The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
South Alabama
Zips Host South Alabama to Conclude the MAC-SBC Challenge
February 07 | Men's Basketball
Akron (17-5, 10-0 Mid-American) vs South Alabama (16-8, 8-4 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Feb. 8 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
2 pm ET – ESPN + - WHLO 640
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 339-218 | At Akron: 157-86
South Alabama:Â Richie Riley | Overall Record: 161-119 | At South Alabama: 126-91
ALL-TIME SERIES
South Alabama Leads 2-0 |Â Groce vs. South Alabama: First Meeting
First Met: Dec. 18, 1980 (L, South Ala. 52, Akron 49) At Akron
Last Met: Jan. 11, 1982Â (L, South Ala. 65, Akron 55) At South Ala.
At Akron:0-1 | At South Alabama: 0-1
Current Streak: 2L
INSIDE THE SERIES
Akron and South Alabama will meet for the third time in the all-time series. This will be the second time the Jaguars have ventured to Akron while the Jaguars hold wins in the previous two meetings.
The Zips hosted South Alabama on Dec. 18, 1980 where they fell 52-29. The Blue and Gold fell to the Jaguars in Mobile, Ala., 65-55 on January 11, 1981 in the most recent meeting.
Akron great Joe Jakubick led the Zips in scoring in the first all-time meeting with 13 points on a 6-of-9 shooting night. The Jaguars had come off an upset victory over #7 Ohio State two days before.
Jakubick would lead the Zips scoring in the second meeting with 28 points while adding four assists and five steals.
SCOUTING THE JAGUARS
The Jaguars come into Saturday's game with a 16-8 overall record, an 8-4 record in the SBC and a 6-4 record on the road.
South Alabama is coming off an 84-59 victory at Coastal Carolina on February 5 that saw four Jaguars finish in double-figure scoring. Myles Corey led the Jaguars with 27 points on a 10-of-13 shooting night and went 7-of-8 from beyond the arc. Barry Dunning Jr. scored 15 points and had six rebounds and three assists in the win.
Corey leads the Jaguars in scoring (15.0) and assists (4.1) so far this season. Dunning Jr., who is the only other Jaguar to average double-figure scoring this season (12.3), is the leader in rebounds (6.6) while John Broom leads the way in steals (1.8) and blocks (17).Â
South Alabama averages 72.1 points per game and has outscored their opponents this season by 9.9 points per game. USA is shooting .442 from the field and .335 from beyond the arc with 9.5 3-point shots falling per game. The Jaguars are also shooting .686 from the free-throw line. South Alabama averages 35.5 rebounds, 15.3 assists, 9.3 turnovers, 9.5 steals and 2.7 blocks per game.Â
The Jaguars rank in the top five in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (1st - 62.2), scoring margin (1st - +9.9), fg pct (5th - .442), opp fg pct (1st - .375), 3pters made per game (1st - 9.5), def reb. (5th - 25.7), turnover margin (1st - +4.92), assist-turnover ratio (1st - +1.64), assists (1st - 15.33) and steals (1st - 9.50).Â
South Alabama ranks 11th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.64), 78th in assist per game (15.3), 50th in bench points (27.21), 43rd in fastbreak points (13.68), 5th in fg defense (.375), 8th in fewest fouls per game (13.2), 10th in scoring defense (62.2), 49th in scoring margin (+9.9), 15th in steals per game (9.5), 25th in 3pt shots attempted (28.4), 43rd in 3pt shots made per game (9.5), 10th in turnover (+4.9), 50th in turnovers forced per game (14.25) and 7th in fewest turnovers (9.3). John Broom ranks 59th in total steals (43) and 94th in steals per game (1.79). JJ Wheat ranks 94th in total steals (40). Judah Brown ranks 55th in 3pt pct. (.407) and 76th in total 3pt shots made (61).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips wrap up the MAC-SBC Challenge when South Alabama comes to the JAR on Saturday. The Zips hold a 16-5 overall record, a 10-0 record in the MAC and an 11-0 record at home.
Akron is coming off an 81-73 victory over Ball State on February 4. Sharron Young recorded a career-high 18 points while four Zips finished in double-figure scoring.
