Saturday, February 1
Kent, Ohio
6:00 p.m.
Kent State University
vs
University of Akron
Darren Goodson
Photo by: David Dermer
Golden Flashes to Clash with Rival Zips Saturday Night
1/31/2014 2:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Game Notes (.pdf)
Kent State hosts Akron Saturday night at the M.A.C. Center as the Mid-American Conference's premier rivals meet on the hardwood for the first time of the 2013-14 season in a 6 p.m. contest on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.
The winner of Saturday's game will earn a half-point for its university in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge. Last season, the visiting team won both regular matchups and the Zips came away with a narrow 62-59 victory in the rubber match in the MAC Tournament semifinals at Quicken Loans Arena. The Flashes lead the all-time series, which dates back to the 1915-16 season, 70-68.
Third-year head coach Rob Senderoff and his Flashes find themselves in a familiar position after starting conference play at 2-5 for the second straight season. A season ago, Senderoff made all of the correct adjustments and led his squad to victory in 8 of its final 10 games heading into the conference tournament.
The Flashes (11-9, 2-5) have lost four straight, but turned in one of their top defensive performances of the season in Wednesday's 50-49 loss to Northern Illinois. Kent State allowed a season-low in points to a Division I opponent while allowing the Huskies to shoot just 34-percent and forcing 20 turnovers.
Junior guard Kris Brewer is averaging 12.1 points and 2.9 assists to lead the Flashes on the season. Fellow guard Derek Jackson joins Brewer in double-figure scoring at 10.8 points per game while shooting better than 38-percent from the three-point line and leading the team with 37 steals.
Forward Darren Goodson looks to continue his strong play against the Zips from a year ago. Last season, Goodson averaged a team-best 13.7 points in three games against Akron while adding 6.3 rebounds per game and shooting 57-percent from the floor. Goodson's season-high 19 points led the Flashes to a 68-64 victory at Akron in the season finale.
Akron (14-6, 6-1) has won eight of its last nine games and sits atop the MAC East standings. The Zips took care of Ball State, 73-46, on Wednesday. Forwards Demetrius Treadwell and Nick Harney paced the Zips with 15 points each.
Treadwell is the top scorer (13.9) and rebounder (8.3) for the Zips. Guard Quincy Diggs adds 12.4 points per game and leads Akron in assists (57) and steals (34).
Own a Piece of 'FLASHES' Basketball History
On Saturday, Kent State will wear a never-before-used jersey, and the Golden Flashes Club is offering fans a chance to own a unique piece of the men's basketball team's history. Instead of the traditional "Kent State", these jerseys will feature the word "FLASHES" across the chest.
• Kent State leads the all-time series 70-68.
• Akron eliminated Kent State, 62-59, on its way to capturing the MAC Tournament crown last March.
• The semifinal matchup served as a rubber match after the two school split the regular season series, with the visiting team winning both fo those contests.
• The average margin of victory was just 3.7 points all three contests being decided by four points or fewer.
• Akron struck first with a 71-67 victory on Jan. 19.
• The Golden Flashes defeated the Zips, 68-64, in the regular season finale to bring a five-game losing streak in the rivalry to an end.
• Homecourt advantage has been huge in the rivalry, as the home team is 83-47 all-time.
• The Kent State-Akron series dates back to the 1915-16 season and a 37-16 Akron win in Kent.
PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge
• The 2013-14 academic year marks the third installment of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge between rivals Kent State and Akron. Kent State has won the competition in each of its first two years of existence.
• The winner of Saturday's game will earn a half-point for its school in this year's Wagon Wheel Challenge.
• Akron currently holds an early 3.5-2.0 lead in the Wagon Wheel Challenge standings.
• Kent State earn points following a win by women's soccer and a season sweep by volleyball.
TV / Radio
The game will be televised live regionally on TWC Sports Channel and streamed nationally on ESPN3. Michael Reghi and Tony White will be on the call.
Ty Linder (play-by-play) and Dave Carducci (color) will bring you the action on 640 AM WHLO and the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes will take a road trip up North with games at Central Michigan (Feb. 5) and Eastern Michigan (Feb. 8) next week.
Reach Out and Read
The men's and women's basketball teams will be sponsoring book drives in support of "Reach Out and Read", a nationally recognized program that focuses on early literacy in children. The "Reach Out and Read" program accepts brand new books appropriate for children ages 6 months to 5 years, or gently used books appropriate for children ages 6 months to early teen. The program does not accept books containing violent, religious or "body" themes. Light blue boxes donation boxes with the "Reach Out and Read" logo will be located in the M.A.C. Center lobby for Saturday's game against Akron.
Tickets
Fans can purchase tickets over the phone by calling 330-672-2244, in person by coming to the M.A.C. Center ticket office or online by clicking the banner below. Tickets are selling fast and fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.
Kent State hosts Akron Saturday night at the M.A.C. Center as the Mid-American Conference's premier rivals meet on the hardwood for the first time of the 2013-14 season in a 6 p.m. contest on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.
