Akron Hoops on the Road for Rematch with Bobcats on CBS Sports Network

Akron (17-7, 9-2) at Ohio (13-11, 5-6)
Friday, Feb. 10 • Ohio Convocation Center
Athens, Ohio • 7:30 PM • CBS Sports Network

What's Ahead
Akron is looking to bounce-back from its first home loss of the season as the Zips travel to Athens, Ohio for a rematch against the Ohio Bobcats on Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be nationally broadcasted by CBS Sports Network from the Convocation Center with John Sadak (Analyst) and Steve Wolf (PxP) 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.

Game Coverage
TV: CBSSN: http://bit.ly/3IopV15
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/3YFr3CE
Live Radio: WHLO 640AM - https://ihr.fm/3fFmzLo

Head Coaches
Ohio Head Coach
Jeff Boals (Ohio '95)
Overall: 127-85 (7th season)
Record at Ohio: 72-44 (4th season)
MAC Record: 36-27 (4th season)

Akron Head Coach
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 293-198 (15th Season)
Record at Akron: 111-66 (6th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 97-70 (at Ohio and Akron)

All-Time Series
Akron Leads: 47-42 • Groce vs.Ohio 5-3 (5-3 Overall)
Last Meeting: Akron 83, Ohio 77 at James A. Rhodes Arena, Jan. 28, 2023
First Meeting: Akron 21, Ohio 18 in Akron 1911-12 season
In Akron:28-15, Neutral: 3-1, In Athens: 16-26

The Akron-Ohio Series
Friday's game marks the 90th meeting in series history between Akron and Ohio, and 12th meeting for a Groce coached UA squad. Groce owns a 7-4 record against his former team. The Zips are 4-2 against the Bobcats in the MAC Tournament.

Akron holds an all-time 47-42 series advantage. The Zips have won 16 of the last 24 meetings, and Akron is 28-14 against the Bobcats in Akron, winning 17 of the last 21 meetings at Rhodes Arena, including an 83-77 win earlier this season.

Despite falling 69-63 at The JAR last season. Akron returned the favor and defeated the Bobcats in Athens at the Convo 91-83 for the series split. In 2021-22, Akron posted a 90-70 win (Dec. 22, 2020) and fell 90-73 in Athens.

The Zips are 16-26 against OU in Athens, winning six of the last 10 meetings at the Convocation Center, including a the 91-83 win in 2022 and an 88-86 win in 2019-20. The Zips dropped two meetings in 2017-18 by scores of 99-75 (2/6/18) Rhodes Arena and 85-70 (2/4/17) at the Convocation Center.

Scouting The Bobcats
Ohio enters Friday's game with a 5-6 MAC record and 13-11 overall mark while winning two straight games over Miami (78-68) and NIU (82-76). The Bobcats average 78.1 points per outing on 46.1 percent shooting from the floor and a 36.3 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc, draining 8.6 triples a game. The Bobcats are 10-1 at home, 3-9 on the road and 0-1 at neutral sites.

Ohio has four players scoring in double figures in points per game as Dwight Wilson leads the way with 15.9 points per game on 63.6 shooting from the floor. He alson the squad on the glass, grabbing 9.7 rbounds per game for 222 total boards. Jaylin hunter follows and paces Ohio in two stat catagories with team-highs in assists (102) and steals (35) while scoring 11.8 points per game. Miles Brown adds 10.7 points per game while leading the Bobcats from beyond the arc with 49 trifectas at a 39.8 percent rate. AJ Brown is the third leading scorer with 10.6 points per game, while second from long distance with 44 triples and a team-best 44.4 percentage.

Defensively, Ohio limits its opponents to 73.6 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting from the floor and 35.7 percent from 3-point range, allowing only 8.3 long distance strikes per night. The Bobcats have caused 286 turnovers (11.9 to/g) with 147 steals (6.1 stl/g). The Bobcats outrebound the opponent by a +3.3 margin, allowing the opponent to grab 833 total boards (34.7 rebs/g) compared to the 913 total rebounds secured by the Bobcats (38.0 rebs/g).

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 4-3 in true road games this season, 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 48-18 over the last three seasons in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.714) in the league. The Zips are 34-14 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 85-24 (.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 218-100 overall (.681), including a 130-31 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 190 MAC games (.694).

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Hoops on the Road for Rematch with Bobcats on CBS Sports Network

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