N. Johnson leads the Zips in scoring (13.8) and steals (1.9). Nate is one of three Zips to average 10 or more points per game with Tavari Johnson (12.4) and Isaiah Gray (10.2) rounding out the list. T. Johnson leads Akron in assists (4.3) while James Okonkwo leads the Zips in rebounds (7.7). Okonkwo and Amani Lyles share the lead for blocks this season (23).
Akron is currently scoring 83.9 points per game and has outscored its opponents by 11.0 points per game this season. The Zips are shooting .461 from the field while shooting .359 from beyond the arc and averages 11.3 threes per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .750 ft percentage while averaging 40.4 rebounds, 18.5 assists,12.4 turnovers, 7.7 steals and 3.7 blocks per game.
Akron is in the top five in the MAC for scoring offense (1st - 83.9), scoring defense (4th - 72.9),  scoring margin (1st - +11.0), fg pct. (5th - .461), opp. fg pct (2nd - .420), 3pt pct (3rd - .359), opp. 3pt pct (2nd - .313), 3pters made (1st - 11.3), ft pct (3rd - .750), rebounds (1st - 40.4), off. rebounds (3rd - 12.5), def. rebounds (1st - 27.9), rebound margin (1st - +4.8), assist-turnover margin (1st - +1.49), blocked shots (t1st - 3.68), assists (1st - 18.50) and steals (t3rd - 7.73).
Akron ranks 33rd in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.49), 5th in assists per game (18.5), 9th in bench points (33.68), 55th in effective pg pct (.546), 20th in fastbreak points (14.64), 91st in fg pct defense (.420), 70th in ft pct (.750), 47th in rebound margin (+5.0), 18th in def. rebounds (27.95), 51st in off. rebounds (12.73), 12th in rebounds (40.68), 37th in scoring margin (+11.0), 12th in scoring offense (83.9), 87th in steals per game (7.7), 3rd in 3pt attempts (31.4), 81st in 3pt pct. (.359), 74th in 3pt oct defense (31.3) and 4th in 3pt shots made per game (11.3). James Okonkwo ranks 78th in the NCAA in off. rebounds per game (2.82) and 97th in rebounds per game (7.8) while Nate Johnson ranks 78th in total steals (41) and 71st in steals per game (1.86).
WINNING... IT'S WHATÂ WE DO
Akron is currently on a 10-game winning streak to begin conference play. The Zip's winning streak is the third longest in the country. Duke's 16-game winning streak leads the nation followed by Auburn's 14 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 five teams to hold a perfect record in conference play. Teams that the Zips have battled this season that are also undefeated in conference is Yale. Nine teams have yet to win a conference game this season.
HOT START TO #MACTION
The Blue and Gold have started conference play with10 straight wins. The 10 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 10-0Â was when the 2012-13 squad began conference with 13 straight wins. The 2012-13 squad started #MACtion to the tune of a 13-0 record and finished that season 26-7 overall and 14-2 in the MAC.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 75-25 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.750) in the league. The Zips are 61-22 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 105-28 (.789) 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 244-108 overall (.693), including a 147-32 mark in MAC play at home (.821). The Zips' 244 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 159 of their last 223 MAC games (.713).
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 an 11-0 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 three schools are perfect on the road.
NON-CONFERENCE FOES AT THE JAR
Under John Groce, Akron is currently 46-1 (.978) at home against non-conference opponents. Akron is on a 36-0 run against non-conference foes at the JAR since losing to Marshall on Dec. 15, 2018.
CAREER NIGHT AGAINST THE CARDINALS
Sharron Young reset his career-high in scoring after dropping 18 points (7-of-9, .778) off the bench against the Ball State Cardinals on February 4 to help lead the Zips to an 81-73 MAC win.
COMING OFF THE BENCH
Akron ranks 9th in the NCAA for bench production with 33.68 points per game. The Zips' bench has recorded 16 games with 30 or more points and seven games with 40 or more points. The Akron bench recorded a season high 49 points against Ball State om February 4.
DISHING OUT DIMES
Ranking in the top-10 in assists per game in the NCAA (5th - 18.5), the Zips aren't afraid to share the rock. Akron has recorded 21 or more assists in 10 games with a season high 28 coming against Ohio Wesleyan (11/8/24).Â
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Zips return to conference action when they welcome the Western Michigan Broncos to the JAR on Tuesday, February 11 for a 7 p.m. start.
