Akron, Miami Take Two on Sunday in Oxford

Akron, Miami Take Two on Sunday in Oxford
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Game 21 Notes: Akron at Miami (PDF)

Akron Zips (14-6, 7-3 MAC) VS Miami (9-12, 3-7 MAC)
Sunday, Feb. 6 • Millett Hall •
Oxford, Ohio • 4 PM • ESPN3

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 266-186 (14th Season)
Record at Akron: 84-54 (5th Season)
MAC Record at Akron: 47-34 (5th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 81-64 (at Ohio and Akron)

Miami Head Coach
Jack Owens (Eastern Illinois '99)
Overall: 65-77 (5th season)
Record at Miami: 65-77 (5th season)
MAC Record: 32--50 (5th season)

All-Time Series
Miami Leads: 34-33 • Groce vs. Miami 5-3 (11-6 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 66, Miami 55 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Feb. 4, 2022
First Meeting: Miami 45, Akron 14 in Oxford on Feb. 20, 1915
In Akron:21-9, Neutral: 2-1, In Oxford: 11-24

Broadcast
TV: ESPN3 – Steve Baker (PxP) and Randy Hollowell (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 and Miami are set to battle for a second time less than 48 hours, as the Zips travel to Oxford, Ohio for a rare Sunday #MACtion showdown on Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. at Millett Hall 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-Miami Series
Sunday's game marks the 68th meeting in series history between Akron and Miami, and 19th meeting for a Groce coached squad (12-6), 10th at Akron (6-3). Miami leads the series 34-33, and the Zips have won the last six meetings, including a 66-55 win at the JAR (Feb. 4). The Zips won the lone meeting last season (83-76) in Oxford and the game in Akron was canceled. Akron swept the 2020-21 season, 75-65 and 81-60, and posted two victories in Akron in 2019, 70-58 regular season and 80-51 in the first round of the MAC Tournament. Akron dropped the first meeting in Oxford in 2019 (68-61). With the wins, Akron snapped Miami's four-game winning streak.

In 2016-17, the two teams split the season series with both squads winning on the road. Akron posted a 74-70 win in Oxford and, the RedHawks bounced back with a 79-75 victory at Rhodes Arena. The Zips' win marked the first win in Oxford since February 9, 2013.

Akron and Miami have met five times in the MAC Tournament with the series at 3-2 in Akron's favor. The Zips are 2-1 in Cleveland and 1-0 at home against the RedHawks. Akron dropped a first-round game in Oxford (69-56, 2001). Akron is 20-9 against the RedHawks in Akron, 11-24 on the road in the series, and 2-1 in neutral site competition.

Scouting the RedHawks
The Miami RedHawks have dropped the last four games, standing a 9-12 and 3-7 overall. The RedHawks are 6-5 at home, 3-6 on the road and 0-0 in neutral site games this season.

The RedHawks average 75.5 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the floor and 34.0 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 9.1 triples a game. In addition, Miami shoots 77.9 percent from the free throw line with 11.2 FT made per game.

Miami has four players scoring in double figures led by Dae Dae Grant with 16.9 points per game, shooting 42.8 percent from the field with a team-best 44 made 3-pointers. He also leads the squad in assists (86) and adds 4.7 rebounds per game and 19 steals.

Mekhi Lairy and Dalonte Brown follow 13.2 and 12.5 points per game. Lairy buried a third-best 34 triples and dishes out a second-best 70 assists. Brown also made 34 trifectas and leads the squad on the glass with 6.6 rebounds per game and 118 total boards.

Defensively, Miami allows its opponents to score 72.0 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting from the floor and 35.5 percent from 3-point range, allowing 8.9 long distance strikes per night. The RedHawks caused 255 turnovers (12.1 to/g) with 114 steals (5.4 stl/g). Miami is slightly outrebounded by the opponent by a -1.0 margin as the opponent grabbed 771 total boards (36.7 rebs/g) compared to the 751 total rebounds (35.8 rebs/g) secured.

On the Road
Akron is 3-2 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 and a 60-56 win over Central Michigan.

From Deep
Junior Bryan, Trimble, Jr. buried 10 long distance buckets against Bowling Green, shooting a sizzling 71.4 percent. He went 6-of-10 in the first half and drained all four attempts in the second stanza. Trimble was the first Zips to make 10 trifectas since Derrick Tarver in 2003 vs. Wright State. The all-time record at Akron is 11 triples in a game held by Mark Alberts in 1992 against Wright State.

The X Factor
Junior guard Xavier Castaneda has scored in double figures 11 straight games and 15 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 the last time out (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.

Freeman and The NCAA Player Rankings
Sophomore Enrique Freeman registered 11 double-double performances this season and is one of 13 players in the NCAA to average a double-double in points (12.5) and rebounds (10.8). He ranks among the Top 15 Players in the NCAA in six categories, including No. 4 in field goal percentage (65.6), No. 7 in rebounds per game (10.9) and No. 8 offensive rebounds per game (3.6). In addition, Freeman ranks No. 11 in total rebounds (218), No. 12 in double-doubles (11) and No. 13 in defensive rebounds per game (7.3). Freeman leads the MAC in 5-of-6 categories, ranking second overall in offensive rebounds per game.

Xavier Castaneda is ranked No. 105 (NCAA) and No. 2 (MAC) in free throw percentage (.823) and Bryan Trimble, Jr. is ranked No. 50 (NCAA) and No. 2 (MAC) in 3-point field goals per game (2.78).

UP NEXT
The Zips will have a quick turnaround, traveling to DeKalb, Ill. to play Northern Illinois on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. (ET) or 7 p.m. (CT) 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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Xavier Castaneda

Enrique Freeman

Bryan Trimble, Jr.

The University of Akron Athletics