The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Toledo
Zips Host Toledo on Tuesday
January 26 | Men's Basketball
Akron and Toledo can be viewed on ESPN+ with Michael Reghi (PxP) and Jeff Phelps (Analyst) on the call. Fans can listen to the action on the 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 (16-4, 7-1 Mid-American) vs Toledo (11-9, 5-3 Mid-American)
Tuesday, Jan. 27 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
7 pm ET – ESPN+ – WHLO 640 AM
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 366-224 | At Akron: 184-92
Toledo: Tod Kowalczyk | Overall Record: 443-317 | At Toledo: 307-205
ALL-TIME SERIES
Toledo Leads: 42-33 | Groce vs. Toledo: 11-10 Overall (6-9 at UA)
First Met: 1915-16 season At Akron (Akron 37, Toledo 8)
Last Met: Mar. 14, 2025 In Cleveland (Akron 100, Toledo 90)
At Akron: 20-13, Neutral: 3-1, At Toledo: 10-28
Current Streak: 3W
INSIDE THE SERIES
Tuesday's game marks the 76th meeting in series history between Akron and Toledo, and the 22nd meeting for a Groce coached squad (16th at Akron). Toledo owns a 42-33 all-time series advantage while Groce is 11-10 all-time and 6-9 at Akron against the Rockets. The Zips have won 14 of the last 27 meetings and snapped a four-game losing skid with a 95-94 overtime win on Jan. 16, 2021, at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Akron took the first meeting in 2024-25 with a come from behind 85-75 victory at the JAR on January 14. The Zips took round two with a 96-87 victory at Savage Arena on March 4. The win was the first road victory for Akron since 2013 and snapped an eight-game skid at Savage. Akron and Toledo met once more in 2024-25, as the Zips won 100-90 in the MAC Tournament Semifinals on Mar. 14.
The Zips took down the Rockets 77-70 at James A. Rhodes Arena in the first meeting in 2023-24 on February 2, while falling 72-64 in Toledo to split the series last season. 2023 saw Toledo sweep the series with an 84-74 win at the JAR (Feb. 7) and an 84-63 win in Toledo (Feb.21). In 2022, the Rockets won the regular season matchup 84-67 on Jan. 28, but the Zips retaliated by knocking off the No. 1 seeded Rockets in the 2022 MAC Tournament and advancing to the NCAA First Round. Akron is 20-13 all-time at Rhodes Arena, 9-28 on the road at Savage Arena, and 3-1in the MAC Tournament.
LAST TIME OUT (AT OHIO 1/23/26)
ATHENS, Ohio - The Akron men's basketball team took down the Ohio Bobcats, 86-65, on ESPNU at the Ohio Convocation Center Friday night to cap off a 2-0 week.
Akron avenged its 84-67 loss to the Bobcats at the Convocation Center last season, which was also featured on the ESPN network.
The Zips (16-4, 7-1) had four players score in double figures, led by Tavari Johnson, who had 24 points and two blocks. Shammah Scott added 19 points off the bench and Amani Lyles helped out with his fifth double-double of the season after recording 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sharron Young added 11 points to the Zips victory. Akron has seen four or more players score in double figures in 16 games this season.
Lyles has scored in double figures in 15 straight games, becoming the first player since Enrique Freeman did it during the 2023-24 season. He has also recorded double-doubles in consecutive games. Johnson has recorded 20+ points in nine of his last 10 games while scoring 20 or more points in four consecutive games. Scott has scored 15 or more points in five of his last seven games.
Led by Evan Mahaffey's three offensive rebounds, Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 11 boards that resulted in nine second chance points.
The Akron defense held Ohio shooters to only 32.8 percent from the field, including 23.5 percent from three-point range.
After jumping out to a 25-18 advantage, Akron went on a 16-0 run with 7:37 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Scott, to increase its lead to 41-18. The Zips then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 48-26 advantage. Akron capitalized on seven Ohio turnovers in the period, turning them into 12 points on the other end of the floor.
Akron kept its lead intact before going on a 7-0 run, finished off by Scott's three, to grow the lead to 82-61 with 3:07 to go in the contest. The Zips held onto that lead for the rest of the game for the 86-65 win. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 16 of its 38 total points.
LAST TIME AGAINST TOLEDO (3/14/25)
CLEVELAND, Ohio - For the second straight year, the Akron men's basketball team will battle for a Mid-American Conference Tournament title after a thrilling 100-90 victory over the Toledo Rockets on Thursday.
Akron shot 55.6 percent from deep on the way to the victory that saw five Zips score in double figures.
The Zips (27-6) were led by Nate Johnson, who had 31 points, six assists, five rebounds and two blocks. N. Johnson's 31 points ties the Akron record for most points scored in a MAC Tournament game. The last player to score 31 points for the Zips in the MAC Tournament was Xavier Castaneda against Buffalo on Mar. 9, 2023. Isaiah Gray added 15 points and Tavari Johnson helped out with 15 points.
