb as Akron claimed a 70-64 victory. 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-Northern Illinois
Thursday's game marks the 43rd meeting in series history between Akron and NIU, and 12th meeting for a Groce coached squad. Akron holds an all-time 29-13 series advantage while Groce is 5-2 at Akron and 9-2 against the Huskies all-time.

The Zips have won 12 of the last 16 games, including the first meeting this season (70-64). The two teams split the series last season. The Huskies claimed the first meeting on a last second shot for a 67-65 win at the NIU Convocation Center (Jan. 12) and Akron bounced back with an 81-76 triumph at The JAR (Feb. 16). Akron won the lone meeting in 2019-20 in DeKalb, 72-49. The two teams split 2018-19 season series with a 73-56 setback in DeKalb and a 67-65 triumph in Akron. The Zips won the 2017-18 lone matchup, 82-67, at James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron on Jan. 20. In 2016-17, The Zips won 76-73, at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb on Jan. 31. Akron and the Huskies split the 2015-16 season's series, winning at Rhodes Arena on Jan. 26, 76-66, but falling at NIU Convocation Center on Feb. 13, 80-79.

Akron is 18-2 all-time against the Huskies at Rhodes Arena. And the series in in DeKalb is tied, 11-11. The Huskies have won the last 7-of-12 meetings at the NIU Convocation Center.

Scouting the Huskies
Under first year head coach Rashon Burno, the Huskies own a 7-16 overall record, and 4-9 in league play, standing 2-5 at home, 5-9 on the road and 0-2 in neutral site games this season. NIU averages 63.9 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting from the floor and 33.3 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 6.3` triples a game. In addition, the Huskies shoot 67.1 percent from the free throw line on 12.5 attempts per game.

Northern Illinois has two players averaging double-digits in points as Keshawn Williams leads the way with 16.4 points per game on 45.3 percent shooting from the floor and 35.6 from long distance with a second-best 26 trifectas and 24 steals.

Trendon Hankerson follows with 11.4 points per outing and leads the squad from beyond the 3-point arc with 53 triples. He shoots 37.3 from the field and 38.1 from deep. Hankerson owns a team-best 45 steals and dished out a second-best 49 assists. NIU's assist leader is Kaleb Thornton with 89 helpers and averages 8.4 points per game. Anthony Crump 5.1 rebounds per game with a117 total boards.

Defensively, NIU limits its opponents to scoring 72.3 points per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the floor and 32.3 percent from 3-point range, allowing 6.5 long distance strikes per night. The Huskies caused 317 turnovers (13.8 to/g) with 149 steals (6.5 stl/g). Northern Illinois is outrebounded by the opponent by a -3.8 margin as the opponent grabbed 831 total boards (36.1 rebs/g) compared to the Huskies 743 total rebounds (32.3 rebs/g) secured.

Freeman and the NCAA Player Rankings
Sophomore Enrique Freeman registered 14 double-double performances this season and is one of 13 players in the NCAA to average a double-double in points (13.3) and rebounds (11.3). He ranks among the Top 15 Players in the NCAA in six categories, including No. 5 in field goal percentage (65.1), No. 6 in rebounds per game (11.3), No. 7 in double-doubles (14) and No. 7 in total rebounds (272). In addition, Freeman ranks No. 8 in defensive rebounds per game (7.92) and No. 13 offensive rebounds per game (3.42). Freeman leads the MAC in 5-of-6 categories, ranking second overall in offensive rebounds per game.

Bryan Trimble, Jr. is ranked No. 60 (NCAA) and No. 2 (MAC) in 3-point field goals per game (2.73), No. 94 (NCAA) and No. 3 (MAC) in 3-point FG percentage (.343) and No. 101 (NCAA) and No. 3 (MAC) in 3-point FG made (60).

The X Factor
Junior guard Xavier Castaneda has scored in double figures 11 straight games and 17 games overall. He notched a career-high 29 points against Ball State and followed with a 21-point performance against Kent State. He posted a 16-point effort at (CMU) before recording 14 points three-straight games. Castaneda has five 14-point games total as well as a pair of 17-point and 13-point showings with three 11-point performances. He scored 15 points Miami and 12 points last time out against Northern Illinois.

UP NEXT
The Zips will conclude the three-game week on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. as Akron travels to Ypsilanti, Mich. for the second meeting against Eastern Michigan. 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.

Akron is Back in Action at The JAR Against NIU on Thursday

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Players Mentioned

Xavier Castaneda

Enrique Freeman

Bryan Trimble, Jr.

The University of Akron Athletics