The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Bucknell
Akron Hosts Bucknell on Wednesday
December 02 | Men's Basketball
Akron (6-2, 0-0 Mid-American) vs Bucknell (2-7, 0-0 Patriot league)
Wednesday, Dec. 3 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
7 pm ET – ESPN + – WHLO 640 AM
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 356-222 | At Akron: 174-90
Bucknell:Â John Griffin III | Overall Record: 34-41 | At Bucknell: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads 2-0 | Groce vs Bucknell: 1-0
First Met: Dec. 22, 1964Â (Akron 65, Bucknell 63) At Akron (Rubber City Classic)
Last Meeting: Dec. 21, 1966Â (Akron 87, Bucknell 60) At Akron (Rubber City Classic)
Current Streak: W2
LAST TIME OUT (VS MILWAUKEE 11/29/25)
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron men's basketball team saw seven players score in double figures while shooting 65 percent from the field in a 105-81 victory over Milwaukee at James A. Rhodes Arena Saturday night.
Amani Lyles and Tavari Johnson both recorded new career-highs against the Panthers. Lyles set a new career-high in scoring (25) while Johnson set a new career-high in assists (11).
The Zips' 65 percent shooting night set a new program record for best single-game performance, eclipsing the 64.5 percent the Zips shot against Slippery Rock on Nov. 20, 1999 at the JAR.
The Zips (6-2) were led on offense by Lyles, who had 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Evan Mahaffey added 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals and Shammah Scott chipped in as well with 14 points. Johnson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 assists. Eric Mahaffey, Sharron Young and Chabi Barre all scored in double figures as well.
Johnson recorded a double-double in points and assists for the second straight season, as he hit the mark at Eastern Michigan last season when he had a 10-point, 10-assist night against the Eagles.
Akron also recorded it's 20th consecutive win at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Akron out-rebounded Milwaukee 38-37 in Saturday's game, paced by Lyles' nine boards.
The Akron defense held Milwaukee shooters to just 37.7 percent from the field.
After playing to a 7-7 tie, Akron went on a 7-0 run with 16:10 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Tavari Johnson, to take a 14-7 lead. The Zips then added six points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 52-39 advantage. Akron did most of its first half damage in the paint, scoring 28 of its 52 points close to the basket.
Following intermission, Akron kept widening that lead, expanding it to 64-45 before going on an 8-0 run, finished off by Bowen Hardman's layup, to grow the lead to 72-45 with 14:05 to go in the contest. The Panthers narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Zips still cruised the rest of the way for the 105-81 win. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 19 of its 53 total points.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips host the Bucknell Bison on Wednesday, December 3, after defeating Milwaukee, 105-81, on November 29.
Seven Zips scored in double-figures against the Panthers while Amani Lyles set a career-high in scoring and Tavari Johnson set a career-high in assists.
Akron and Bucknell are set to meet for the third time in the all-time series, and the first since the 1966-67 season.
Tavari Johnson leads Akron in points (18.0) and assists (5.4) per game. Amani Lyles leads the way in rebounds (5.9) while Evan Mahaffey is the leader in steals (1.8) and total blocks (8).
Akron is scoring 96.1 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 21.1 points per game. The Zips shoot .522 from the field while shooting .394 from beyond the arc and averaged 11.9 3-pointers per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .747 ft percentage while averaging 38.0 rebounds, 21.0 assists, 10.6 turnovers, 8.4 steals and 3.51 blocks per game.
The Zips rank in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (2nd - 96.1), scoring margin (2nd - +21.1), fg pct (2nd - .522), opp fg pct (3rd - .420), 3pt pct (2nd - .394), 3pters made per game (2nd - 11.9), ft pct (4th - .747), rebounding (3rd - 38.1), offensive rebounds (4th - 12.0), rebound margin (5th - 5.0), turnover margin (2nd - +4.63), assist-turnover ratio (1st - +1.98), blocked shots (4th - 3.50), assists (1st - 21.0) and steals (3rd - 8.38).
Akron ranks 6th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.98), 4th in assists per game (21.0), 10th in effective fg pct (.611), 20th in fastbreak points (18.63), 15th in fg pct (.522), 59th in fewest fouls per game (15.9), 88th in ft pct (.747), 23rd in scoring margin (+21.1), 5th in scoring offense (96.1), 88th in steals per game (8.4), 28th in 3pt attempts per game (30.1), 25h in 3pt pct (.394), 10th in 3pters made per game (11.9), 27th in turnover margin (+4.8), 56th in turnovers forced per game (15.38) and 73rd for fewest turnovers (10.6).
Individually, Tavari Johnson ranks 19th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+4.78), 38th in total assists (43), 56th in assists per game (5.4), 51st in made fg (52), 36th in ft pct (.923), 72nd in total points (144) and 95th in points per game (18.0). Evan Mahaffey ranks 54th in assist-turnover ratio (+3.44). Shammah Scott ranks 57th in assist-turnover ratio (+3.38), 71st in 3pt pct (.429) and 99th in total 3pters made (21). Amani Lyles ranks 43rd in fg pct (.609).
SCOUTING THE BISON
The Bucknell Bison enter Wednesday's contest with a 2-7 overall record after falling to Cornell, 101-72, on November 30.
Aleksander Pachucki hit five treys of his own and scored a career-high 17 points for the shorthanded Bison.
