The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Kent State
Akron Battles Rival Kent State on Friday
January 29 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron Zips battle the Kent State Golden Flashes on Friday, January 30, at 6 p.m. for the 168th all-time meeting between the two schools.
Akron and Kent State can be viewed on CBSSN with Alex Del Barrio (PxP) and Pete Gillen (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 (17-4, 8-1 Mid-American) vs Kent State (16-5, 7-2 Mid-American)
Friday, Jan. 30 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
6 pm ET – ESPN+ – WHLO 640 AM
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 367-224 | At Akron: 185-92
Kent State: Rob Senderoff | Overall Record: 304-181 | At Kent State: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 85-82 | Groce vs. Kent State: 16-12 overall (12-7 at UA)
First Met: 1915-16 At Kent State (Akron 37, Kent 16)
Last Met: Feb. 28, 2025 At Akron (Akron 77, Kent 72)
At Akron:48-25 | Neutral: 10-3 | At Kent: 27-54
Current Streak: 5W
INSIDE THE SERIES
Friday's game marks the 168th meeting in series history between Akron and Kent State. Akron leads 85-82. The first meeting was during the 1915-16 season at Kent State where Akron pulled out the win, 37-16. The Zips have won 24 of the last 39 meetings, including the last five meetings. The Zips went 2-0 against the Flashes in 2024-25 after winning at the M.A.C. Center 85-71 on January 31 and 77-72 at the JAR on February 28. Akron claimed the MAC regular season title with its home victory over Kent State last season.
Akron swept the regular season with a 77-71 win at Kent State (Jan. 19) and an 83-70 victory at Rhodes Arena (Feb. 23) in 2023-24 while taking down Kent State in the MAC Championship title game 62-61 to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
The Zips went 1-2 against the Golden Flashes in 2022-23 with each side defending its home court, while Kent State won in the MAC Tournament to take a 82-80 advantage in the overall series. In 2020-21, Akron swept the season series, claiming the New Year's Day game at The JAR (66-62) and followed with a win at the M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio on Feb. 5 (72-61). The season sweep marked the first time either team swept the series since the 2011-12 season when Akron posted three wins. In 2019-20, the two teams split the series as Akron posted a 79-76 victory at James A. Rhodes Arena (March 6) and KSU claimed the earlier contest 68-67 (Jan. 31) at the M.A.C Center.
In 2018-19, Akron and Kent State split the series -- Zips won at home 72-53 (Feb. 8) and Kent State won 68-65 in Kent (March 8). The team from the east entered 2018-19 season winning 2-of-3 contests, including a split in the 2017-18 season series (W 78-68 in Kent), (L 67-65 in Akron) and the 2017 MAC Championship game (W 70-65 in Cleveland). Akron earned a season series sweep, during the 2011-12 season.In fact,the Zips posted three consecutive wins that season, defeating the Flashes 84-75 at home (Jan. 21), 61-55 in Kent (March 2) and 78-74 in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament in Cleveland (March 9).
In addition, Akron won 2-of-3 games the following season (2012-13), winning on the road (71-67, Jan.15) and falling at home (68-64, March 8) before winning its second consecutive semifinal matchup in the MAC Tournament (62-59, March 15). During that stretch, Akron won 5-of-6 games. Neither team has done historically well on the road. Akron is 48-25 at home while just 27-54 on the road against the Golden Flashes. Akron and Kent State have met in the MAC Tournament 10 times. Akron is 7-3 in the MAC Tournament against the Golden Flashes.
In 2016-17,Kent State snapped Akron's 30-game home-court winning streak at the JAR. The longest winning streak in the series for Akron is 9-games from 1941-1947 and Kent State's longest winning streak in the series is 5-games, and it happened twice, 1991-1994, and 1980-1985.
In addition, Akron and Kent State have played for the MAC Tournament championship five times with the the series in favor of the Zips 3-2 in MAC title games. Kent State won the tournament in 2007-08 (74-55), Akron won the title in 2010-11 in overtime (66-65), Kent State won the tournament in 2016-17 (70-65) and the Zips won in 2022 (75-55) and 2024 (62-61).
LAST TIME OUT (VS TOLEDO 1/27/26)
AKRON, Ohio - Down 49-41 at the half, the Akron men's basketball team scored 50 points while holding Toledo to 32 in the second half to secure a 91-81 victory at James A. Rhodes Arena on Tuesday night.
