The University of Akron Athletics
Saturday, January 28
Akron, Ohio
2 PM
University of Akron
vs
Ohio
Men’s Hoops Leads-Off Akron Basketball DH against Ohio
January 27 | Men's Basketball
Akron (14-6, 6-1) vs Ohio (11-9, 3-4)
Saturday, Jan 28 • Jame A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 2 PM • ESPN+
What's Ahead
Akron has won 12 straight games at home, including an unblemished 10-0 record at James A. Rhodes Arena this season as the Zipsare riding ive-game winning streak as they host the Ohio Bobcats on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps onthe 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/3Dl3c2B
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3gDBthm
Live Radio: WHLO 640AM - https://ihr.fm/3fFmzLo
Head Coaches
Ohio Head Coach
Jeff Boals (Ohio '95)
Overall: 125-83 (7th season)
Record at Ohio: 70-42 (4th season)
MAC Record: 34-25 (4th season)
Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 290-197 (15th Season)
Record at Akron: 108-65 (6th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 44-69 (at Ohio and Akron)
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 46-42 • Groce vs.Ohio 5-3 (5-3 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 91, Ohio 83 at James A. Rhodes Arena, Feb. 25, 2022
First Meeting: Akron 21, Ohio 18 in Akron 1911-12 season
In Akron:27-15, Neutral: 3-1, In Athens: 16-26
The Akron-Ohio Series
Saturday's game marks the 89th meeting in series history between Akron and Ohio, and 11th meeting for a Groce coached UA squad. Groce owns a 6-4 record against his former team. The Zips are 3-2 against the Bobcats in the MAC Tournament.
Akron holds an all-time 46-42 series advantage. The Zips have won 15 of the last 23 meetings, and Akron is 27-14 against the Bobcats in Akron, winning 16 of the last 20 meetings at Rhodes Arena, despite falling 69-63 the last time the two teams met at The JAR. Last season, Akron returned the favor and defeated the Bobcats in Athens at the Convo 91-83 for the series split. In 2021-22, Akron posted a 90-70 win (Dec. 22, 2020) and fell 90-73 in Athens.
The Zips are 16-26 against OU in Athens, winning six of the last 10 meetings at the Convocation Center, including a the 91-83 win in 2022 and an 88-86 win in 2019-20. The Zips dropped two meetings in 2017-18 by scores of 99-75 (2/6/18) Rhodes Arena and 85-70 (2/4/17) at the Convocation Center.
Scouting The Bobcats
Ohio enters Saturday's game with a 3-4 MAC record and 11-9 overall mark while winning two straight games over Central Michigan (96-68) and Western Michigan (88-76). The Bobcats average 77.9 points per outing on 45.8 percent shooting from the floor and a 36.6 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 8.6 triples a game. The Bobcats are 9-1 at home, 2-7 on the road and 0-1 at neutral sites.
Ohio has four players scoring in double figures in points per game as Dwight Wilson leads the way with 15.5 points per game on 62.1 shooting from the floor. He alson the squad on the glass, grabbing 9.9 rbounds per game for 189 total boards. Miles Brown follows in scoring with 10.6 points per game while leading the Bobcats from beyond the arc with 39 trifectas at a 47.6 percent rate. AJ Brown is the third leading scorer with 10.4 points per game, while Jaylin hunter paces Ohio in two stat catagories with team-highs in assists (85) and steals (31) while scoring 10.2 points per game. He is second from long distance with 34 triples.
Defensively, Ohio limits its opponents to 72.5 points per game on 43.1 percent shooting from the floor and 34.9 percent from 3-point range, allowing only 8.3 long distance strikes per night. The Bobcats have caused 244 turnovers (12.2 to/g) with 130 steals (6.5 stl/g). The Bobcats outrebound the opponent by a +3.4 margin, allowing the opponent to grab 709 total boards (35.5 rebs/g) compared to the 778 total rebounds secured by the Bobcats (38.9 rebs/g).
Home Sweet Home
The Zips own a 451-135 (.767) all-time record at Rhodes Arena. In the last 16 seasons, Akron has posted a 247-38 (.864) record at the JAR. Under coach Groce Akron is 72-13 (.825) at home. The Zips are 10-0 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 45-17 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 31-13 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 83-23 (.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 214-99 overall (.681), including a 128-30 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 214 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 129 of their last 185 MAC games (.694).
