Akron Battles Eastern Michigan on ESPNU at The JAR

Akron (10-6, 2-1) vs Eastern Michigan (4-12, 1-2)
Friday, Jan 13 • James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 7 PM • ESPNU

What's Ahead
Akron is back at James A. Rhodes Arena for a nationally televised game on ESPNU as the Zips host Eastern Michigan on Friday, Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. Fans can follow the action on ESPNU with Robert Lee (PxP) and Brooke Weisbrod (analyst) on the call or listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (analyst). Live stats are also available on GoZips.com.

Game Coverage
TV: ESPNU - https://bit.ly/3ivt2tR
Live Stats: bit.ly/3gDBthm
Live Radio: WHLO 640AM - https://ihr.fm/3fFmzLo

Head Coaches
Eastern Michigan Head Coach
Stan Heath (EMU '88)
Overall Record: 223-240 (15th Season)
Record at EMU: 14-33 (2nd Season)
MAC Record: 23-18 (at EMU and Kent St.)

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 286-197 (15th Season)
Record at Akron: 104-65 (6th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 90-69 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 34-23 • Groce vs. EMU 6-3 (8-5 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 67, Eastern Michigan 48 at Gervin GameAbove Center on Feb. 22, 2022
First Meeting: Akron 62, Eastern Michigan 55 in Akron on Feb. 3, 1968
In Akron:19-9, Neutral: 3-1, In Ypsilanti: 12-13

The Akron-Eastern Michigan Series
Friday's game marks the 58th meeting in series history between Akron and Eastern Michigan, and 14th meeting for a Groce coached squad, 10th at Akron. Akron holds a 34-23 all-time series advantage while Groce is 8-5 overall against the Eagles all-time and 6-3 at Akron.

The Zips have won 24 of the last 30 meetings, including 11-of-14 games. Zips swept the 2021-22 series, winning 46-44 at James A. Rhodes Arena and 67-48 at Gervin GameAbove Center. 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 second-year head coach Stan Heath, the Eagles own a 4-12 overall record and stand 1-2 in MAC play. The Eagles posted their first league win against Central Michigan (62-56), but fell in the opener to Bowling Green (91-65) and the last time out at Western Michigan (85-79). EMU is 3-3 at home, 1-6 on the road and 0-3 in neutral site games this season.

The Eagles average 73.1 points per game on 43.0 percent shooting from the floor and 32.4 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 6.4 triples a game. In addition, the Eagles shoot 76.1 percent from the free throw line with 14.5 FT made per game.

EMU has three players scoring in double figures led by the MAC leading scorer Emoni Bates. Bates averages a league-best 20.9 points per game and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game with 90 total boards. He shoots 43.4 percent from the field, including a 35.9 percent average from deep while knocking down a team-best 42 trifectas. He visited the charity stripe on 87 occasions and cashed in with 67 bonus buckets for a 77.0 free throw percentage. Bates adds 16 assists, 13 steals and six blocked shots.

Tyson Acuff and Noah Farrakhan follow, averaging 12.7 and 12.3 points per game, respectively. Acuff is second from beyond the arc, draining 22 triples at a 27.8 rate, while Farrakhan follows with 14 3-point makes at a 25.9 clip. Acuff leads the squad in assists (43) and steals (23) and adds 46 rebounds to the team total. Farrakhan dished out 40 assists and grabbed 56 total boards.

Defensively, Eastern Michigan allows its opponents to score 80.1 points per game on 48.8 percent shooting from the floor and 34.4 percent from 3-point range, allowing 8.1 long distance strikes per night. The Eagles caused 213 turnovers (13.3 to/g) with 116 steals (7.3 stl/g). EMU is outrebounded by the opponent by a -5.4 margin as the opponent grabbed 597 total boards (37.3 rebs/g) compared to the 510 total rebounds (31.9 rebs/g) secured.

Home Sweet Home
The Zips own a 449-135 (.767) all-time record at Rhodes Arena. In the last 16 seasons, Akron has posted a 245-38 (.864) record at the JAR. Under coach Groce Akron is 70-13 (.825) at home. The Zips are 8-0 at home in 2022-23. 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. During COVID shortened season, Akron posted a 9-1 mark at the JAR (2020-21) and last season the Zips posted a 12-3 record. 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.

Akron in the MAC
Akron is 42-17 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 28-13 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 82-23 (.795) at home in league play since the start of the 2011 MAC schedule. UA has seen a ton of success in league play since the start of the 2004-05 season, and is 211-99 overall (.681), including a 127-30 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 211 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 126 of their last 182 MAC games (.694).

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Battles Eastern Michigan on ESPNU at The JAR

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