The Akron offense was very productive from downtown, pouring in 10 threes on 18 attempts. Nate Johnson was the most prolific shooter for the Zips, draining three treys in the contest.
Akron did a great job disrupting Toledo shots in the contest, coming away with five blocks. Nate Johnson's two rejections led the way individually for the Zips.
After jumping out to a 33-30 advantage, Akron went on an 8-0 run with 7:08 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Shammah Scott, to increase its lead to 41-30. The Zips then maintained that lead and entered halftime with a 52-41 advantage. Akron got a great contribution from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 16 of its 52 total points.
The Zips then held on for the victory in the second half. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 18 of its 48 total points.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
Akron returns home to host Toledo on Tuesday.
The Zips enter Friday's contest with a 16-4 overall record and a 7-1 record in the MAC. The Blue and Gold are 10-0 at home this season.
Akron recently defeated Ohio, 86-65, in Athens, Ohio, on January 23. Tavari Johnson led the Zips with 24 points, Amani Lyles recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Shammah Scott added 19 points off the bench.Â
Johnson leads the Zips in points (20.3) and assists (5.5). Amani Lyles leads the Blue and Gold in rebounds (7.7) while Evan Mahaffey leads the way in steals (1.8) and total blocks (16).
Akron is scoring 92.7 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 17.4 points per game. The Zips shoot .518 from the field while shooting .385 from beyond the arc and average 11.1 3s per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .766 ft percentage while averaging 38.4 rebounds, 20.1 assists, 10.8 turnovers, 8.1 steals and 3.4 blocks per game.
The Zips ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (2nd - 92.7), scoring margin (2nd - +17.4), fg pct (2nd - .518), opp fg pct (1st - .422), 3pt pct (2nd - .385), 3pters made per game (2nd - 11.1), ft pct (3rd - .766), rebounds (2nd - 38.4), opp rebounds (5th - 33.0), off rebounds (4th - 11.7), def rebounds (3rd - 26.7), rebound margin (+5.4), turnover margin (2nd - +3.15), assist-turnover ratio (+1.86), assists (20.05) and steals (8.10).Â
The Zips rank 8th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.86), 4th in assists per game (20.1), 45th in bench points per game (29.95), 4th in effective fg pct (.603), 20th in fastbreak points (16.1), 4th in fg pct (.518), 95th in fg defense (.422), 68th in fewest fouls per game (16.2), 41st in ft pct (.766), 56th in rebound margin (+5.4), 65th in def rebounds (26.65), 72nd in rebounds per game (38.3), 11th in scoring margin (+17.4), 4th in scoring offense (92.7), 73rd in steals per game (8.1), 15th in 3pt pct (.385), 11th in made 3s per game (11.1), 35th in turnover margin (+3.2), 57th in turnovers forced (14.0) and 82nd for fewest turnover per game (10.8).
Individually, Evan Mahaffey ranks 43rd in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+3.04) and 89th in total steals (36). Tavari Johnson ranks 64th in assist-turnover ratio (+2.75), 40th in total assists (110), 74th in fg pct (.546), 9th in made fg (153), 27th in ft pct (.898), 24th in total points (405) and 29th in points per game (20.3). Amani Lyles ranks 69th in double-doubles (5), 34th in fg pct (.595) and 98th in total rebounds (153). Shammah Scott ranks 16th in 3pt pct (.440).
SCOUTING THE ROCKETS
Toledo enters Tuesday's contest with an 11-9 overall record and a 5-3 record in the MAC. The Rockets have gone 3-5 on the road this season.
Toledo recently defeated rival Bowling Green in the Battle of I-75, 73-72, at Savage Arena on January 24. Leroy Blyden Jr. hit a game-winning three-pointer with 7.7 seconds left to lift the Rockets to the victory.Â
Blyden topped Toledo offensively with 19 points in addition to adding five assists and four rebounds. Austin Parks contributed 14 points, six boards, and was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Sean Craig scored 13 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while Kyler Vanderjagt tallied 10 points and a team-high three steals.
Sonny Wilson leads Toledo in points (16.9) and assists (4.5). Craigs is the leader in rebounds (7.9), Blyden leads in steals (1.7) and Parks leads the way in total blocks (24).
Toledo is scoring 82.2 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 4.0 points per game. The Rockets shoot .475 from the field while shooting .345 from beyond the arc and average 6.8 3-pointers per game. Toledo holds a .780 ft percentage while averaging 34.5 rebounds, 15.9 assists, 10.8 turnovers, 7.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per game.
The Rockets ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (5th - 82.3), ft pct (1st - .780), off rebounds (5th - 11.6), turnover margin (4th - +2.75), assist-turnover ratio (3rd - +1.48) and assists (5th - 15.95).
