The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Miami (OH)
Zips Travel to Miami For Conference Showdown
January 02 | Men's Basketball
Akron and Miami can be viewed on ESPN + with Steve Baker (PxP) and Randy Hollowell (Analyst) on the call. Fans can listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst) on the call. Live stats are also available on GoZips.com/coverage.
Akron (10-3, 1-0 Mid-American) at Miami (14-0, 2-0 Mid-American)
Saturday, Jan. 3 – Millett Hall – Oxford, Ohio
3:30 pm ET – ESPN + – WHLO 640 AM
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 360-223 | At Akron: 178-91
Concord: Travis Steele | Overall Record: 136-96 | At Miami: 66-46
ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 40-33 | Groce vs. Miami: 17-7 (11-4 at UA)
First Met: Feb. 20, 1915 At Miami (Akron 14, Miami 45)
Last Met: Mar. 15, 2025 In Cleveland (Akron 76, Miami 74)
At Akron: 23-9 | Neutral: 4-1 | At Miami: 13-23
Current Streak: 3W
INSIDE THE SERIES
Saturday's game marks the 74th meeting in series history between Akron and Miami, and 25th meeting for a Groce coached squad (17-7), 16th at Akron (11-4). Akron leads the series 40-33, and the Zips have won 11 of the last 12 meetings, including twice in 2025 with the Blue and Gold coming up victorious 76-74 in the MAC Championship. Akron took the lone regular season meeting in 2024-25 with a 102-75 victory at the JAR on January 25.
The Zips fell to the RedHawks on the road in 2023-24, 70-68 on January 27 before defeating the RedHawks in the MAC Tournament 75-63. Akron is 23-9 at home, 4-1 at neutral site courts and 13-23 in Oxford.
LAST TIME OUT (VS CONCORD 12/29/25)
AKRON, Ohio - Tavari Johnson became the 50th Zip in program history to record 1,000 points and the Akron men's basketball team recorded its 800th win at the Div. I level with a 115-64 victory over the Concord Mountain Lions at James A. Rhodes Arena on Monday.
The last Zip to reach the 1,000 point milestone was Ali Ali, who scored his 1,000th point as a Zip in the 2023-24 season.
Akron recorded its 23rd consecutive win at the JAR while also notching its ninth game of the season with 10 or 3's and seventh game with 20 or more assists.Â
It was also the fifth game this season that the Blue and Gold scored 100 or more points in a game.
The Zips (10-3) had four players score in double figures, led by Johnson, who had 28 points, six assists and three steals. Evan Mahaffey added a career-high18 points and three steals, Shammah Scott added 12 points, five assists and three rebounds from the bench while Amani Lyles recorded 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists, two steals and one block.
Akron out-rebounded Concord 41-31 in Monday's game, led by Lyles' seven boards.
The Akron defense held Concord shooters to just 33.3 percent from the field.
Akron started out the scoring by going on a 13-0 run, culminating in a bucket from Lyles, to take an early lead with 16:41 left in the first half. The Zips then added nine points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 47-25 advantage. Akron did most of its first half damage in the paint, scoring 28 of its 47 points close to the basket.
Following the intermission, Akron kept widening that lead, expanding it to 90-56 before going on a 15-0 run, finished off by Ognjen Stankovic's layup, to grow the lead to 105-56 with 3:11 to go in the contest. The Zips kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 115-64 win. Akron took care of business in the paint, recording 44 of its 68 points in the lane.
LAST TIME AGAINST MIAMI (3/15/25)
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Nate Johnson hit a buzzer-beating shot with only two seconds left on the clock to lead the Akron men's basketball team over Miami, 76-74, to capture the program's sixth Mid-American Conference Tournament title and seventh NCAA Tournament berth at Rocket Arena on Saturday (March 15).
The Zips (28-6) had two players score in double figures, led by Nate Johnson, who had 22 points and five assists. Junior Tavari Johnson tacked on 15 points and junior Amani Lyles added six points and 14 rebounds.
Akron out-rebounded Miami, 35-26, in Saturday's game, paced by Lyles' 14 boards. The Zips also grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and scored seven second-chance points.
