The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
UMass
Zips Host UMass; Honor Isaiah Johnson on Friday
February 12 | Men's Basketball
Akron (19-5, 10-1 Mid-American) vs UMass (15-10, 6-6 Mid-American)
Friday, Feb. 13 – James A. Rhodes Arena – Akron, Ohio
9 pm ET – CBSSN – WHLO 640 AM
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 369-225 | At Akron: 187-93
UMass:Â Frank Martin | Overall Record: 350-258 | At UMass: 62-57
ALL-TIME SERIES
Series Tied 1-1 | Groce vs UMass (1-0)
First Met: Mar.22, 2008Â At UMass (NIT Tournament) (Akron 63, UMass 68)
Last Met: Dec. 30, 2019Â At Akron (Akron 85, UMass 79)
At UA: 1-0 | At UMass: 0-1
LAST TIME OUT (AT TROY 2/7/26)
TROY, Ala. - The Akron men's basketball team fell 79-69 to the Troy Trojans on Saturday.
The Zips (19-5) had two players score in double figures, led by Tavari Johnson, who had 26 points. Shammah Scott tacked on 11 points and five assists off of the bench. Amani Lyles turned in a nine-point, seven rebound performance, Evan Mahaffey added four points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block while Eric Mahaffey notched seven points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block.
Akron was effective with their ball distribution, recording 17 assists on 25 made baskets. Evan Mahaffey and Scott led the way with five assists each.
After jumping out to an 11-8 advantage, Akron went on a 7-0 run with 14:23 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Bowen Hardman, to increase its lead to 18-8. The Zips then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 35-29.
Akron could not pull any closer in the second half, losing by a final of 79-69. Akron took care of business in the paint, recording 20 of its 40 points in the lane.
LAST TIME AGAINST UMASS (12/30/19)
AKRON, Ohio – Behind a long-distance barrage from junior guard Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) to open the game and another from senior guard Channel Banks (Las Vegas, Nev.) to close it out, the Akron Zips made quick work of the visiting UMass Minutemen in an 85-79 home win Monday night at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Jackson laced five 3-pointers in a row to begin the game, a career-high, and tallied a game-high 26 points on the night. Banks had all 21 of his points in the second half alone - including four triples - and also snared six rebounds on the night. Banks' 21-point effort was also a career-high.
Senior Tyler Cheese (Albany, Ga.) was the third Akron player in double figures for the night, chipping in with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in the win. Senior Xeyrius Williams (Springfield, Ohio) corralled a game-high 12 rebounds, while junior Camron Reece (Oakland, Calif.) secured eight boards and chipped-in nine points.
Bench scoring was one area where Akron set itself apart, outscoring the Minutemen 15-2 in that category. It helped offset a tough first half at the foul line for the Zips (10-3) as they converted just 3 of 6 of their charity tosses in the opening 20 minutes. Those misses cost the hosts valuable chances to build, maintain and sustain leads, but clutch shooting at the line down the stretch was key in holding on for the win.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Zips own a 496-136 (.785) all-time record at the James A. Rhodes Arena. In the last 21 seasons, Akron has posted a 292-40 (.879) record at the JAR. Akron is currently on a 28-game winning streak at the JAR dating back to the 2024-25 season, which currently tied for the longest in the nation. The Zips, along with Miami (OH) and Duke all have 28 straight home wins.
Under coach Groce, Akron is 118-15 (.887) 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 12-0 in 2025-26.
Akron owns a 104-21 (.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.
UNDEFEATED AT HOME
Akron is just one of 19 teams this season to post a perfect record at their home arena. The Zips are joined by MAC foe Miami (OH). Akron is currently 12-0 at James. A. Rhodes Arena this season.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 93-27 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.775) in the league. The Zips are 78-24 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 115-28 (.804) 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 261-110 overall (.703), including a 157-32 mark in MAC play at home (.831). The Zips' 261 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 176 of their last 261 MAC games (.674).
HONORING A LEGEND
The University of Akron athletics department is pleased to announce that former men's basketball all-time great Isaiah Johnson will have his No. 23 jersey number honored on Friday, February 13, 2026, when the Zips host UMass.
