KENT STATE GAME NOTES
KENT, Ohio - The Kent State University men's basketball team (14-12, 6-7 MAC) will face the Akron Zips (22-4, 12-1 MAC) in the first of two Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge games Friday at Akron on ESPNU at 7 p.m.
| The Game |
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Home: Akron Zips - 22-4, 12-1 MAC
Visitor: Kent State Golden Flashes - 14-12, 6-7 MAC
Tip: Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 at 7 p.m.
Venue: Rhodes Arena, capacity - 5,500
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| Follow Along |
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Live Stats
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Live Video |
Live Audio |
TV: ESPNU |
Radio: WHLO/IHeart |
| Flash Facts |
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- The men's basketball portion of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge will tip off with the first game on the road Friday on ESPNU.
- This is the first of two in the storied rivalry. The teams will meet again in the M.A.C. Center on Senior Night March 3.
- The Golden Flashes enter the game winners of three out of their last five games, with the most recent result a 76-72 win over Miami at home Tuesday. The Flashes led by double digits late in the second half before Miami cut into the final Kent State advantage.
- The win lifted the Flashes three spots in the overall standings to eighth after tiebreakers. That would give Kent State a home game in the first round of the MAC Tournament, scheduled to start March 6. The - Flashes are currently in a five-way tie at 6-7 and are a game out of a first round bye.
- The Flashes have five games remaining and ample opportunity to take down the MAC elite. Four of the last five games are against the league's top-three, including the final home games against Ohio Feb. 25 and Akron March 3.
- The Flashes' biggest rivalry is about as even as it could be after 145 meetings. Kent State holds a 73-72 advantage over the Zips.
- Over the last two seasons, each team has successfully defended its home floor. Kent State's last win at Akron came on March 8, 2013, 68-64.
- Akron enters the contest looking to secure the MAC East regular season championship. If the Zips win and both Buffalo and Ohio fall Saturday, they will have locked up the title. The Zips have dropped just one game in conference play, a road game at Ohio, 85-70.
- Keith Dambrot is in year 13 with Akron, with previous head coaching tenures at Central Michigan, Ashland and Tiffin.
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