Akron Battles FIU To Begin The Cayman Islands Classic On Sunday

Akron (3-0, 0-0 Mid-American) vs Florida International (1-3, 0-0 CUSA)
Sunday, Nov. 19 – John Gray Gymnasium – Georgetown, Cayman Islands
7:30 pm ET - FloSports - WHLO 640

WHAT'S AHEAD?
The Akron Zips travel to the Cayman Islands for a three-game stretch that begins on Sunday, November 19 with a battle against Florida International. The Cayman Islands Classic can be viewed on FloSports with Matt Matucci (PxP) and Jess Settles (Analyst). Fans can 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.

HEAD COACHES

Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 301-202 | At Akron: 119-70
Heidelberg: Jeremy Ballard| Overall Record: 78-82| At FIU: Same

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 3-2 Groce vs. FIU: 0-0
First Met: Akron 103-58 At Akron, Feb. 15, 1988
Last Meeting: FIU 76-74 At FIU, Dec. 27, 1999
Current Streak: L1 Last Win: At Akron, 80-69 (Nov. 23, 1998)

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS

The Panthers are coming into the Cayman Island Classic with a 1-3 record. They most recently took down Houston Christian 83-74 on November 15.

FIU was led by Dashon Gittens' 20 points against the Huskies. Both Gittens and Arturo Dean connected on seven shots from the field. Dean was second in scoring with 18 points.

Through the first four games of the season, both Gittens and Dean lead the Panthers with 13.3 points per game. Gittens has played an average of 33.3 minutes per game while Dean is second on the squad with 27.9 minutes per game.

Currently, the Panthers are being outscored by 9.3 points along with being out rebounded by 6.8 boards per game.

FIU has only played one game outside the state of Florida this season. After returning from the Cayman Islands, the Panthers will stay put in the Sunshine State for seven games before traveling to St. George, Utah to battle Utah Tech on December 30.

The Panthers were selected to finish seventh in the Conference USA Preseason poll while Dean earned preseason All-Conference honors.

RETURN TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS
The Zips are heading back to the Cayman Islands for the third time while making appearances in back-to-back seasons.

Akron won the opening round game in 2022, defeating Western Kentucky 72-53. The Zips out rebounded the Hilltoppers 43-16 despite a significant height disadvantage. Freeman notched his third double-double of the season with team-highs in both categories, 18 points and 11 rebounds. Castaneda followed with 16 points and Tribble matched the 11-rebound total as the Zips advanced to the semifinals.

In 2018, Akron went 1-2 in its inaugural Cayman Islands Classic appearance at John Gray Gymnasium. The Zips opened against No. 16 ranked Clemson, falling 72-69. Akron and Illinois State battled in the second game as the Redbirds posted a 73-68 win. The Zips played St. Bonaventure in their final game and rallied to a 61-49 win. Loren Cristian Jackson earned All-Tournament team honors. In three games, Jackson averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 Assists and 2.3 rebounds. Jackson opened the tournament with a 25-point performance against No. 16 ranked Clemson.

REGULAR SEASON TOURNAMENTS
Akron is 68-46 all-time and 47-39 in the Division I era (since 1980) in regular season tournaments and 8-11 over the last six years under Groce. Akron posted a 1-2 record at the 2022 Cayman Islands Classic, defeating Western Kentucky and advancing to the semifinals before falling to LSU and finishing fourth overall after falling to Nevada.

The Zips registered a 1-2 record in the 2021 Gulf Coast Showcase, a 3-1 record in the Global Sports Shootout, and a 1-1 mark in the DC Holiday Hoops Fest, In 2018-19, the Zips went 2-2 at the Cayman Island Classic, and in Groce's first season, Akron posted an 0-3 mark at the 2018 Diamond Head Classic. Akron has posted multiple wins in 14 of the last 17 in-season tournaments, including three championships. The Zips won two tournaments in 2016-17, the Savannah Invitational (4-0) and the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (2-0). In 2015-16, Akron went 2-0 at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic to claim the title.

In 2014-15, Akron posted a 2-1 record in the Gildan Charleston Classic following the previous tournament runs at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off (2012, 2-1), 2K Sports Classic (2011, 2-2), the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic (2010, 3-1), the Glenn Wilkes Classic (2009, 2-2), the Legends Classic (2008, 2-2), the Top of the World Classic (2007, 2-1) and the San Juan Shootout (2005, 2-1).

AMONG THE BEST IN THE MID-MAJORS
The Zips rose to No. 2 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll after winning games against South Dakota State and Southern Mississippi to begin the year. The Zips now have claimed their highest ranking in program history in the Mid-Major rankings.

In addition the zips No. 2 (Nov. 13) ranking is the highest ranking since the 2016-17 season when the Zips climbed to No. 7 on Jan. 30, 2017.

The Akron Zips appeared on The CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, ranking 18th overall on Feb. 6, 2023 as a result of an eight-game winning streak and taking over sole position at the top of the MAC, defeating rival Kent State 67-55. The Zips dropped the next two games, falling out of the Top 25.

THE 1K, 1K CLUB
Enrique Freeman is closing in on 1,000 rebounds as a Zip. Currently 7th all-time in career rebounds with 992, He'd become just the sixth player in Akron history to record 1,000 points and rebounds.

Len Paul - 2,028 Pts | 1021 Reb | 107 GP
Bill Turner - 1,630 Pts | 1,171 Reb | 106 GP
Ray Pryear - 1,152 Pts | 1,213 Reb | 91 GP
Don Williams - 1,145 Pts | 1,218 Reb | 107 GP
Fred Golding - 1,229 Pts | 1,360 Reb | 97 GP
Enrique Freeman - 1,227 Pts | 992 Reb | 100 GP

QUICK HITS

Akron will play five of its seven games in the month of November on the road or at a neutral site.
Under coach Groce, the Zips have posted an 88-35 overall record over the past five seasons and a 53-21 conference record in that same span.
Groce recorded his 300th career win with the 72-54 victory over Southern Miss on Nov. 10.
Akron has made at least one 3-pointer in its last 740 games when it was held without a 3-pointer against Purdue in the 2000-01 season.
Enrique Freeman played in his 100th games against Heidelberg.
Akron is two wins away from its 1700th win in program history.
Mikal Dawson set another career high in scoring with 25 points on a 9-of-12 shooting night.
Enrique Freeman recorded his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 17 rebounds against Heidelberg.
Freeman is eight rebounds away from recording 1,000 as a Zip. He'd be just the sixth player in program history to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Akron has tied its best start to a season in the Div. I era with its 3-0 start.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips will play either Marshall or Utah State on Monday, November 20. Times for those games will be either 5 pm or 7:30 pm depending on the result from Sunday.

Akron Battles FIU To Begin The Cayman Islands Classic On Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Mikal Dawson

Enrique Freeman

The University of Akron Athletics