Johnson, No. 23, is the 12th player in program history to have his jersey number honored, joining the likes of No. 12 Larry Jenkins, No. 22 Mike Harkins, No. 42 Bill Turner, No. 13 Fritz Nagy, No. 25 Eric McLaughlin, No. 44 Jim Fenton, No. 20 Len Paul, No. 31 Joe Jakubick, No. 55 Alex Adams, No. 24 Romeo Travis and No. 25 Enrique Freeman.
Johnson represented the Blue and Gold from 2013-17, and appeared in 136 games and 65 as a starter. The Zips recorded a 95-45 overall record and a 48-24 mark in the Mid-American Conference, while winning two regular season MAC Championships and participating in two National Invitation Tournament (NIT, 2016 and 2017). In addition, Big Dog led the Zips to a trio of in-season tournament championships at the 2016 Savannah Invitational, 2016 Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational and 2015 and South Point Classic. During his four-year career, Johnson amassed 1,374 points, 748 rebounds, 203 assists, 143 blocked shots, and 55 steals.
Johnson was the fourth player in Akron basketball history to earn AP All-America honors (2017) and added several accolades, including MAC Player of the Year (2017), MAC Sixth Man of the Year (2016), two-time All-MAC selection (First Team 2016 and 2017), two-time NABC All-District First Team (2016 and 2017) and two-time MAC All-Tournament Team recipient. Johnson was the 42nd player in Akron history to enter the 1,000-point scoring club on a career-high night at Central Michigan on Jan. 10, 2017. He scored 33 points.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
Akron hosts UMass on Friday for a nationally televised contest.
The Zips enter Friday's contest with a 19-5 overall record and a 10-1 record in the MAC. The Blue and Gold are 12-0 at the JAR this season.
Akron recently fell to Troy on the road on Saturday, February 7. Tavari Johnson, who had 26 points. Shammah Scott tacked on 11 points and five assists off of the bench. Amani Lyles turned in a nine-point, seven-rebound performance, Evan Mahaffey added four points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block, while Eric Mahaffey notched seven points, seven rebounds, one assist and one block.
Johnson leads the Zips in points (20.4) and assists (5.2). Amani Lyles leads the Blue and Gold in rebounds (7.5) while Evan Mahaffey leads the way in steals (1.8). Lyles and Mahaffey are tied for total blocks (18).
Akron is scoring 89.5 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 15.3 points. The Zips shoot .506 from the field while shooting .372 from beyond the arc and average 10.9 3s per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .762 ft percentage while averaging 37.9 rebounds, 19.3 assists, 10.9 turnovers, 7.6 steals and 3.2 blocks per game.
The Zips rank in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (2nd - 89.5), scoring defense (4th - 74.2), scoring margin (2nd - +15.3), fg pct (2nd - .506_, fg pct def (1st - .419), 3pt pct (3rd - .372), 3s made per game (1st - 10.9), ft pct (3rd - .762), rebounds (2nd - 37.9), off rebounds (4th - 11.6), def rebounds (3rd. - 26.3), rebound margin (4th - +11.6), turnover margin (2nd - +2.96), assist-turnover ratio (1st - +1.78), assists (1st - 19.33) and steals (5th - 7.63).
Akron ranks 10th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.78), 6th in assists per game (19.3), 45th in bench points (29.21), 7th in effective fg pct (.589), 36th in fastbreak points (14.75), 15th in pg pct (.506), 74th in fg pct def (.420), 51st in fewest fouls per game (15.8), 45th in ft pct (.762), 80th in rebound margin (+4.0), 72nd in def rebounds (26.52), 76th in rebounds per game (37.83), 12th in scoring margin (+15.3), 9th in scoring off (89.5), 32nd in 3pt pct (.372), 16th in 3s made per game (10.9), 38th in turnover margin (+3.0) and 59th in forced turnovers (13.88).
Individually, Evan Mahaffey ranks 33rd in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+2.97), 83rd in total steals (43) and 90th in steals per game (1.8). Tavari Johnson ranks 95th in assist-turnover ratio (+2.45), 56th in total assists (125), 58th in assists per game (5.2), 80th in fg pct (.534), 9th in made fg (183), 39th in ft pct (.885), 30th in total points (489) and 27th in points per game (20.4). Amani Lyles ranks 38th in fg pct (.584) and 78th in defensive rebounds per game (5.58).
SCOUTING THE MINUTEMEN
UMass enters Friday's contest with a 15-10 overall record and a 6-6 record in the MAC. The Minutemen are 2-5 on the road so far this season.
