The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Penn State Shenango
Zips Host PSU Shenango to Conclude Season-Opening Homestand
November 11 | Men's Basketball
Akron (2-0, 0-0 Mid-American) vs PSU Shenango (1-2, 0-0 Ivy PSUAC)
Wednesday, Nov.12 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
7 pm ET –  WHLO 640
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 352-220 | At Akron: 170-88
PSU Shenango:Â Michael Wernicki | Overall Record: 7-24 | At PSU Shenango: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
First Meeting | Groce vs PSU Shenango: 0-0
LAST TIME OUT (vs PRINCETON 11/8/25)
AKRON, Ohio - Four Zips scored in double-figures, led by Tavari Johnson's 21 points, as the Akron men's basketball team took down the Princeton Tigers 104-69 at James A. Rhodes Arena Saturday afternoon.Â
Johnson led all scorers with his 21 points, going 7-of-13 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, while adding six assists , one steal and one block to lead the Zips (2-0). Amani Lyles produced 16 points on a 4-of-5 shooting performance while also going 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Evan Mahaffey and Eric Mahaffey both notched 14 points on a combined 11-of-16 shooting performance. Eric added nine rebounds while Evan grabbed five.
Led by Zach Halligan's two offensive rebounds, Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 11 boards that resulted in 16 second chance points.
Akron's defense held Princeton to only 35.4 percent shooting from the field.
After jumping out to a 15-13 advantage, Akron went on a 15-0 run with 13:54 left in the first half to increase its lead to 30-13. The Zips then added three points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 47-27 advantage. Akron got out and ran in the period, scoring 13 points on the break.
Following intermission, Akron kept widening that lead, expanding it to 63-41 before going on a 12-0 run, finished off by Lyles' layup, to grow the lead to 75-41 with 10:58 to go in the contest. The Zips kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 104-69 win. Akron shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting nine shots from deep to score 27 of its 57 points.
ZIPS AT A GLANCEThe Zips conclude their season-opening home stand with Penn State Shenango coming to James A. Rhodes Arena on Wednesday, November 12, for a 7 p.m. start.
Akron recently took down Princeton, 104-69, at the JAR on Saturday, November 8. Four Zips scored in double figures, with Tavari Johnson's 21 points leading all scorers on the day.Â
This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Akron is scoring 94.5 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 24.5 points per game. The Zips shoot .470 from the field while shooting .371 from beyond the arc and averaged 11.5 3-pointers per game. The Blue and Gold hold an .800 ft percentage while averaging 43.5 rebounds, 19.0 assists, 7.5 turnovers, 10.5 steals and 4.5 blocks per game.
Akron ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (4th - 94.5), scoring margin (3rd - +24.5), fg defense (2nd - .373), 3pters made per game (3rd - 11.5), ft pct (2nd - .800), rebounds (2nd -43.5) off rebounds (3rd - 13.0), def. rebounds (2nd - 30.5), rebound margin (3rd - +7.0), turnover margin (2nd - +9.5), assist-turnover ratio (1st - +2.53), blocked shots (3rd - 4.5), assists (2nd - 19.0) and steals (3rd - 10.5).
Individually, Amani Lyles ranks 4th in scoring (19.0), 6th in rebounds (7.5), 8th in fg pct (.667), 19th in ft pct (.867) and 2nd in blocks (2.0). Shammah Scott ranks 8th in scoring (17.5) and 7th in 3pters made per game (2.5). Eric Mahaffey ranks 9th in rebounds (7.0) and 24th in fg pct (.538). Evan Mahaffey ranks 17th in rebounds (5.5), 2nd in assists (5.5), 4th in assist-turnover ratio (+5.5), 9th in blocks (1.0) and 4th in steals (2.5). Tavari Johnson ranks 10th in 3pt pct (.600), 3rd in 3pters made per game (3.0), 3rd in assists (5.0) and 5th in assist-turnover ratio (5.0). Sharron Young ranks 21st in 3pt pct (.444), 25th in ft pct (.833 and 12th in 3pters made per game (2.0).