Amon Dörries added 14 points and Quin Berger (9) and Josh Fulton (8) set new career scoring highs for the Bison.
Bucknell started the season with wins over Delaware and Mount St. Mary's, but has lost their last seven games.
Amon Dorries leads the Bison in points (14.7), Jayden Williams serves as the primary assist leader (4.1), Grgur Brcic leads the way in rebounds (5.0) and total blocks (7) and Achlie Spadone is the leader in steals.
As a team, Bucknell scores 66.6 points per game and is being outscored by its opponents by 12.8 points. The Bison are shooting .404 from the field and .330 from beyond the arc with 7.7 3pters falling per game. Bucknell shoots .736 from the free-throw line while averaging 32.0 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 14.8 turnovers, 7.1 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.
Bucknell ranks in the top five in the Patriot League in ft pct (4th - .736) and steals (4th - 7.11).
Individually, Jayden Williams ranks 93rd in the NCAA in total assists (37) and Achile Spadoneranks 60th in total steals (17).
CAREER-HIGHS AGAINST THE PANTHERS
Tavari Johnson and Amani Lyles, Chabi Barre and Evan Mahaffey set new career-highs against Milwauke.
- Johnson set a new career-high in assists (11) and set his second double-double in points and assists in as many seasons. He recorded this feat last season at Eastern Michigan (10 pts, 10 ast).
- Lyles reset his career-high for points (25) against the Panthers while also setting a new career-high for FG made (9) on a 9-of-13 shooting night.
- Chabi Barree set a new career-high for FT made (6) against Milwaukee on a 6-of-6 night from the line.
- Evan Mahaffey set a new career-high for FG made (7) against the Panthers while going 7-of-11 from the field.
THIS HASN'T HAPPENED IN A BIT... OR HAS IT?
Tavari Johnson has posted a double-double in points and assists in back-to-back seasons after recording an 11-point, 11-assist performance against Milwaukee (Nov. 29). His 11 assists is also a career-high.
Johnson became the first Zip since Loren Cristian Jackson to post a double-double in points and assists when he scored 10 points and dished out a then career-high 10 assists against Eastern Michigan on January 11, 2025. Jackson scored 12 points and dished out 11 assists on Feb. 19, 2021 at Ball State.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Zips own a 489-136 (.782) all-time record at the James A. Rhodes Arena. In the last 21 seasons, Akron has posted a 285-40 (.877) record at the JAR. Akron is currently on a 20-game winning streak at the JAR dating back to the 2024-25 season, which currently is tied for the third longest home winning streak in the country.
Under coach Groce, Akron is 110-15 (.880)Â at home. The Zips were 15-1 at home in 2022-23,13-1 in 2023-24 and 16-0 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 51-1 (.981) at home against non-conference opponents. Akron is on a 40-0 run against non-conference foes at the JAR since losing to Marshall on Dec. 15, 2018.
HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE
One of the nation's top scoring team's, Akron ranks in the top 10 in scoring offense (5th - 96.1). The Zips are 6-1 this season when scoring 85 or more points. The most recent game this season to feature 85 or more points was 105 against Milwaukee on Nov. 29. Akron scored 85 or more points in 19 games in 2024-25, were 19-0 when hitting that mark and finished ranked No.8 in the nation in scoring offense (84.0).
Under John Groce, Akron is 57-4 (.934) when scoring 85 or more points.
RAINING 3'S
Ranking in the top 10 for made 3's per game (10th - 11.9), Akron has been one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the country the past couple of seasons. The Zips have made 10 or more 3pters in six games this season, with a season-high 15 falling against Princeton.Â
Akron is 4-2 this season when hitting 10 or more 3's and went 18-2 in during the 2024-25 season. Under the direction of John Groce, Akron is 92-22 (.818) when making 10 or more 3's.
Akron ranked 8th in the nation for made 3's per game in 2024-25 (10.7). The Blue and Gold hit 10 or more 3's in 20 games, 15 or more in six, while connecting on 19 3's against South Alabama (Feb. 8), which is the second most in program history.
DISHING OUT DIMES
Ranking in the top 10 in assists per game in the NCAA (4th - 21.0), the Zips aren't afraid to share the rock. Akron has recorded 20 or more assists in four games with a season high 32 coming against PSU Shenango (Nov. 12). The most recent game with 20+ assists was against Milwaukee (24) on Nov. 29.
The Zips are 4-0 this season when recording 20 or more assists and 31-0 with John Groce leading the Blue and Gold.
The Zips ranked 4th in the nation in assists per game (17.7) last season. The Blue and Gold recorded 20 or more assists in 15 games with a season high 28 coming against Ohio Wesleyan (11/8/24).Â
FOUR OR MORE
The Zips have had four or more players score in double-figure scoring in six game this season. The most recent game with four or more Zips scoring in double figures happened on Nov. 29 when seven Zips scored 10 or more points against Milwaukee.
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 SENIOR CLASS: A WHOLE LOT OF WINNING
Akron's senior class has seen a great deal of success wearing the Blue and Gold. Since the 2022-23 season, the Zips have gone 80-31 (.721) overall and 43-11 (.796) in the MAC. Akron has also claimed the MAC Regular Season Title (2025) and MAC Tournament Title (2024+25) in that span as well.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron heads to Tulane for a road contest on Saturday, December 6, with a 4 p.m. ET start.