With the win, Akron has secured 27 consecutive wins at the JAR. The Zips have also been victorious over Toledo in four straight games.
Akron (17-4, 8-1) had five players score in double figures, led by Tavari Johnson, who had 25 points, seven assists and two steals. Amani Lyles tacked on 19 points and four assists, Eric Mahaffey helped out with 13 points and eight rebounds off of the bench, Evan Mahaffey had 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals while Zach Halligan scored a career-high 10 points while adding four rebounds and a career-high three steals.
Johnson has scored 20 or more points in four of his last five games. Lyles has also scored in double figures in 16 consecutive games.
Akron out-rebounded Toledo 37-25 in Tuesday's game, paced by Evan Mahaffey's nine boards. The Zips also collected 17 offensive rebounds and scored 20 second chance points.
Akron forced 15 Toledo turnovers while committing 12 themselves in Tuesday's game. The Zips turned those takeaways into 17 points on the other end of the floor. Zach Halligan led the way individually with three steals.
After falling behind 19-17, Akron went on a 6-0 run with 13:39 left in the first half to take a 23-19 lead. The Zips then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 49-41.
Akron came out of halftime clicking on all cylinders, going on an 8-0 run to even the score at 49 all with 15:55 to go in the contest. The Zips kept the rally going and took the lead for good on Shammah Scott's layup with 03:44 left to grab the 91-81 victory. Akron took care of business in the paint, recording 34 of its 50 points in the lane.
CAREER HIGHS AGAINST THE ROCKETS
- Zach Halligan set career-highs in points (10), steals (3)and fg made (4) while tying his career-high in 3s made (2).Eric Mahaffey recorded a career-high three made 3s against the Rockets.
LAST SEASON'S RESULTS AGAINST KENT STATE
AKRON, Ohio (2/28/25) - The Akron men's basketball team claimed its first Mid-American Conference Regular Season title since 2020 after taking down Rival Kent State 77-72 at James A. Rhodes Arena on Friday.
With the win, the Zips have defeated Kent State in the past five meetings.
The Zips (23-6, 15-1) had two players score in double figures, led by Tavari Johnson, who had 16 points. Nate Johnson tacked on a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and Shammah Scott added nine points, six rebounds and three steals.
Led by James Okonkwo's four offensive rebounds, Akron did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 17 boards that resulted in 14 second chance points.
Akron forced 13 Kent State turnovers that turned into 21 points on the other end of the floor. Scott's three steals led the way for Akron.
After falling behind 2-0, Akron went on a 7-0 run with 18:05 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Tavari Johnson, to take a 7-2 lead. The Zips then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 39-32.
Kent State kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 42-32 advantage before Akron went on a 6-0 run, finished off by Seth Wilson's three, to shrink the deficit to 42-38 with 18:15 to go in the contest. The Zips kept the rally going and took the lead for good on Nate Johnson's free throw with 02:27 left for a 77-72 comeback victory. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 14 of its 45 total points.
KENT, Ohio (1/31/25) - The Akron men's basketball team saw all five starters score in double figures and knocked off the Kent State Golden Flashes 85-71 on the road Friday.
The Zips have started conference action with nine straight wins for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
In total, six Zips scored in double-figures and marked the 12th game this season that four or more Zips scored in double figures.
The Zips (16-5, 9-0) were led by Nate Johnson, who had 20 points and two steals. Tavari Johnson added 15 points and five assists and James Okonkwo chipped in with a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. This was Okonkwo's fourth double-double of season.
The Akron offense was impressive from beyond the arc, pouring in 11 threes on 27 attempts. Seth Wilson hit three treys for the Zips in the contest. Akron has scored 10 or more 3's 14 times this season.
The Akron defense held Kent State shooters to just 34.9 percent from the field, including 24 percent from three-point range. The Zips also kept VonCameron Davis to 2-of-12 shooting and six points in the game. The Golden Flashes did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only eight offensive rebounds and scored 11 second chance points while Akron pulled down 30 defensive rebounds.
After jumping out to a 12-7 advantage, Akron went on a 10-0 run with 13:41 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Nate Johnson, to increase its lead to 22-7. The Zips then added two points to that lead by the end of the period and entered halftime with a 48-31 advantage. Akron got a great contribution from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 18 of its 48 total points.
