Men's Basketball Hosts Southern Miss. for Home Opener on Friday

Akron (1-0, 0-0 Mid-American) vs Southern Mississippi (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference)
Friday, Nov. 10 - James A. Rhodes Arena | Akron, Ohio - 7 PM - ESPN+ (Video) | WHLO 640 (Audio)

WHAT'S AHEAD
The Akron Zips have their home opener when they host the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles in the MAC-SBC Challenge on November 10 for a 7 pm tip-off. The home opener will be broadcasted live on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (PxP) and Jeff Phelps (Analyst) on the call. 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: 299-202 | At Akron: 117-70
Southern Mississippi: Jay Ladner | Overall Record: 126-161| At Southern Miss: 50-73

ALL-TIME SERIES
First ever meeting between Akron and Southern Mississippi in men's basketball

QUICK HITS

Akron will play five of its seven games in the month of November on the road or at a neutral site.
This is the first ever meeting between Akron and Southern Miss. in men's basketball.
The Eagles were picked to finish 4th in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll. Austin Crowley was named the SBC Preseason Player of The Year.
Akron has made at least one 3-pointer in its last 738 games when it was held without a 3-pointer against Purdue in the 2000-01 season.
Five Zips scored 10 or more points in the season opener at South Dakota State with Mikal Dawson leading the way with 19.
Dawson's 19 points is a new career high.
Freeman started the year with a double-double (13 pts, 14 reb)
Under coach Groce, the Zips have posted an 85-35 overall record over the past four seasons and a 53-21 conference record in that same span.
Coach Groce will be looking for career win No. 300 when the Zips battle the Golden Eagles.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES
The Golden Eagles were picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Poll. Last season. Crowley was also named to the First Team All-Sun Belt last season. Crowley nabbed a team-best 63 steals which ranked third in the Sun Belt and 43rd nationally. The high-volume guard scored at least 10 points in 26 games and exploded for a career-high 32 points against App State on Dec. 31.

The Golden Eagles started the 2023-24 season with a 64-62 victory over William Carey (NAIA) on November 6. Crowley led the way for the Golden Eagles with a 19-point, 10 rebound performance. He was one of three Golden Eagles to score in double figures for Southern Miss.

LAST TIME OUT (NOV. 6, 2023)
Five Zips scored at least 10 points as the Akron men's basketball handed South Dakota State just their 10th home loss since the 2011-12 season with a 81-75 road victory to begin the 2023-24 season.

The Zips (1-0) were led by Mikal Dawson's 19 points. Sammy Hunter added 16 points and Enrique Freeman helped out with a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Akron won the rebound battle, collecting 36 rebounds compared to South Dakota State's 26, led by Freeman's 14 boards. The Zips also cleaned up the offensive glass, turning 13 rebounds into 13 second chance points.

FROM DOWNTOWN
Mikal Dawson and Sammy Hunter drained eight of the Zips 11 3-pointers against the Jackrabbits. Dawson had 12 of his 19 points from beyond the arc while Hunter had 12 of his 16 total points from long range.

CLIMBING THE SCORING CHARTS
Enrique Freeman is now 26th in all-time scoring in Akron history with 1,204 career points. He added 13 points in the 81-75 victory at South Dakota State on November 6. Freeman is now the 26th player to score 1,200 or more points as a Zip. Jerry Sloan (1964-68) is next on the all-time scoring list with 1,210 points.

THE 1K, 1K CLUB
Enrique Freeman is closing in on 1,000 rebounds in his career as a Zip. Currently 6th all-time in career rebounds with 966, He'd become just the sixth player in Akron history to record 1k points and 1k rebounds in his career.

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 - 1,204 Pts | 966 Reb | 98 GP

CLOSING IN ON 300
Coach Groce notched his 299th career win when he led the Zips to a 81-75 victory on the road at South Dakota St. on November 6. It was his 117th victory leading the Zips as well.

TOP-50 AMONG ACTIVE PLAYERS
Enrique Freeman ranks in the top 50 among active Div. 1 players in the following categories.
Double-Doubles - 7th (43)
Blocked Shots - 36th (129)
Blocked Shots Per Game - 40th (1.32)
Rebounds - 5th (966)
Rebounds Per game - 5th (9.9)
FG Percentage - 7th (.649)

A NEW CAREER BEST
Dawson set a career-high in scoring with his 19 points at SDSU as he bested his previous high of 17 against Bowling Green in 2022.

STARTING THE SEASON OFF RIGHT
The Zips are 75-47 (.610) all-time in season openers with a 61-12 (.829) home record and 14-35 (.285) on the road. Since the 2004-05, UA is 14-6 (.700) when opening the season, standing 10-1 (.875) at home, 4-5 (.444) on the road and 6-1 (.857) under head coach John Groce.

Akron owns a 101-21 (.828) home-opening record and 36-4 (.897) at Rhodes Arena. The Zips have been winners in the last 20-of-21 home opening games. Akron is 19-8 in MAC openers, 11-1 at home since joining the league in 1992. Over the last 16 seasons, the Zips are 13-3 in MAC openers and 7-1 at home. Akron has won the last 8-of-9 MAC openers.

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 456-134 (.773) all-time record at Rhodes Arena. In the last 16 seasons, Akron has posted a 252-39 (.864) record at the JAR. Under coach Groce, Akron is 76-14 (.825) at home. The Zips were 15-1 at home in 2022-23.

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.

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips stay home as they host Heidelberg (Div. III) on Tuesday, November 14 for a 7:30 pm start.

Men's Basketball Hosts Southern Miss. for Home Opener on Friday

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Players Mentioned

Mikal Dawson

Enrique Freeman

Sammy Hunter

The University of Akron Athletics