Final Game of Tough Stretch for Akron at Eastern Michigan

Final Game of Tough Stretch for Akron at Eastern Michigan
Follow Akron Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram | Follow Coach Groce on Twitter

Game 26 Notes: Akron at Eastern Michigan (PDF)

Akron Zips (16-9, 9-6 MAC) at Eastern Michigan (9-17, 4-11 MAC)
Saturday, Feb. 19 • EMU Convocation Center • Ypsilanti, Mich. • 3 PM • ESPN3

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 268-190 (14th Season)
Record at Akron: 86-58 (5th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 49-38 (5th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 83-68 (at Ohio and Akron)

Eastern Michigan Head Coach
Stan Heath (Eastern Michigan '88)
Overall Record: 218-223 (14th Season)
Record at EMU: 9-17 (1st Season)
MAC Record at EMU: 4-11 (1st Season)
Overall MAC Record: 80-72 (at EMU and Kent)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 33-23 • Groce vs. EMU 5-3 (7-5 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 46, Eastern Michigan 44 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 22, 2022
First Meeting: Akron 62, Eastern Michigan 55 in Akron on Feb. 3, 1968
In Akron:19-9, Neutral: 3-1, In Ypsilanti: 11-13

Broadcast
TV: ESPN3 – Ryan Wooley (pxp), Justin Rose (analyst), and Lexi Ayala (sideline)
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
3 Games, 5 Days. Akron looks to snap a three-game skid at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. on ESPN3. 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-Eastern Michigan
Saturday's game marks the 57th meeting in series history between Akron and Eastern Michigan, and 13th meeting for a Groce coached squad, ninth at Akron. Akron holds a 33-23 all-time series advantage while Groce is 7-5 overall against the Eagles all-time and 5-3 at Akron.

The Zips have won 23 of the last 29 meetings, including 10-of-13 games. Zips won the first game earlier in the season 46-44 at James A. Rhodes Arena. The two teams split the 2020-21 season series with lopsided victories defending their respective home courts. Eastern Michigan won the first meeting this season 71-59 at EMU Convention Center and Akron claimed the second meeting 86-65 at The JAR.

Akron won both meetings in 2019-20 (59-58 H and 64-45 A) and the lone meeting in 2018-19 season (51-49 A), snapping EMU's two-game winning streak. In 2017-18, Eastern Michigan snapped Akron's five game winning streak in the series with a 63-49 win at the Convocation Center. In addition, the Eagles came from behind to advance to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament with a 67-58 win. EMU overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half, 47-28 Zips with 12:30 remaining in the game.

The Zips won both regular-season meetings in 2016-17, 70-63 on Jan. 20, at Rhodes Arena and 87-76 on Feb. 10, at the EMU Convocation Center. The Zips and the Eagles played a third time during the 2016-17 season. Akron met Eastern Michigan in the quarterfinal of the MAC Tournament for the second-straight season. The No. 1 ranked Zips defeated the No. 8 ranked Eagles, 79-62, at Quicken Loans Arena on March 9, 2017. Akron is 5-1 in the MAC Tournament against the Eagles.

Scouting the Eagles
Under the direction of first-year head coach Stan Heath, the Eagles own a 9-17 overall record and stand 4-11 in MAC play. After falling on the road to the Zips (46-44) and BGSU (85-71), EMU beat Miami (85-75), but dropped five-straight games before defeating Central Michigan on the road (85-75). Next, the Eagles fell to Buffalo in a road game (83-69). EMU is 7-5 at home and 2-12 on the road.

The Eagles average 70.5 points per game on 43.1 percent shooting from the floor and 31.5 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 6.3 triples a game. In addition, the Eagles shoot 71.2 percent from the free throw line with 13.0 FT made per game.

EMU has three players scoring in double figures as Noah Farrakhan leads the Eagles in scoring with 15.6 points per game. He shoots 39.7 percent from the floor and leads the squad from downtown with 34 made 3-pointers at a 40.0 percent clip. Farrakhan adds a team-best 53 assists with 83 rebounds and 28 steals.

Bryce McBride and Monty Scott follows with 11.6 and 10.7 points per game, respectively. McBride adds 40 assists and 25 steals, while

Scott stands second on the squad in assists (48) and steals (28). McBride and Scott are deep threats, recording 24 and 26 made 3-point field goals, respectively. Nate Scott is second on the squad from deep with 28 trifectas and and leads the team on the glass with 138 rebounds (5.5 reb/g).

Defensively, Eastern Michigan allows its opponents to score 76.7 points per game on 44.7 percent shooting from the floor and 35.4 percent from 3-point range, allowing 7.8 long distance strikes per night. The Eagles caused 338 turnovers (13.0 to/g) with 163 steals (6.3 stl/g). EMU is outrebounded by the opponent by a -4.7 margin as the opponent grabbed 1,020 total boards (39.2 rebs/g) compared to the 897 total rebounds (34.5 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 return to a normal two-game week, hosting Bowling Green on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. on ESPN3 and travels Athens, Ohio to battle the MAC-leading Bobcats on Friday, Feb, 25 on CBS Sports Network at 6 p.m. to 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.

Final Game of Tough Stretch for Akron at Eastern Michigan

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Xavier Castaneda

Enrique Freeman

Bryan Trimble, Jr.

The University of Akron Athletics