The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Northern Illinois
Zips Host NIU for Senior Day on Friday on CBSSN
March 05 | Men's Basketball
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 375-225 | At Akron: 193-93
Northern Illinois:Â Rashon Burno | Overall Record: 48-105 | At Northern Illinois: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
Akron Leads: 34-14
Groce vs. NIU: 10-3 (14-3 Overall)
First Met: Jan. 23, 1988 At Northern Illinois (Akron75, Northern Illinois 68)
Last Met: Feb. 18, 2025 At Akron (Akron 73, Northern Illinois 63)
At Akron: 21-3 | At NIU: 13-11
Current Streak: 5W
INSIDE THE SERIES
Friday's game marks the 49th meeting in series history between Akron and Northern Illinois, and the 17th meeting for a Groce coached squad. Akron holds an all-time 34-14 series advantage while Groce is 10-3 at Akron and 12-3 against the Huskies all-time.
The Zips have won 17 of the last 22 games against the Huskies. Akron is 13-11 all-time on the road against NIU while holding an 21-3 edge at the JAR.
The Zips have taken the past five meetings against the Huskies, and swept the season series in 2024-25 with an 80-70 road victory while defending the JAR with a 75-68 victory.Â
Akron swept the season series in 2023-24. The Zips took care of business at the Convocation Center in the first meeting on Jan. 2, coming away with a 73-51 victory. The Blue and Gold then defended the JAR on March 2 with a close 80-73 victory to conclude the series. The Zips took the lone meeting in 2022-23 with a 76-51 victory at James A. Rhodes Arena. Akron and NIU split the season series in 2021-22 and which saw the Zips win the first meeting at NIU (70-64) while the Huskies responded with a win at James A. Rhodes Arena (66-63). The two teams split the series in 2020-21 as well. The Huskies claimed the first meeting on a last second shot for a 67-65 win at the NIU Convocation Center and Akron bounced back with an 81-76 triumph at The JAR. Akron won the lone meeting in 2019-20 in DeKalb, 72-49.
LAST TIME OUT (AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN 3/3/26)
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich - Four Zips reached double figure scoring as the Akron men's basketball team defeated Central Michigan 77-64 on the road Tuesday.Â
Evan Mahaffey's career-high (16) and Amani Lyles' (11) fantastic rebounding performances led the Zips (25-5, 16-1) in the contest. Mahaffey tacked on nine points, four assists, and two steals and Lyles added 13 points and three steals. Tavari Johnson also helped out with 17 points, four assists and two steals. Bowen Hardman scored 15 points while adding two rebounds.
Mahaffey pulled down six offensive rebounds to lead the Akron offense which grabbed 14 boards and turned them into 16 second chance points.
The Akron defense was effective at taking away the basketball in Tuesday's game, forcing 15 Central Michigan turnovers while committing 12. Those takeaways turned into 17 points on the offensive end of the floor. Sharron Young led the way individually for the Zips with five steals.
Three Zips recorded four assists, as the Blue and Gold notched 17 on 30 made baskets against Central.
After jumping out to a 32-31 advantage, Akron went on a 7-0 run with 4:24 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Johnson, to increase its lead to 39-31. The Zips then lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 39-33 advantage. Akron relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down six shots to account for 18 of its 39 points.
The Chippewas proceeded to tie things up at 49-49 before Akron went on a 12-0 run, finished off by Young's layup, to seize a 61-49 lead with 7:11 to go in the contest. The Zips kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 77-64 win. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 11 of its 38 total points.
LAST TIME AGAINST NORTHERN ILLINOIS (2/18/25)
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron men's basketball team defeated the Northern Illinois Huskies 73-63 at a jam packed James A. Rhodes Arena on Enrique Freeman night Tuesday evening.
Honoring the recent Indiana Pacers draft pick, the Zips honored Enrique Freeman by hoisting his No. 25 to the rafters at halftime.
Akron also moved to 14-0 at the JAR while staying perfect in Mid-American Conference play. The Zips have tied the program record for the best start to begin conference play with it's 13-0 conference record. The only other Akron squad to record this feat was the 2012-13 team.
The Zips put the icing on the cake when Shammah Scott hit a dagger 3-pointer with 52 seconds left in the fourth quarter to put Akron ahead 69-60.
The Zips (21-5, 13-0) had three players score in double figures, led by Tavari Johnson, who had 15 points and six rebounds. Scott tacked on 15 points and four assists from the bench and Nate Johnson chipped in with 14 points, eight rebounds and four steals.
Akron utilized great ball movement in Tuesday's game, piling up 15 assists on 24 made field goals. Scott's four assists led the distribution list for the Zips.