Saturday, Jan 28 • Jame A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 2 PM • ESPN+
What's Ahead
Akron has won 12 straight games at home, including an unblemished 10-0 record at James A. Rhodes Arena this season as the Zipsare riding ive-game winning streak as they host the Ohio Bobcats on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi and Jeff Phelps onthe 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/3Dl3c2B
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/3gDBthm
Live Radio: WHLO 640AM - https://ihr.fm/3fFmzLo
Head Coaches
Ohio Head Coach
Jeff Boals (Ohio '95)
Overall: 125-83 (7th season)
Record at Ohio: 70-42 (4th season)
MAC Record: 34-25 (4th season)
Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 290-197 (15th Season)
Record at Akron: 108-65 (6th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 44-69 (at Ohio and Akron)
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 46-42 • Groce vs.Ohio 5-3 (5-3 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 91, Ohio 83 at James A. Rhodes Arena, Feb. 25, 2022
First Meeting: Akron 21, Ohio 18 in Akron 1911-12 season
In Akron:27-15, Neutral: 3-1, In Athens: 16-26
The Akron-Ohio Series
Saturday's game marks the 89th meeting in series history between Akron and Ohio, and 11th meeting for a Groce coached UA squad. Groce owns a 6-4 record against his former team. The Zips are 3-2 against the Bobcats in the MAC Tournament.
Akron holds an all-time 46-42 series advantage. The Zips have won 15 of the last 23 meetings, and Akron is 27-14 against the Bobcats in Akron, winning 16 of the last 20 meetings at Rhodes Arena, despite falling 69-63 the last time the two teams met at The JAR. Last season, Akron returned the favor and defeated the Bobcats in Athens at the Convo 91-83 for the series split. In 2021-22, Akron posted a 90-70 win (Dec. 22, 2020) and fell 90-73 in Athens.
The Zips are 16-26 against OU in Athens, winning six of the last 10 meetings at the Convocation Center, including a the 91-83 win in 2022 and an 88-86 win in 2019-20. The Zips dropped two meetings in 2017-18 by scores of 99-75 (2/6/18) Rhodes Arena and 85-70 (2/4/17) at the Convocation Center.
Scouting The Bobcats
Ohio enters Saturday's game with a 3-4 MAC record and 11-9 overall mark while winning two straight games over Central Michigan (96-68) and Western Michigan (88-76). The Bobcats average 77.9 points per outing on 45.8 percent shooting from the floor and a 36.6 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 8.6 triples a game. The Bobcats are 9-1 at home, 2-7 on the road and 0-1 at neutral sites.
Ohio has four players scoring in double figures in points per game as Dwight Wilson leads the way with 15.5 points per game on 62.1 shooting from the floor. He alson the squad on the glass, grabbing 9.9 rbounds per game for 189 total boards. Miles Brown follows in scoring with 10.6 points per game while leading the Bobcats from beyond the arc with 39 trifectas at a 47.6 percent rate. AJ Brown is the third leading scorer with 10.4 points per game, while Jaylin hunter paces Ohio in two stat catagories with team-highs in assists (85) and steals (31) while scoring 10.2 points per game. He is second from long distance with 34 triples.
Defensively, Ohio limits its opponents to 72.5 points per game on 43.1 percent shooting from the floor and 34.9 percent from 3-point range, allowing only 8.3 long distance strikes per night. The Bobcats have caused 244 turnovers (12.2 to/g) with 130 steals (6.5 stl/g). The Bobcats outrebound the opponent by a +3.4 margin, allowing the opponent to grab 709 total boards (35.5 rebs/g) compared to the 778 total rebounds secured by the Bobcats (38.9 rebs/g).
Home Sweet Home
The Zips own a 451-135 (.767) all-time record at Rhodes Arena. In the last 16 seasons, Akron has posted a 247-38 (.864) record at the JAR. Under coach Groce Akron is 72-13 (.825) at home. The Zips are 10-0 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 45-17 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 31-13 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 83-23 (.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 214-99 overall (.681), including a 128-30 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 214 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 129 of their last 185 MAC games (.694).
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