The Minutemen dropped a triple overtime thriller to Coastal Carolina, 94-91, on Saturday. Marcus Banks Jr., who sent the game to a third overtime with a buzzer-beater at the end of the second OT, nearly recreated the feat to extend the game again, but his heave was just offline, and the Chanticleers escaped. K'Jei Parker had a career-best 31 points to lead the Minutemen, while Daniel Hankins-Sanford pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds – the most rebounds in a game for a Minuteman since Jim Town had 27 against Boston College on Dec. 12, 1976. Hankins-Sanford scored 10 points to register his ninth double-double of the year. Banks Jr. finished with 21 points for UMass, while Leonardo Bettiol added 17. Bettiol also grabbed 10 boards for his sixth double-double of the season. Â
Hankins-Sanford leads the way in total blocks (17) for UMass this season. Danny Carbuccia leads the way in assists (6.4), Bettiol serves as the leader in rebounds (7.9) and points (17.6) and Jayden Ndjigue has the top mark in steals (1.4).Â
UMass is scoring 80.6 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 4.8 points. The Minutemen shoot .465 from the field while shooting .351 from beyond the arc and average 7.6 3s per game. UMass holds a .672 ft percentage while averaging 37.8 rebounds, 17.5 assists, 13.1 turnovers, 7.0 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.
The Minutemen rank in the top five in the MAC in scoring margin (5th - +4.8), opp 3pt pct (2nd - .317), rebounds (3rd - 37.8), opp rebounds (1st - 32.4), off rebounds (3rd - 12.5), def rebounds (5th - 25.4), rebound margin (2nd - +5.5), assist-turnover ratio (5th - +1.34) and assists (2nd - 17.48).
UMass ranks 30th in the NCAA in assists per game (17.5), 67th in ft attempts (23.3), 45th in rebound margin (+5.5), 67th in off rebounds (12.48), 75th in rebounds per game (37.84), 92nd in scoring offense (80.6), 79th in 3pt pct defense (.317) and 89th in forced turnovers per game (13.16).
Individually, Danny Carbuccia ranks 15th in assist-turnover ratio (+3.38), 15th in total assists (159), 17th in assists per game (6.4). Daniel Hankins-Sanford ranks 31st in double-doubles (9), 81st in total rebounds (190). Leonardo Bettiol ranks 70th in double-doubles (6), 30th in total fg pct (.592), 56th in made fg (158), 30th in ft attempts (172), 56th in made ft (123), 76th in total points (440), 58th in total rebounds (198) and 79th in rebounds per game (7.9). Markus Banks ranks 59th in 3pt pct (.392), 13th in 3s made per game (3.40) and 8th in total made 3s (85).
TOP 10 FOR ASSISTS AND CLIMBING
Tavari Johnson entered the top 10 for career assists with 10 assists against CMU (Jan. 6). Standing with 350 assists, Johnson needs 2 more to pass Nate Barnett (1972-75) who is 6th all-time with 351 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 1,223 points, currently ranks as the 24th highest scorer in program history.
ON NATIONAL TV
The Zips are 3-2 this season in national televised games, defeating Bowling Green (CBSSN),Ohio (ESPNU) and Kent State (CBSSN) while falling to Purdue (Big Ten Network) and Troy (ESPN2).
Akron will be featured three more times on national television, with one wildcard date to be possibly selected. Akron will be featured on CBSSN when they host UMass (Feb.13) and while traveling to Ball State (Feb. 20). The Zips will also be on ESPNU when they travel to Kent State (Feb. 27).
The remaining date will be announced 21 days prior to the contests, which may affect a home contest against NIU (March 6).
SINCE 19-20
Since the 2019-20 season, Akron has recorded a 156-59 (.726) overall record and an 93-27 (.775) 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). The Zips's 72.6 winning percentage ranks 14th in the country and best in the MAC.Â
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 93-34 (.732) overall and 53-12 (.815) in the MAC. Akron has also claimed the MAC Regular Season Title (2025) and MAC Tournament Title (2024+25) in that span as well. Akron's 73.2 winning percentage ranks 18th in the country and 1st in the MAC in that span.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Akron returns to the road as it battles Western Michigan on Tuesday, February 17 for a 7 p.m. start.