The winner of Saturday's game will earn a half-point for its university in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge. Last season, the visiting team won both regular matchups and the Zips came away with a narrow 62-59 victory in the rubber match in the MAC Tournament semifinals at Quicken Loans Arena. The Flashes lead the all-time series, which dates back to the 1915-16 season, 70-68.
Third-year head coach Rob Senderoff and his Flashes find themselves in a familiar position after starting conference play at 2-5 for the second straight season. A season ago, Senderoff made all of the correct adjustments and led his squad to victory in 8 of its final 10 games heading into the conference tournament.
The Flashes (11-9, 2-5) have lost four straight, but turned in one of their top defensive performances of the season in Wednesday's 50-49 loss to Northern Illinois. Kent State allowed a season-low in points to a Division I opponent while allowing the Huskies to shoot just 34-percent and forcing 20 turnovers.
Junior guard Kris Brewer is averaging 12.1 points and 2.9 assists to lead the Flashes on the season. Fellow guard Derek Jackson joins Brewer in double-figure scoring at 10.8 points per game while shooting better than 38-percent from the three-point line and leading the team with 37 steals.
Forward Darren Goodson looks to continue his strong play against the Zips from a year ago. Last season, Goodson averaged a team-best 13.7 points in three games against Akron while adding 6.3 rebounds per game and shooting 57-percent from the floor. Goodson's season-high 19 points led the Flashes to a 68-64 victory at Akron in the season finale.
Akron (14-6, 6-1) has won eight of its last nine games and sits atop the MAC East standings. The Zips took care of Ball State, 73-46, on Wednesday. Forwards Demetrius Treadwell and Nick Harney paced the Zips with 15 points each.
Treadwell is the top scorer (13.9) and rebounder (8.3) for the Zips. Guard Quincy Diggs adds 12.4 points per game and leads Akron in assists (57) and steals (34).
Own a Piece of 'FLASHES' Basketball History
On Saturday, Kent State will wear a never-before-used jersey, and the Golden Flashes Club is offering fans a chance to own a unique piece of the men's basketball team's history. Instead of the traditional "Kent State", these jerseys will feature the word "FLASHES" across the chest.
The "FLASHES" jerseys will be retired after Saturday's game and professionally framed. Fans who make a $1,000 gift to the Golden Flashes Club will receive one of these mounted jerseys. The $1,000 gift to the Golden Flashes Club will be used to assist in funding several Kent State Men's Basketball priorities. Because of the size of NCAA men's basketball rosters, number of available jerseys is limited.
Fans interested in owning a framed jersey should reach out to the Golden Flashes Club at 330-672-7012.
Series History
• Kent State leads the all-time series 70-68.
• Akron eliminated Kent State, 62-59, on its way to capturing the MAC Tournament crown last March.
• The semifinal matchup served as a rubber match after the two school split the regular season series, with the visiting team winning both fo those contests.
• The average margin of victory was just 3.7 points all three contests being decided by four points or fewer.
• Akron struck first with a 71-67 victory on Jan. 19.
• The Golden Flashes defeated the Zips, 68-64, in the regular season finale to bring a five-game losing streak in the rivalry to an end.
• Homecourt advantage has been huge in the rivalry, as the home team is 83-47 all-time.
• The Kent State-Akron series dates back to the 1915-16 season and a 37-16 Akron win in Kent.
PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge
• The 2013-14 academic year marks the third installment of the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge between rivals Kent State and Akron. Kent State has won the competition in each of its first two years of existence.
• The winner of Saturday's game will earn a half-point for its school in this year's Wagon Wheel Challenge.
• Akron currently holds an early 3.5-2.0 lead in the Wagon Wheel Challenge standings.
• Kent State earn points following a win by women's soccer and a season sweep by volleyball.
TV / Radio
The game will be televised live regionally on TWC Sports Channel and streamed nationally on ESPN3. Michael Reghi and Tony White will be on the call.
Ty Linder (play-by-play) and Dave Carducci (color) will bring you the action on 640 AM WHLO and the Golden Flashes iHeartRadio channel.
Next Up For Kent State
The Golden Flashes will take a road trip up North with games at Central Michigan (Feb. 5) and Eastern Michigan (Feb. 8) next week.
Reach Out and Read
The men's and women's basketball teams will be sponsoring book drives in support of "Reach Out and Read", a nationally recognized program that focuses on early literacy in children. The "Reach Out and Read" program accepts brand new books appropriate for children ages 6 months to 5 years, or gently used books appropriate for children ages 6 months to early teen. The program does not accept books containing violent, religious or "body" themes. Light blue boxes donation boxes with the "Reach Out and Read" logo will be located in the M.A.C. Center lobby for Saturday's game against Akron.
Tickets
Fans can purchase tickets over the phone by calling 330-672-2244, in person by coming to the M.A.C. Center ticket office or online by clicking the banner below. Tickets are selling fast and fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.
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