Akron Looks to Extend Winning Streak by Battling Toledo

Akron (17-6, 9-1) vs Toledo (17-6, 8-2)
Tuesday, Feb. 7 • James A. Rhodes Arena
Akron, Ohio • 7 PM • CBS SPorts

What's Ahead
Akron is looking to extend its 14-game home winning streak at James A. Rhodes Arena against the Toledo Rockets on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. The Zips have won eight-straight games and own a 12-0 record at home this season, while the Rockets have won seven-straight games and bring an identical overall record (17-6) to The JAR. Fans can follow the action on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (PxP) and Jeff Phelps (analyst) 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: ESPN+: https://bit.ly/3I41966
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/3gDBthm
Live Radio: WHLO 640AM - https://ihr.fm/3fFmzLo

Head Coaches
Tod Kowalczyk (Minnasota Duluth '89)
Overall Record: 384-279 (21st Season)
Record at UT: 248-167 (13th Season)
MAC Record: 135-89 (13th Season)

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 293-197 (15th Season)
Record at Akron: 111-65 (6th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 97-69 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Toledo Leads: 39-29 • Groce vs. Toledo 2-6 (7-7 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 70, Toledo 62 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on March 11, 2022
First Meeting: Akron 37, Toledo 81 in Akron 1915-16 season
In Akron:17-12, Neutral: 2-1, In Toledo: 10-26

The Akron-Toledo Series
Tuesday's game marks the 69th meeting in series history between Akron and Toledo, and 15th meeting for a Groce coached squad (seventh at Akron). Toledo owns a 39-29 all-time series advantage while Groce is 7-7 all-time and 2-6 at Akron against the Rockets. The Zips have won 10 of the last 19 meetings and snapped a four-game losing skid with a 95-94 overtime win on Jan. 16, 2021, at James A. Rhodes Arena. In 2022, the Rockets won the regular season matchup 84-67 on Jan. 28, but the Zips retaliated by knocking off the No. 1 seeded Rockets in the 2022 MAC Tournament and advance to the NCAA First Round. The Rockets claimed a 91-76 win at Savage Arena on Feb. 2, 2021.

In 2018, the two teams met at Savage Arena (Jan. 5) on CBS Sports Network as Toledo claimed a narrow 67-65 advantage. Almost a month later (Feb. 3), Toledo claimed its second win of the season, 77-56, at Rhodes Arena. Over the last two seasons, Toledo claimed the lone matchups at Savage Arena 63-52 (Feb. 5, 2019) and at James A. Rhodes Arena 99-89 (Jan. 18, 2020).

UA is 17-12 all-time at Rhodes Arena, 10-26 on the road at Savage Arena, and 2-1 in the MAC Tournament with a loss at Quicken Loans Arena.

Scouting The Rockets
Kent State owns and 18-4 overall record and an 8-1 league mark. The Flashes won 10 consecutive games before falling 86-76 at Northern Illinois and bounced back with consecutive wins over Buffalo (74-68) and Central Michigan (81-69). KSU is 11-0 at home, 6-4 on the road and 1-0 in neutral site games. The Flashes average 75.5 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting from the floor and 33.5 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 8.1 triples a game. In addition, the Flashes shoot 73.2 percent from the free throw line on 13.3 attempts per game.

Kent State has three players scoring in double figures led by 2022 MAC Player of the Year Sincere Carry with 17.1 points per game, shooting 40.9 percent from the floor and 28.3 percent from deep with a team second-best 36 trifectas. He also leads the squad in assists (110) and is second in steals (37).

Malique Jacobs follows with 12.2 points per game while leading the team in steals with 59 takeaways. He is second in assist (70) and third on the glass (104). Miryne Thomas leads the team rebounding, grabbing 5.7 boards per game for a 125 total while scoring 11.1 points per outing. Thomas leads the team from beyond the arc with 49 long distance strikes. Jalen Sullinger and Giovanni Santiago add 8.4 and 7.9 points per game.

Defensively, Kent State limits its opponents to scoring 64.0 points per game on 39.4 percent shooting from the floor and 31.4 percent from 3-point range, allowing 7.1 long distance strikes per night. The Flashes caused 364 turnovers (16.5 to/g) with 205 steals (9.3 stl/g) and 82 blocked shots (3.7 blk/g). Kent State is slightly outrebounded by the opponent by a -1.1 margin as the opponent grabbed 800 total boards (36.4 rebs/g) compared to the 775 total rebounds (35.2 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.

Home Sweet Home
The Zips own a 452-135 (.767) all-time record at Rhodes Arena. In the last 16 seasons, Akron has posted a 248-38 (.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 48-17 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 34-13 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 85-23 (.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 217-99 overall (.681), including a 130-30 mark in MAC play at home (.822). The Zips' 217 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 132 of their last 188 MAC games (.694).

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Looks to Extend Winning Streak by Battling Toledo

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