Toledo ranks 60th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.48), 86th in assists per game (16.0), 54th in fastbreak points (14.35), 68th in fg pct (.475), 23rd in fewest fouls per game (15.1), 15th in ft pct (.780), 76th in scoring offense (82.3), 49th in turnover margin (+2.8), 81st in turnovers forced per game (13.5) and 79th in fewest turnovers per game (10.8).
Individually, Sonny Wilson ranks 85th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+2.53), 96th in total assists (91), 97th in assists per game (4.6), 72nd in total fg made (126) and 24th in minutes played per game (35:46). Leroy Blyden Jr. ranks 87th in assist-turnover ratio (+2.52). Sean Craig ranks 48th in double-doubles (6), 79th in total rebounds (158), 38th in off rebounds per game (3.3) and 81st in rebounds per game (7.9).
AMANI LYLES: PLAYER OF THE WEEK (1/26)
Posting back-to-back double-doubles while scoring in double figures in his 14th and 15th consecutive games, Amani Lyles was a driving force for the Zips' 2-0 week.
The veteran big man shot .500 from the field (10-of-20) while averaging 15.5 points and 13 rebounds on the week.
Lyles started the week with a career-high 15 rebounds at Buffalo, which featured six offensive boards. He tacked on 18 points on a 6-of-12 (.500) night from the field, 4-of-9 (.444) from beyond the arc and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe. He added four assists and one steal in the 82-63 victory over the Bulls.
In a nationally televised contest at Ohio, Lyles went 4-of-8 (.500) from the field, 1-of-2 (.500) from deep and 4-of-6 from the free throw line to score 13 points. He added 11 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in the 86-65 triumph over the Bobcats.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 90-27 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.769) in the league. The Zips are 75-24 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 113-28 (.801) 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 258-110 overall (.701), including a 155-32 mark in MAC play at home (.829). The Zips' 258 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 173 of their last 258 MAC games (.670).
HOME SWEET HOME
The Zips own a 494-136 (.784) all-time record at the James A. Rhodes Arena. In the last 21 seasons, Akron has posted a 290-40 (.878) record at the JAR. Akron is currently on a 26-game winning streak at the JAR dating back to the 2024-25 season, which currently is tied for the second longest home winning streak in the country. Saint Thomas currently has won 28 straight to lead the nation. Akron, Miami (OH) and Duke are tied for second with 26.
Under coach Groce, Akron is 116-15 (.885) at home. The Zips were 15-1 at home in 2022-23,13-1 in 2023-24, 16-0 at the JAR in 2024-25 and are 10-0 in 2025-26.
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 26-8 in MAC openers, and 13-1 at home since joining the league in 1992. Over the last 19 seasons, the Zips are 16-3 in MAC openers and 8-1 at home. Akron has won the last 10-of-11 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.
TOP 10 FOR ASSISTS AND CLIMBING
Tavari Johnson entered the top 10 for career assists with 10 assists against CMU (Jan. 6). Standing with 335assists, Johnson needs 10 more to pass Andy Hipsher (2000-04) who is 7th all-time with 344 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. Johnson, who stands at 1,139 points, currently ranks as the 36th highest scorer in program history.
1KÂ POINTS, 300 ASSISTS
Tavari Johnson stands at 1,139 points and 335 assists in his time at Akron. He became 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.
20-POINT PERFORMANCES
The Zips have seen five Zips record 20 or more points in a game this season. Tavari Johnson leads the way with 12 games while scoring a career-high 35 points against Yale. Amani Lyles has three games while scoring a career-high 25 against Milwaukee. Shammah Scott has three game while scoring a career-high 25 against Yale. Eric Mahaffey has one game while scoring a career-high 20 points against Iona. Sharron Young has one game while scoring a career-high 20 against Murray State.
DISHING OUT DIMES
Ranking in the top 10 in assists per game in the NCAA (4th - 20.1), the Zips aren't afraid to share the rock. Akron has recorded 20 or more assists in 10 games with a season high 32 coming against PSU Shenango (Nov. 12). The most recent game with 20+ assists was at Buffalo (21) on Jan. 20, 2026.
The Zips are 10-0 this season when recording 20 or more assists and 37-0 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. 8 (+1.86).
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
HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE
One of the nation's top scoring team's, Akron ranks in the top 10 in scoring offense (4th - 92.7). The Zips are 13-2 this season when scoring 85 or more points. The most recent game this season to feature 85 or more points was 86 Ohio on Jan 23.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 64-5 (.927) when scoring 85 or more points.
RAINING 3S
Ranking in the top 15 for made 3's per game (11th - 11.1), 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 13 games this season, with a season-high 20 falling against Western Michigan. Akron tied the program record for 3s in a game against the Broncos.
Akron is 12-2 this season when hitting 10 or more 3s and went 18-2 in during the 2024-25 season. Under the direction of John Groce, Akron is 100-22 (.819) 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.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron stays at the JAR as rival Kent State comes to town on Friday, January 30, for a 6 p.m. start. The rivalry game will be aired on CBSSN.