The Akron defense held Northern Illinois shooters to only 35 percent from the field, including 25.7 percent from three-point range. The Huskies did not get many second opportunities on the offensive end, as they grabbed only six offensive rebounds and scored six second chance points while Akron pulled down 34 defensive rebounds.
After playing to a 2-2 tie, Akron went on a 10-0 run with 17:46 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Nate Johnson, to take a 12-2 lead. The Zips then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 31-28.
Akron came out of halftime clicking on all cylinders, going on an 8-0 run to seize a 36-31 lead with 16:13 to go in the contest. The Zips kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 73-63 win. Akron got a boost from its bench in the period, as non-starters accounted for 21 of its 45 total points.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
Akron hosts Northern Illinois on Friday to conclude the regular season.
The Zips enter Friday's contest with a 25-5 overall record and a 16-1 record in the MAC. The Blue and Gold are 14-0 at the JAR and will look for their second straight season going perfect at home.
Akron recently defeated Central Michigan for its 15th consecutive MAC victory. The Zips posted a 77-64 road victory as four Zips recorded double-figure scoring. Amani Lyles recorded a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Evan Mahaffey set a career-high in rebounds (16) and Sharron Young set a career-high in steals (5).
Tavari Johnson leads the Zips in points (20.5) and assists (5.2). Lyles leads the Blue and Gold in rebounds (7.6) while Mahaffey leads the way in steals (1.8). Lyles and Mahaffey both have recorded a team-high 20 blocks.
Akron is scoring 89.4 points per game while outscoring its opponents by 15.1 points. The Zips shoot .504 from the field while shooting .376 from beyond the arc and average 10.9 3s per game. The Blue and Gold hold a .774 ft percentage while averaging 38.1 rebounds, 19.0 assists, 11.1 turnovers, 7.7 steals and 3.0 blocks per game.
Akron ranks in the top five in the MAC in scoring offense (2nd - 89.4), scoring defense (5th - 74.3), scoring margin (2nd - +15.1), fg pct (2nd - .504), fg pct def (1st - .424), 3pt pct (3rd - .376), 3s made per game (1st - 10.9), ft pct (1st - .774), rebounds (2nd - 38.1), opp rebounds (2nd - 33.0), off rebounds (4th - 11.5), def rebounds (3rd - 26.6), rebound margin (2nd - +5.1), turnover margin (2nd - +2.73), assist-turnover ratio (1st - +1.71), assists (1st - 18.97) and steals (4th - 7.67).
The Zips rank 17th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.71), 5th in assists per game (19.0), 32nd in bench points per game (29.77), 9th in effective fg pct (.589), 22nd in fastbreak points (15.07), 9th in fg pct (.504), 80th in fg pct defense (.424), 54th in fewest fouls per game (15.8), 24th in ft pct (.774), 45th in rebound margin (+5.0), 55th in def rebounds per game (26.57), 56th in rebounds per game (38.07), 12th in scoring margin (+15.1), 6th in scoring offense (89.4), 88th in steals per game (7.7), 26th in 3pt pct (.376), 13th in 3s made per game (10.9), 44th in turnover margin (+2.8), and 43rd in turnovers forced per game (13.83).
Individually, Evan Mahaffey ranks 67th in the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+2.55), 72nd in total steals (53) and 85th in steals per game (1.77). Tavari Johnson ranks 47th in total assists (157), 48th in assists per game (5.2), 95th in fg pct (.520), 11th in total made field goals (224), 22nd in ft pct (.899), 23rd in total points (616) and 24th in points per game (20.5). Amani Lyles ranks 86th in double-doubles (7), 45th in fg pct (.565), 88th in total rebounds (227), 77th in defensive rebounds (5.52) and 98th in rebounds per game (7.6).
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Northern Illinois enters Friday's contest with a 9-20 overall record and a 4-13 record in the MAC. The Huskies are 3-13 on the road this season.
Falling in four straight, NIU most recently lost to Kent State 102-76 on Tuesday. Gianni Cobb and Gustav Wither both scored 17 points to lead the Huskies.
This will be the final season for NIU in the MAC, as the football program will join the Mountain West while the majority of its other sports will join the Horizon League.
Makhai Valentine leads NIU in points (13.3). Cobb serves as the leader in assists (4.0) and steals (1.6). Taj Walters leads the way in steals (1.6), while Gustav Winther leads the way in blocks (19).
Northern Illinois is scoring 70.0 points per game while being outscored by its opponents by 7.2 points. The Huskies shoot .417 from the field while shooting .316 from beyond the arc and average 6.5 3s per game. NIU holds a .667 ft percentage while averaging 35.1 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 14.9 turnovers, 5.9 steals and 1.9 blocks per game.
