Akron Travels to Ball State for MAC Showdown on CBS Sports Network

Akron (9-5, 1-0) at Ball State (10-4, 1-0)
Friday, Jan 6 • Worthen Arena
Muncie, Ind. • 8:30 PM • CBS Sports Network

What's Ahead
Akron travels to Muncie, Ind. to play Ball State on in front of a national televised audience on Friday, Jan. 6. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Fans can follow the action on CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan and Tim Doyle 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: CBSSN - https://bit.ly/3IopV15
Live Stats: https:// bit.ly/2M4fCok
Live Radio: WHLO 640AM - https://ihr.fm/3fFmzLo

Head Coaches
Ball State Head Coach
Michael Lewis (Indiana '00)
Overall:10-4 (1st season)
Record at NIU: 10-4 (1st season)
MAC Record:1-0 (1st season)

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 285-196 (15th Season)
Record at Akron: 103-64 (6th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 89-68 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 28-18 • Groce vs. Ball State: 5-3 (8-6 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 79, Ball State 60 at Worthen Arena on March 1, 2022
First Meeting: Ball State 39, Akron 38 in Akron 1937-38 season
The Zips in Akron 15-6, at Neutral Site 2-0, in Muncie 10-12

The Akron-Ball State Series
Friday's game marks the 47th meeting in series history between Akron and Ball State, and 15th meeting for a Groce coached squad, ninth at Akron. Akron holds a 28-18 all-time series advantage while Groce is 8-6 against the Cardinals and 4-3 at Akron. Akron is 16-6 all-time against BSU at home, 10-11 at BSU and 2-0 in neutral site games. Akron is 1-1 all-time versus Ball State in the MAC Tournament.

The Zips swept the series last season, winning 84-74 at The JAR (Jan. 11) and 79-60 at Worthen Arena (March 1). Akron swept the season series in 2021-22, defeating BSU 88-79 (Feb. 19, 2021) at Worthen Arena and winning 74-42 (Jan. 30, 2021) at James A. Rhodes Arena. In 2019-20, Akron snapped the Cardinals three-game winning streak with a convincing 75-60 win on Jan. 10 at The JAR. Ball State ended Akron's 15-game winning streak in 2017-18 which included a double overtime thriller in Muncie, Ind. (111-106). UA's Jimond Ivey broke Worthen Arena's all-time scoring mark of 41 points previously held by Bonzi Wells (Ball State, 1996) and Earl Boykins (Eastern Michigan, 1998). Ivey's nine 3-pointers set an arena record and he tied the arena record for made field goals (15) set in 1992 by Xavier's Brian Grant. In addition, the 217 combined points are the most in Worthen Arena history, while Akron's 106 points are the most ever by a visiting team and by the losing team in that arena.

The Cardinals won the second meeting of 2017-18 by a 90-77 score at Rhodes Arena and claimed 2018-19 lone meeting 57-56 on a tip-in at the buzzer. In 2016-17, Akron claimed both games. Isaiah Johnson lifted Akron to a 65-63 win in dramatic fashion with a buzzer-beating jumper at James A. Rhodes Arena (Feb. 7, 2017). A few weeks later, the two teams met in the semifinal game of the MAC Tournament as the No. 1 seeded Zips defeated the No. 4 Cardinals 74-70 at Quicken Loans Arena (March 8, 2017). Ball State's previous win against Akron came in the 2003-04 season when the Cardinals defeated the Zips 76-72 in the first round of the MAC Tournament at Worthen Arena. Ball State also won the regular season matchup that season 77-71 in overtime.

Scouting The Cardinals
The Cardinals own a 10-4 overall record and1-0 in league play, standing 5-0 at home, 3-2 on the road and 2-2 in neutral site games. Ball State averages 77.4 points per game on 48.9 percent shooting from the floor and 39.1 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 7.3 triples a game.

Ball State has four players scoring in double figures and four players with double-digit 3-pointers as Jarron Coleman leads the way from long distance with 32 made 3-point FG. He averages a second-best 14.2 points per game. He also leads the team in assists (48) and is second in steals (19).

Jaylin Sellers leads the scoring efforts with 14.5 points per game and owns a team-best 57.1 shooting percentage from deep with a second best 24 made triples. Payton Sparks is third in scoring, averaging 13.1 points per night on 61.9 percent shooting from the floor. Sparks also leads the squad on the glass, grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game (109 rebs). Rounding out the double-digit scoring is Demarius Jacobs with 13.0 points per game. He leads the team in blocks (24) and steals (21) and second in assists (45).

Defensively, Ball State limits its opponents to scoring 77.4 points per game on 48.9 percent shooting from the floor and 39.1 percent from 3-point range, allowing 7.3 long distance strikes per night. The Cardinals caused 172 turnovers (12.3 to/g) with 88 steals (6.3 stl/g). Ball State outrebounds the opponent by a +4.0 margin as the opponent grabbed 446 total boards (31.9 rebs/g) compared to the 502 total rebounds (35.9 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).

Akron in the MAC
Akron is 41-16 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 27-12 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 210-98 overall (.681), including a 127-30 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 210 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 125 of their last 180 MAC games (.694).

On the Road
Akron is 0-2 in true road games this season, falling to Marshall (68-57) and Bradley (74-55). The Zips are 1-3 in neutral site games this season. Akron finished 8-4 on the road in 2021-22, 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. The Zips fell at Toledo (84-76). Zips defeated Miami (71-59) and NIU (70-64) in back-to-back road contests but fell to WMU (61-57). Akron defeated Eastern Michigan 67-48, Ohio (91-83) and Ball State (79-60) to end the season.

Opening MAC Play
Akron is 23-8 in MAC openers since joining the league in 1992. Over the last 16 seasons, the Zips are 14-3 in MAC openers. Akron has won the last 14-of-15 MAC openers, including a 5-1 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.

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Travels to Ball State for MAC Showdown on CBS Sports Network

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