Akron Travels for Rematch with Eagles

Akron (17-8, 9-3) at Eastern Michigan (6-19, 3-9)
Tuesday, Feb. 14 • George Gevin GameAbove Center
Ypsilanti, Mich. • 7 PM • ESPN+

What's Ahead
Akron looks to snap a two-game setback streak in Ypsilanti, Mich. as the Zips travel for a rematch against the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcasted ESPN+ from the George Gevin GameAbove Center with Ryan Wooley (pxp) and Justin Rose (analyst) on the call and Dannie Rogers (sideline) reporting. 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.

Game Coverage
TV: ESPN+: https://bit.ly/3I4ELbA
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/39g7vN2
Live Radio: WHLO 640AM - https://ihr.fm/3fFmzLo

Head Coaches
EMU Head Coach
Stan Heath (EMU '88)
Overall Record: 225-247 (15th Season)
Record at EMU: 16-40 (2nd Season)
MAC Record: 25-25 (at EMU and Kent St.)

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 293-199 (15th Season)
Record at Akron: 111-68 (6th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 97-71 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 35-23 • Groce vs. EMU 6-3 (8-5 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 104, Eastern Michigan 67 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Jan. 13, 2023
First Meeting: Akron 62, Eastern Michigan 55 in Akron on Feb. 3, 1968
In Akron: 20-9, Neutral: 3-1, In Ypsilanti: 12-13

The Akron-Eastern Michigan Series
Tuesday's game marks the 59th meeting in series history between Akron and Eastern Michigan, and 15th meeting for a Groce coached squad, 11th at Akron. Akron holds a 35-23 all-time series advantage while Groce is 9-5 overall against the Eagles all-time and 7-3 at Akron.

The Zips have won 25 of the last 31 meetings, including 12-of-15 games. Akron won the first meeting of the season 104-67 at The JAR. Zips swept the 2021-22 series, winning 46-44 at James A. Rhodes Arena and 67-48 at Gervin GameAbove Center. The two teams split the 2020-21 season series with lopsided victories defending their respective home courts. Eastern Michigan won the first meeting this season 71-59 at EMU Convention Center and Akron claimed the second meeting 86-65 at The JAR.

Akron won both meetings in 2019-20 (59-58 H and 64-45 A) and the lone meeting in 2018-19 season (51-49 A), snapping EMU's two-game winning streak. In 2017-18, Eastern Michigan snapped Akron's five game winning streak in the series with a 63-49 win at the Convocation Center. In addition, the Eagles came from behind to advance to the semifinals of the MAC Tournament with a 67-58 win. EMU overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half, 47-28 Zips with 12:30 remaining in the game.

The Zips won both regular-season meetings in 2016-17, 70-63 on Jan. 20, at Rhodes Arena and 87-76 on Feb. 10, at the EMU Convocation Center. The Zips and the Eagles played a third time during the 2016-17 season. Akron met Eastern Michigan in the quarterfinal of the MAC Tournament for the second-straight season. The No. 1 ranked Zips defeated the No. 8 ranked Eagles, 79-62, at Quicken Loans Arena on March 9, 2017. Akron is 5-1 in the MAC Tournament against the Eagles.

Scouting The Eagles
Under the direction of second-year head coach Stan Heath, the Eagles own a 6-19 overall record and stand 3-9 in MAC play. The Eagles posted their first league win against Central Michigan (62-56), but fell in the opener to Bowling Green (91-65) and the last time out at Western Michigan (85-79). EMU is 4-6 at home, 2-10 on the road and 0-3 in neutral site games this season.

The Eagles average 74.4 points per game on 44.5 percent shooting from the floor and 33.4 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 6.8 triples a game. In addition, the Eagles shoot 76.2 percent from the free throw line with 14.1 FT made per game.

EMU has three players scoring in double figures led by the MAC leading scorer Emoni Bates. Bates averages 20.5 points per game and a team-high 5.7 rebounds per game with 136 total boards. He shoots 42.5 percent from the field, including a 35.7 percent average from deep while knocking down a team-best 65 trifectas. He visited the charity stripe on 125 occasions and cashed in with 99 bonus buckets for a 79.2 free throw percentage. Bates adds 34 assists, 20 steals and 10 blocked shots.

Tyson Acuff and Noah Farrakhan follow, averaging 15.2 and 12.9 points per game, respectively. Acuff is second from beyond the arc, draining 46 triples at a 34.8 rate, while Farrakhan follows with 19 3-point makes at a 25.7 clip. Acuff leads the squad in assists (66) and steals (33) and adds 67 rebounds to the team total. Farrakhan dished out 64 assists and grabbed 101 total boards with 18 steals.

Defensively, Eastern Michigan allows its opponents to score 80.8 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting from the floor and 34.3 percent from 3-point range, allowing 8.6 long distance strikes per night. The Eagles caused 313 turnovers (12.5 to/g) with 164 steals (6.6 stl/g). EMU is outrebounded by the opponent by a -5.6 margin as the opponent grabbed 927 total boards (37.1 rebs/g) compared to the 787 total rebounds (31.5 rebs/g) secured.

The Polls - Zips Enter Mid-Major Top 25 Poll on Feb. 6
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 inning streak and taking over sole position at the top of the MAC, defeating rival Kent State 67-55. In the Ken Pom rankings, Akron ranks 95th overall in the NCAA. and 89th in defensive efficiency (100.7) and 126th in adjusted offensive efficiency (107.5). Akron is No. 1 in the MAC in adjusted defensive efficiency (101.9) and No. 2 adjusted offensive efficiency (113.7). The Zips rank No. 93 in the NCAA NET Rankings.

On the Road
Akron is 4-4 in true road games this season, dropping the last game to Ohio (90-81) before winning four straight games after snapping a three-game setback streak at Bowling Green (74-70) and following with wins at Central Michigan (69-51), Western Michigan (63-55) and Buffalo (81-64). Akron Fell to Ball State (70-63), 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.

Akron in the MAC
Akron is 49-19 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 35-15 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 86-24 (.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 218-101 overall (.681), including a 131-31 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 218 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 133 of their last 191 MAC games (.694).

The University of Akron Athletics

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