Akron kept its lead intact before going on a 6-0 run, finished off by Isaiah Gray's layup, to grow the lead to 67-48 with 11:05 to go in the contest. The Golden Flashes narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Zips still cruised the rest of the way for the 85-71 win. Akron shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting five shots from deep to score 15 of its 37 points.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 91-27 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.771) in the league. The Zips are 76-24 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 114-28 (.803) 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 259-110 overall (.702), including a 156-32 mark in MAC play at home (.830). The Zips' 259 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 174 of their last 259 MAC games (.672).
HOME SWEET HOME
The Zips own a 495-136 (.784) all-time record at the James A. Rhodes Arena. In the last 21 seasons, Akron has posted a 291-40 (.879) record at the JAR. Akron is currently on a 27-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 27.
Under coach Groce, Akron is 117-15 (.886) 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 11-0 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.
ON NATIONAL TV
The Zips are 2-1 this season in national televised games after falling to Purdue (Big Ten Network) and defeating Bowling Green (CBSSN) and Ohio (ESPNU)
Akron will be featured four more times on national television, with two wildcard dates to be possibly selected. Akron will be featured on CBSSN when they host Kent State (Jan. 30) and UMass (Feb.13) while traveling to Ball State (Feb. 20). The Zips will also be featured on ESPN2 when they travel to Troy (Feb.7).
The remaining dates will be announced 21 days prior to the contests, which may affect two game dates for Akron, including a home contest against NIU (March 6), as well as a road game at Kent State (Feb. 27).
Akron went 6-2 on the national stage in 2024-25 with wins at Bowling Green (71-68), against Ohio (92-80) at Kent State (85-71), against Kent State (77-72), against Toledo (100-90) and against Miami (OH) (76-74). The two defeats came at Ohio (84-67) and against Arizona (93-65).
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
Akron battles rival Kent State on Tuesday in one of the best mid-major rivalries in the country.
The Zips enter Friday's contest with a 17-4 overall record and an 8-1 record in the MAC. The Blue and Gold are 11-0 at home this season.
Akron recently defeated Toledo, 91-81, at the JAR on Tuesday. Five Zips scored in double figures, with Tavari Johnson leading the scoring with 25 points while Amani Lyles recorded his 16th consecutive game in double-figures with 19 points.
Johnson leads the Zips in points (20.5) and assists (5.6). Amani Lyles leads the Blue and Gold in rebounds (7.6) while Evan Mahaffey leads the way in steals (1.8) and total blocks (16).
Akron is scoring 92.6 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 17.0 points per game. The Zips shoot .518 from the field while shooting .385 from beyond the arc and average 11.0 3s per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .767 ft percentage while averaging 38.3 rebounds, 20.0 assists, 10.9 turnovers, 8.1 steals and 3.2 blocks per game.
Akron ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (2nd - 92.6), scoring margin (2nd - +17.0), fg pct (2nd - .518), fg pct defense (1st - .427), 3pt pct (3rd - .385), 3s made per game (2nd - 11.0), ft pct (3rd - .767), rebounds (2nd - 38.3), opp rebounds (4th - 32.6), off rebounds (4th - 11.9), def rebounds (3rd - 26.4), rebound margin (3rd - +5.7), turnover margin (2nd - 3.14), assist-turnover ratio (1st - 1.84), assists (1st - 20.0) and steals (2nd - 8.10).
The Zips rank 8th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.84), 4th in assists per game (20.0), 49th in bench points (29.57), 4th in effective fg pct (.602), 20th in fastbreak points (16.05), 3rd in fg pct (.518), 60th in fewest fouls per game (16.0), 37th in ft pct (.767), 51st in rebound margin (+5.7), 81st in def rebounds (26.33), 75th in rebounds per game (38.24), 10th in scoring margin (+17.0), 4th in scoring offense (92.6), 72nd in steals per game (8.1),16th in 3pt pct (.385), 12th in made 3s per game (11.0), 34th in turnover margin (+3.2), 58th in turnovers forced per game (14.05) and 93rd for fewest turnovers per game (10.9).