Akron narrowed its deficit late in the second half to 72-67 before going on a 7-0 run to seize a 74-72 lead with 1:05 to go in the contest. The Zips held onto that lead for the rest of the game for the 76-74 win. Akron shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting seven shots from deep to score 21 of its 42 points.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
Akron returns to Mid-American Conference action when it travels to Oxford, Ohio, to battle the Miami RedHawks.Â
The Zips enter Saturday's contest with a 10-3 overall record and a 1-0 record in the MAC.
The Blue and Gold recorded its fifth game this season with 100 or more points when it took down Concord at the JAR 115-64 on Dec. 29. Tavari Johnson led the Zips in scoring with 28 points and became the 50th 1,000-point scorer in program history.
Johnson leads the Blue and Gold in scoring (20.5) and assists (5.1). Amani Lyles leads Akron in rebounding (6.5) while Evan Mahaffey leads the way in steals (1.7). Chabi Barre holds the top mark for blocks (10) so far this season.
Akron is scoring 97.1 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 20.2 points per game. The Zips shoot .532 from the field while shooting .386 from beyond the arc and average 10.8 3-pointers per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .754 ft percentage while averaging 39.1 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 9.8 turnovers, 8.0 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.
Akron ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (1st - 97.1), scoring margin (3rd - +20.2), fg pct (2nd - .532), fg pct defense (3rd - .421), 3pt pct (3rd - .386), 3pters made per game (3rd - 10.8), ft pct (3rd - .754), rebounds (3rd - 39.1), off rebounds (4th - 12.0), def rebounds (3rd - 27.1), reb margin (4th - +5.3), turnover margin (2nd - +4.69), assist-turnover ratio (1st - +2.16), blocked shots (4th - 3.54), assists (1st - 21.08) and steals (2nd - 8.00).
The Zips rank 1st in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+2.16), 4th in assists per game (21.1), 77th in bench points per game (29.62), 5th in effective fg pct (.612), 19th in fastbreak points (.612), 4th in fg pct (.532), 50th in fewest fouls per game (15.6), 67th in ft pct (.754), 94th in rebound margin (+5.2), 88th in def. rebounds (27.00), 83rd in rebounds per game (39.0), 17th in scoring margin (+20.2), 2nd in scoring offense (97.1), 99th in steals per game (8.0), 21st in 3pt pct (.386), 27th in 3pters made per game (10.8), 17th in turnover margin (+4.8), 65th in turnovers forced per game (14.54), and 23rd in fewest turnovers per game (9.8).
Individually, Evan Mahaffey is 7th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (4.64). Tavari Johnson is 28th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (3.47), 79th in fg attempts (180), 73rd in fg pct (.561), 16tg in made fg (101), 45th in ft pct (.895), 37th in total points (266) and 27th in points per game (20.5). Shammah Scott is 56th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (3.00). Amani Lyles is 29th in fg pct (.613).
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
The Miami RedHawks enter Saturday with a 14-0 overall record and a 2-0 record in the MAC.
The RedHawks' 14-game winning streak is the second longest in the nation behind Nebraska's 17-game streak, which stretches back to 2025 when they captured the College Basketball Crown title in Las Vegas, Nev. Miami is also on a 22-game home winning streak.
Miami recently defeated Bowling Green, 93-83, on December 30. Brant Byers and Peter Suder each led the RedHawks with 17 points, while Luke Skaljac (15) and Antwone Woolfolk (14) added double figures in scoring. The RedHawks were 22-of-24 from the free-throw line while shooting 54.5 percent from the field.
Byers leads the RedHawks in scoring (14.6) while Skaljac is the leader in assists (4.2). Eian Elmer serves as the leading rebounder (5.9), Woolfolk leads the squad in steals (1.5), while Tyler Robbins leads the way in total blocks (13).
Miami is scoring 94.9 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 23.0 points per game. The RedHawks shoot .546 from the field while shooting .439 from beyond the arc and average 11.0 3-pointers per game. Miami holds a .778 ft percentage while averaging 36.7 rebounds, 18.1 assists, 11.0 turnovers, 7.6 steals and 3.3 blocks per game.