The Huskies rank in the top five in the MAC in opp 3pt pct (5th - .339), 3s made per game (5th - 8.1) and off rebounds (12.0)
NIU ranks 85th in the NCAA in off rebounds per game (12.0).
HUGH DURHAM MID-MAJOR NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR FINALIST
For the second straight year, head men's basketball coach John Groce has been named a finalist for the High Durham National Coach of the Year, as announced by CollegeInsider.com on Thursday, March 5.
The Hugh Durham award is presented annually to the top mid-major head coach in college basketball.
The 2025 Hugh Durham award winner, Groce has led the Zips to a 25-5 overall record and a 17-1 record in the Mid-American Conference in 2025-26. Akron has gone 33-2 in the MAC and 53-12 overall the past two seasons.
The Hugh Durham award is named in honor of the former Florida State, Georgia and Jacksonville head coach. In eight seasons at Jacksonville University, Durham became the Dolphins' all-time winningest Division I coach (106 wins), making him the only coach in NCAA history to be the winningest coach (pct. or wins) at three different Division I schools.
AKRON IN THE MAC
Akron is 99-28 since the 2019-20 season in MAC play, owning the highest winning percentage (.786) in the league. The Zips are 84-24 in the MAC under the new conference format without divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 117-28 (.807) 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 267-110 overall (.708), including a 159-32 mark in MAC play at home (.833). The Zips' 267 wins are the most in the league during that stretch. The Zips have won 183 of their last 267 MAC games (.685).
STREAKY ZIPS IN CONFERENCE ACTION
The Zips have won 15 straight conference games, a new program record for consecutive conference victories. The previous high was 13 straight, set by the 2012-13 and 2024-25 squads. Both of those teams hold the program record for most MAC victories to begin conference action.Â
CONSISTENTLYÂ WINNING
With their win over UMass on Feb. 13, the Zips have recorded 20 wins in five consecutive seasons. So far this season, there are 22 teams who've recorded 20 wins in five consecutive seasons. Coming into 2025-26, 39 teams had won 20 games each of the past four seasons.
CAREER-HIGHSÂ AGAINST THE CHIPPEWAS
- Evan Mahaffey set a career-high in rebounds (16) at Central Michigan.Â
- Sharron Young set a career-high in steals (5) at Central Michigan.Â
BEST TWO-YEAR STRETCH IN THE MAC
A victory over NIU on Friday will give Akron back-to-back 17-1 seasons in Mid-American Conference action, giving the Blue and Gold a 34-2 record over the last two seasosn.Â
MOST WINS IN THE REGUALR SEASON
After setting the program record for wins in the regular season last season with 25, Akron will look to rewrite the record book with its 26th of the season on March 6.
THE ZIPS AND 20 WINS
20 win seasons are nothing new for the Zips. The Blue and Gold have recorded at least 20 wins in 18 of the last 21 seasons, and five consecutive under John Groce, after recording their 20th win of the season against UMass on Friday, February 13.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Zips own a 498-136 (.785) all-time record at the James A. Rhodes Arena. In the last 21 seasons, Akron has posted a 294-40 (.880) record at the JAR. Akron is currently on a 30-game winning streak at the JAR dating back to the 2024-25 season, which is currently the second longest in the nation. Duke and Miami (OH) leads the way with 31 straight, while Akron has 30 straight.
Under coach Groce, Akron is 120-15 (.889) 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 14-0 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 11 teams this season to post a perfect record at their home arena. The Zips are joined by MAC foe Miami (OH). Akron is currently 14-0 at James. A. Rhodes Arena this season.
DEFEND THE JAR
The Zips will look to post a perfect home record for the second straight season. Akron is 14-0 at James A. Rhodes Arena in 2025-26 after going 16-0 in 2024-25. Akron has gone perfect at the JAR in four previous seasons, with the 1986-87 (18-0), 2005-06 (13-0) 2015-16 (15-0), and 2024-25 squads going perfect at home.
THE MOST AT THE JAR?
Akron will look to set a new record at the JAR when they battle Northern Illinois. A win against the Huskies will be the 31st consecutive win at the JAR dating back to the 2024-25 season. The current record was originally set during the 2015-17 seasons.
SINCE 19-20
Since the 2019-20 season, Akron has recorded a 162-59 (.733) overall record and an 99-28 (.786) 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' 73.2 winning percentage ranks 12th 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 99-34 (.744) overall and 59-12 (.831) 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 74.4 winning percentage ranks 12th in the country and 1st in the MAC in that span.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Akron Zips will travel to Cleveland, Ohio., to compete in the 2026 MAC Tournament as the No. 2 Seed. The first round is slated for March 12.