Individually, Evan Mahaffey ranks 43rd in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+3.04) and 73rd in total steals (38). Tavari Johnson ranks 54th in assist-turnover ratio (+2.85), 32nd in total assists (117), 37th in assists per game (5.6), 6th in made fg (162), 74th in fg pct (.544), 21st in ft pct (.905), 15th in total points (430) and 22nd in points per game (20.5). Amani Lyles ranks 69th in double-doubles (5), 25th in fg pct (.606), ft pct (21st - .905), 90th in total rebounds (158) and 67th in def rebounds (5.67).
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN FLASHES
Kent State enters Friday's contest with a 16-5 overall record and a 7-2 record in the MAC. The Golden Flashes have won back-to-back games and are 3-3 on the road.
Kent State recently took down Ohio, 72-57, at home on Tuesday. Morgan Safford, Delrecco Gillespie, and Magnus Entenmann all recorded double-doubles as the Flashes pulled away down the stretch for their largest margin of victory in a conference win this season. Three Kent State players recorded a double-double for the second time this season as Safford (18 points, 10 rebounds), Gillespie (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Entenmann (12 points, 10 rebounds) lit up the score sheet.
Gillespie leads the Golden Flashes in points (19.1), rebounds (12.3) and total blocks (34). Cian Medley leads the way in assists (6.9) and steals (1.4).
Kent State is scoring 89.2 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 7.6 points per game. The Golden Flashes shoot .472 from the field while shooting .363 from beyond the arc and average 10 3-pointers per game. Kent State holds a .753 ft percentage while averaging 40.5 rebounds, 17.6 assists, 14.4 turnovers, 6.4 steals and 3.8 blocks per game.
The Golden Flashes rank in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (3rd - 89.2), scoring margin (4th - +7.6), fg pct defense (3rd - .434), 3pt pct (4th - .363), 3s made per game (3rd - 10.0), ft pct (4th - .753), rebounds (1st - 40.5), off rebounds (2nd - 12.8), def rebounds (1st - 27.8), rebound margin (1st - +7.1), blocked shots (3rd - 3.81) and assists (2nd - 17.57).
Kent State ranks 29th in the NCAA in assists per game (17.6), 55th in effective fg pct (.553), 76th in fastbreak points (13.38), 78th in fg pct (.472), 9th in ft attempts per game (27.0), 71st in ft pct (.753), 4th in made ft per game (20.3), 27th in rebound margin (+7.1), 28th in def rebounds (27.75), 58th in off rebounds (12.76), 26th in rebounds per game (40.52), 93rd in scoring margin (+7.6), 14th in scoring offense (89.2), 61st in 3pt pct (.363) and 42nd in made 3s per game (10.0).
Individually, Cian Medley ranks 9th in the NCAA in total assists (138) and 9th in assists per game (6.9). Delrecco Gillespie ranks 58th in total blocks (34), 70th in blocks per game (1.62), 1st in double-doubles (17), 57th in fg pct (.557), 20th in made fg (147), 85th in ft attempts (123), 85th in made ft (95), 38th in total points (402), 55th in points per game (19.1), 1st in rebounds (259), 1st in def rebounds (9.14), 45th in off rebounds (3.19) and 1st in rebounds per game (12.3).
TOP 10 FOR ASSISTS AND CLIMBING
Tavari Johnson entered the top 10 for career assists with 10 assists against CMU (Jan. 6). Standing with 342 assists, Johnson needs 3 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 1,164 points, currently ranks as the 30th highest scorer in program history.
1K POINTS, 300 ASSISTS
Tavari Johnson stands at 1,164 points and 342 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.
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 91-33 (.734) overall and 51-12 (.809) in the MAC. Akron has also claimed the MAC Regular Season Title (2025) and MAC Tournament Title (2024+25) in that span as well.
SNCE 19-20
Since the 2019-20 season, Akron has recorded a 154-58 (.726) overall record and an 91-27 (.771) record in the MAC. The Zips have claimed the MAC Regular Season Title twice ('20,'25) and the MAC Tournament Title three times as well ('22,'24'25).
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 13 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 - 20.0), 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 (+1.84).
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).
HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE
One of the nation's top scoring team's, Akron ranks in the top 10 in scoring offense (4th - 92.6). The Zips are 14-2 this season when scoring 85 or more points. The most recent game this season to feature 85 or more points was 91 against Toledo on Jan 27.
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 65-5 (.928) when scoring 85 or more points.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron travels to Eastern Michigan for a conference match on Tuesday, February 3, at 6:30 p.m.