The Zips rank 10th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+2.53), 59th in assists per game (19.0), 95th in blocks per game (4.5), 59th in fastbreak points per game (19.5), 77th in fg pct defense (.373), 44th for fewest fouls per game (15.0), 33rd in ft pct (.800), 83rd in ft made per game (20.0), 62nd in defensive reb per game (30.5), 80th in rebounds per game (43.5), 75th in scoring margin (+24.5), 57th in scoring offense (94.5), 53rd in steals per game (10.5), 45th in 3pters attempted (31.0), 42nd in 3pters made per game (11.5), 15th in turnover margin (+9.5), 63rd in turnovers force per game (17.0) and 11th for fewest turnovers per game (7.5).
Individually, Evan Mahaffey ranks 75th in assist-turnover ratio (+5.5), 72nd in assists per game (5.5) and 94th in steals per game (2.5). Johnson ranks 85th in assist-turnover ratio (+5.0) and 46th in 3pt pct (.600). Amani Lyles ranks 96th for total blocks (4), 66th in blocks per game (2.0) and 79th in fg pct (.667).
SCOUTING THE NITANNY LIONSÂ
Penn State Shenango (USCAA) enters Wednesday's competition with a 1-2 record.
The Nittaney Lions recently fell to Youngstown State on Monday, November 10. YSU won 115-53.
Kevon Washington led Shenango with 16 points on a 7-of-19 shooting performance. Jordan Dotson also scored in double figures with 13 points falling his way. Darius Williams notched nine assists against the Penguines.
Washington leads the way with 14 points per game and is tied with Izzy Santiago for the lead in
rebounds with 5.7 per game. Williams is the leader in assists with 8 and steals with 1.5. Rhys Grocott is the leader in blocks with four on the season.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Zips own a 487-136 (.782) all-time record at the James A. Rhodes Arena. In the last 21 seasons, Akron has posted a 283-40 (.876) record at the JAR. Akron is currently on a 18-game winning streak at the JAR dating back to the 2024-25 season, which currently is the second longest home winning streak in the country.
Under coach Groce, Akron is 108-15 (.878)Â at home. The Zips were 15-1 at home in 2022-23,13-1 in 2023-24 and16-0 at the JAR in 2024-25.
Akron owns a 103-21 (.831) home-opening record and 39-4 (.907) at Rhodes Arena. The Zips have been winners in the last 23-of-24 home opening games. Akron is 21-8 in MAC openers, and 12-1 at home since joining the league in 1992. Over the last 18 seasons, the Zips are 15-3 in MAC openers and 7-1 at home. Akron has won the last 9-of-10 MAC openers.
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. 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.
NON-CONFERENCE FOES AT THE JAR
Under John Groce, Akron is 49-1 (.980) at home against non-conference opponents. Akron is on a 39-0 run against non-conference foes at the JAR since losing to Marshall on Dec. 15, 2018.
FOUR OR MORE
The Zips have had four or more players score in double-figure scoring in two game this season.
Akron had four or more players record double-figure scoring in 21 games in the 2024-25 season. The season high was seven players scoring 10 or more points against SUNY Brockport (Dec. 7) and Eastern Michigan (Jan. 11).Â
THE SMALL THINGS ADD UP
The Zips are 2-0 when shooting better than their opponent from the field, 2-0 when shooting 50% or above from the field, 1-0 when shooting 40% or better from 3-point range, 2-0 when out rebounding their opponents, 2-0 when attempting more FT, and 2-0 when holding opponents below 80 points.
HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE
The Zips are 2-0 this season when scoring 85 or more points.
Akron scored 85 or more points in 19 games in 2024-25 and were 19-0 when hitting that mark.Â
WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron hits the road for the first time this season when it travels to #2/1 Purdue on Sunday, November 16 for a 7:30 p.m. start.
