Akron Opens MAC Play Against NIU on Tuesday at The JAR

Akron (8-5) vs Northern Illinois (4-9)
Tuesday, Jan 3 • James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 7 PM • ESPN+

What's Ahead
Akron opens Mid-American Conference play, hosting Northern Illinois at James A. Rhodes Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 3 for a 7 p.m. tip-off time. The Zips are riding a nine-game home winning streak dating back to the 2021-22 season, including a 7-0 showing this year at the JAR. NIU was the last opponent to win at the JAR on Feb. 17, 2022. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps 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: ESPN+: https://bit.ly/3ib8KWb
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3gDBthm
Live Radio: WHLO 640AM - https://ihr.fm/3fFmzLo

Head Coaches
Northern Illinois Head Coach
Rashon Burno (DePaul '02)
Overall:13-30 (2nd season)
Record at NIU: 13-30 (2nd season)
MAC Record: 6-14 (2nd season)

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 284-196 (15th Season)
Record at Akron: 102-64 (6th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 88-68 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 29-14 • Groce vs. NIU 5-3 (9-3 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 63, Northern Illinois 66 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Feb. 17, 2022
First Meeting: Akron 75, Northern Illinois 68 in DeKalb on Jan. 23, 1988
In Akron: 18-3, Neutral: 0-0, In DeKalb: 11-11

The Akron-Northern Illinois Series
Tuesday's game marks the 44th meeting in series history between Akron and NIU, and 13th meeting for a Groce coached squad. Akron holds an all-time 29-14 series advantage while Groce is 5-3 at Akron and 9-3 against the Huskies all-time.

The Zips have won 12 of the last 17 games, including the first meeting at NIU in 2021-22 (70-64). The Huskies responded with a win at James A. Rhodes Arena (66-63) for a series split, and the two teams split the series in 2020-21. The Huskies claimed the first meeting on a last second shot for a 67-65 win at the NIU Convocation Center and Akron bounced back with an 81-76 triumph at The JAR. 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 18-3 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 second year head coach Rashon Burno, the Huskies enter MAC play with a 4-9 overall record, standing 1-2 at home, 2-6 on the road and 1-1 in neutral site games this season. NIU averages 69.2 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the floor and 32.1 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 6.8 triples a game. In addition, the Huskies shoot 68.1 percent from the free throw line on 11.3 attempts per game.

Northern Illinois has two players averaging double-digits in points as Keshawn Williams leads the way with 19.5 points per game on 49.2 percent shooting from the floor and 36.5 from long distance with a second-best 23 trifectas. He also leads the squad on the glass with 65 total rebounds and 5.0 rebounds per game. He owns a second-best 35 assists.

David Coit follows with 14.2 points per outing and leads the squad from beyond the 3-point arc with 34 triples. He shoots 42.0 from the field and 36.2 from deep. Coit owns a team-best 17 steals and dished out 30 assists. NIU's assist leader is Kaleb Thornton with 39 helpers and averages 4.3 points per game. Zarique Nutter is the third-leading scorer with 9.9 points per game.

Defensively, NIU limits its opponents to scoring 76.2 points per game on 45.4 percent shooting from the floor and 34.0 percent from 3-point range, allowing 7.5 long distance strikes per night. The Huskies caused 180 turnovers (13.8 to/g) with 83 steals (6.4 stl/g). Northern Illinois is outrebounded by the opponent by a -3.2 margin as the opponent grabbed 484 total boards (37.2 rebs/g) compared to the Huskies 443 total rebounds (34.1 rebs/g) secured.

Akron in the MAC
Akron is 40-16 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 26-12 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 81-23 (.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 209-98 overall (.681), including a 126-30 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 209 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 124 of their last 179 MAC games (.694).

Opening MAC Play
Akron is 22-8 in MAC openers since joining the league in 1992. Over the last 16 seasons, the Zips are 13-3 in MAC openers. Akron has won the last 13-of-14 MAC openers, including a 4-1 mark under head coach John Groce. The Zips fell in Groce's initial MAC opener, but have won four straight leading into the 2022-23 opener.

Home Sweet Home
The Zips own a 448-135 (.767) all-time record at Rhodes Arena. In the last 16 seasons, Akron has posted a 244-38 (.864) record at the JAR. Under coach Groce Akron is 69-13 (.825) at home. The Zips are 7-0 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.

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Opens MAC Play Against NIU on Tuesday at The JAR

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