The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Ball State
Zips Host Ball State at the JAR on Tuesday
February 03 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio -Â The Akron Zips host Ball State on Tuesday, February 4 for the 50th meeting between the two schools. Akron and Ball State can be viewed on ESPN + with Micheal Reghi (PxP) and Jeff Phelps (Analyst) on the call. Fans can listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP), Joe Dunn (Analyst) on the call. Live stats are also available on GoZips.com/coverage.
Akron (16-5, 8-0 Mid-American) vs Ball State (10-11, 4-5 Mid-American)
Tuesday, Feb. 4 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
7 pm ET – ESPN + - WHLO 640
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 338-218 | At Akron: 156-86
Ball State:Â Michael Lewis | Overall Record: 45-39 | At Ball State: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 30-19 |Â Groce vs. Ball State:Â 7-4 (10-7 Overall)
First Met: 1937-38 (L, Ball State 39, Akron 38) At Akron
Last Met: Jan. 9, 2024 (W, Akron 80, Ball State 76) At Ball State
At Akron:17-6 | Neutral: 2-0 |Â At Ball State: 12-13
Current Streak: 2W
INSIDE THE SERIES
Akron and Ball State will be meeting for the 50th time on Tuesday. The Zips are 30-19 all-time against the Cardinals while John Groce is 10-7 overall and 7-4 at Akron against Ball State.
Akron is 17-6 all-time against BSU at home, 11-12 at BSU and 2-0 in neutral site games. Akron is 1-1 all-time versus Ball State in the MAC Tournament.
In the sole meeting last season, Akron came away with an 80-76 victory at Worthen Arena. Down 35-33 at the half, Akron used a 47-point second half to come away with the victory.
Akron split the series in 2022-23 against BSU with each team winning on their home court. The Zips fell 70-63 on January 6 in Muncie, Ind., while winning 87-83 at the JAR last season.
UA's Jimond Ivey broke Worthen Arena's all-time scoring mark of 41 points previously held by Bonzi Wells (Ball State, 1996) and Earl Boykins (Eastern Michigan, 1998). Ivey's nine 3-pointers set an arena record and he tied the arena record for made field goals (15) set in 1992 by Xavier's Brian Grant. In addition, the 217 combined points are the most in Worthen Arena history, while Akron's 106 points are the most ever by a visiting team and by the losing team in that arena.
SCOUTING THEÂ CARDINALS
The Cardinals come into Tuesday's contest with a 10-11 overall record, a 4-5 record in the MAC and a 4-5 record on the road.
Ball State is coming off an 89-76 victory at Buffalo on February 1 that saw four Cardinals in double-figure scoring. Payton Sparks had a 27-point, 14-rebound double-double on a 10-of-19 shooting performance from the field. Mickey Person Jr. had 19 points and Jermahri Hill posted 18 points.
Hill leads the Cardinals in scoring (16.3), assists (3.2), and steals (1.0). Payton Sparks is the leader in rebounds (8.1) and total blocks (12). Hill is one of three Cardinals to average double-figure scoring with Sparks (12.8) and Pearson Jr. (11.9) rounding out the list.
Ball State averages 76.1 points per game and has outscored their opponents this season by 2.4 points per game. BSU is shooting .459 from the field and .347 from beyond the arc with 7.3 3-point shots falling per game. The Cardinals are also shooting .687 from the free throw line. Ball State averages 36.2 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 12.0 turnovers, 5.1 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.Â
The Cardinals rank in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (5th - 76.1) scoring defense (5th - 73.7), fg pct (4th - .459), opp. fg (4th- .432), 3pt pct (4th - .347), opp. 3pt pct. (4th - .318), rebounds (4th - 36.2) and def. rebounds (2nd - 26.5).
Ball State ranks 6th in the NCAA for ft attempted per game (26.8), 10th in ft made per game (18.4), and 64th in def. reb. (26.52). Payton Sparks ranks 86th in double-doubles (5), 28th in ft attempts (147), 84th in total rebounds (170), 62nd in off. reb. (2.95) and 66th in rebounds per game (8.1). Jermahi Hill ranks 25th in ft attempted (148) and 60th in ft made (99). Juanse Gorosito ranks 42nd in 3pt pct. (.415) and 98th in 3pters made per game (2.57).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips return to James A. Rhodes Arena to begin a three-game homestand when the Ball State Cardinals come to Akron on Tuesday. Akron is 15-5 overall, 9-0 in the MAC and 10-0 at home.