Miami ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (2nd - 94.9), scoring defense (5th - 71.9), scoring margin (1st - 23.0), fg pct (1st - .546), fg pct defense (2nd - .416), 3pt pct (1st - .439), opp 3pt pct (2nd - .310), 3pters made per game (1st - 11.8), ft pct (1st - .778), opp rebounds (1st - 31.1), def rebounds (1st - 28.5), reb margin (3rd - +5.6), turnover margin (4th - +2.71), assist-turnover ratio (2nd - 1.64) and assists (3rd - 18.07).
The RedHawks rank 35th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.64), 37th in assists per game (18.1), 22nd in bench points per game (35.36), 1st in effective fg pct (.643), 1st in fg pct (.546), 93rd in fg defense (.416), 75th in fewest fouls per game (16.1), 14th in ft pct (.778), 92nd in made ft per game (17.0), 81st in rebound margin (+5.6), 29th in def. rebounds (28.5), 11th in scoring margin (+23.0), 7th in scoring offense (94.9), 1st in 3pt pct (.439), 90th in 3pt defense (.310), 5th in 3pters made per game (11.8), 68th in turnover margin (+2.7), and 89th for fewest turnovers per game (11.0).
Individually, Luke Skaljac ranks 29th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+3.47). Evan Ipsaro ranks 93rd in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+2.60). Brant Byers ranks 30th in 3pt pct (.443).
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 83-26 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.761) in the league. The Zips are 69-23 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 110-28 (.797) 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 252-109 overall (.698), including a 152-32 mark in MAC play at home (.826). The Zips' 252 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 167 of their last 252 MAC games (.663).
ON THE ROAD
Akron is 1-1 in road contest this season, falling to No. 2/1 Purdue while defeating Tulane.
The Zips were 8-4 on the road in 2024-25.
CAREER-HIGHS AGAINST THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
- Evan Mahaffey set a career-high 18 points against and tied his career-high for made FG (7) against Concord.
- Marvin Musiime-Kamali tied his career-high for blocks (2) against Concord.
- Ognjen Stankovic set a career-high in assists (3) against Concord.
CLOSING IN ON THE TOP 10 FOR ASSISTS
Tavari Johnson currently has 291 career assists as a Zip. He is 10 away from passing Joe Jakubick's (1980-84) 300 career assists for 10th all time. Steve McNees (2007-11) is 9th all-time with 318 assists.
1K SCORING AS A ZIP AND CLIMBING
Tavari Johnson recorded his 1,000th career point wearing the Akron Blue and Gold against Concord on Dec. 29, 2025 with a 28 point performance. He became the 50th player in program history to record 1k points. Sam Serves (1942-47) is No. 49 on the all-time scoring list with 1,013 points.Â
1k POINTS, 300 ASSISTS
Tavari Johnson stands at 1,000 points and 291 assists in his time at Akron. He'd become the first player since Loren Cristian Jackson to record 1k points and at least 300 assists in his career as a Zip and just the eighth player all-time.
HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE
One of the nation's top scoring team's, Akron ranks in the top 10 in scoring offense (2nd - 97.1). The Zips are 10-2 this season when scoring 85 or more points. The most recent game this season to feature 85 or more points was 115 against Concord on Dec. 29.Â
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 61-5 (.924) when scoring 85 or more points.
DISHING OUT DIMES
Ranking in the top 10 in assists per game in the NCAA (4th - 21.1), the Zips aren't afraid to share the rock. Akron has recorded 20 or more assists in seven games with a season high 32 coming against PSU Shenango (Nov. 12). The most recent game with 20+ assists was against Concord (23) on Dec 29.
The Zips are 7-0 this season when recording 20 or more assists and 34-0 with John Groce leading the Blue and Gold.
Akron is also one of the top teams in the country when it comes to assist-turnover ratio, ranking no. 1 (+2.16).
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
RAINING 3'S
Ranking in the top 30 for made 3's per game (27th- 10.8), 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 nine games this season, with a season-high 15 falling against Princeton.Â
Akron is 7-2 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 95-22 (.812) 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.
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 84-32 (.724) overall and 44-11 (.800) 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 returns to the JAR on Tuesday, January 6 to host Central Michigan for a 7 p.m. start.