Akron is coming off an 85-71 victory over Kent State on January 31. The Zips had six players score in double figures, which featured all five starters. Nate Johnson led the Zips' scoring efforts with 20 coming against the Flashes. Tavari Johnson added 15 points while James Okonkwo recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
N. Johnson leads the Zips in scoring (13.7) and steals (2.0). Nate is one of three Zips to average 10 or more points per game with Tavari Johnson (12.7) and Gray (10.6) rounding out the list. T. Johnson leads Akron in assists (4.2) while James Okonkwo leads the Zips in rebounds (7.8) and total blocks (23).
Akron is currently scoring 84.0 points per game and has outscored its opponents by 11.1 points per game this season. The Zips are shooting .457 from the field while shooting .363 from beyond the arc and averages 11.5 3's per game. The Blue and Gold holds a .756 ft percentage while averaging 40.8 rebounds, 18.4 assists,12.6 turnovers, 7.8 steals and 3.7 blocks per game.
Akron is in the top five in the MAC for scoring offense (1st - 84.0), scoring defense (3rd - 72.9),  scoring margin (1st - +11.1), opp. fg pct (2nd - .414), 3pt pct (2nd - .363), opp. 3pt pct (3rd - .314), 3pters made (1st - 11.5), ft pct (2nd - .756), rebounds (1st - 40.8), off. rebounds (3rd - 12.6),Â
def. rebounds (1st - 28.2), rebound margin (1st - +4.9), assist-turnover margin (1st - +1.46), blocked shots (2nd - 3.71), assists (1st - 18.38) and steals (t2nd - 7.81).
The Zips rank 42nd in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.46), 7th in assists per game (18.4), 10th in bench points (32.95), 65th in effective fg pct. (.544), 25th in fastbreak points (14.62), 79th in fg defense (.414), 49th in ft pct. (.756), 46th in rebound margin (+5.1), 15th in def. reb. (28.29). 49th in off. reb. (12.86), 8th in rebounds per game (41.14), 36th in scoring margin (+11.1), 12th in scoring offense (84.0), 84th in steals per game (7.8), 3rd in 3-point shots attempted (31.6), 70th in 3pt pct. (.363), 78th in 3pt defense (.314) and 3rd for 3-point shots made per game (11.5). James Okonkwo ranks 62nd in off. reb. (2.95) and 90th in rebounds per game (7.9). Nate Johnson ranks 61st in total steals (41) and 59th in steals per game (1.95).
WINNING...ITS WHAT WE DO
Akron is currently on a nine-game winning streak to begin conference play. The Zip's winning streak is the fifth-longest. Duke's 15-game winning streak leads the nation followed by Houston and Cleveland State's 13 wins. On the other side, Green Bay holds the nation's longest losing streak with 19 straight defeats.
UNDEFEATED IN CONFERENCE
Akron is one of 7 teams to hold a perfect record in conference play. Teams that the Zips have battled this season that are also undefeated in conference are Yale and Saint Mary's. 10 teams have yet to win a conference game this season.
HOT START TO #MACTION
The Blue and Gold have started conference play with nine straight wins. The nine wins to begin conference action is the best start for an Akron-led John Groce squad. The Blue and Gold started last season 7-0 in MAC play.
The last time the Zips started 9-0Â was when the 2016-17 squad began conference with nine straight wins. The 2012-13 squad started #MACtion to the tune of a 13-0 record. The Zips finished that season 26-7 overall and 14-2 in the MAC.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 74-25 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.747) in the league. The Zips are 60-22 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 104-28 (.788) 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 243-108 overall (.692), including a 146-32 mark in MAC play at home (.820). The Zips' 243 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 158 of their last 222 MAC games (.712).
PERFECT AT HOME
Out of the 364 Div. I basketball teams, just 21 remain perfect at home. One of those teams is the Akron Zips, who have a 10-0 record at their home crib. Akron is the only team in the MAC to have a perfect home record. There are two other teams the Zips have played are perfect at home, Arkansas State and Yale. New Orleans (Southland) is the only school yet to win at home this season. On the flip side, just four schools are perfect on the road, one of which is Saint Mary's.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Zips own a 479-135 (.780) all-time record at the James A. Rhodes Arena. In the last 17 seasons, Akron has posted a 275-40 (.873) record at the JAR. The Zips recorded a 13-1 record at the JAR last season and had won their last 16 home games dating back to the 2022-23 season before falling to EMU on March 5, 2024.
Under coach Groce, Akron is 97-15 (.866) at home. The Zips were 15-1 at home in 2022-23 and 13-1 in 2023-24. Akron is 10-0 at the JAR in 2024-25.
Akron owns a 102-21 (.829) home-opening record and 38-4 (.905) at Rhodes Arena. The Zips have been winners in the last 22-of-23 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.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips conclude their non-conference schedule with the last round of the MAC-SBC Challenge when South Alabama comes to the JAR on Saturday, February 8 for a 2 p.m. start.
