Kent State University
Akron
Rivalry Renewed: Flashes, Zips set for Season Finale on Senior Night
3/7/2019 11:25:00 AM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio- The Kent State University men's basketball team looks to secure a first round bye with a win Friday over the Akron Zips at 6:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The game serves as the final home game for seniors Jalen Avery, Akiean Frederick, and Jaylin Walker, who will be honored before tipoff.
THE GAME
Kent State (21-9, 10-7 MAC) vs. Akron (16-14, 8-9 MAC)
Friday, March 8 | 6:30 p.m. | M.A.C. Center
BROADCAST
TV:CBS Sports Network- Dave Ryan (pbp) and Steve Wolf (analyst)
RADIO: Kent State-IMG Sports Network, Ty Linder (pbp), WHLO 640 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio
AKRON HEAD COACH
John Groce
Record at Akron: 30-32 (2nd season)
KENT STATE HEAD COACH
Record at Kent State: 160-107 (8th Season)
ALL-TIME SERIES
Friday's game marks the 152nd  meeting in series history between Akron and Kent State. The first meeting was during the 1915-16 season at Kent State where the Zips pulled out the win, 37-16. Kent State owns a 76-75 all-time series advantage. Kent State holds a 50-25 record at the M.A.C. Center.
The two teams met earlier this month (Feb. 8) in Akron for the first installment of the Wagon Wheel Challenge. Â The Zips protected home court and came away with a 72-53 win.
In the 2017-18 season, Kent State and Akron split the season series with both teams defending home court. The Flashes won the season-opener, 78-68, before falling at Akron, 67-65.
Kent State and Akron have met in the MAC Tournament eight times. Kent State is 3-5 in the MAC Tournament against the Zips. In addition, Kent State and Akron have played for the MAC Tournament championship three times. Kent State leads 2-1 in MAC title games. Flashes won the tournament in 2007-08 (74-55), Akron took the tile in 2010-11 with a 66-65 overtime win, and the Flashes most recently won the tournament in 2016-17 (70-65).
In the current format, the Zips have not swept both games in the regular season. Akron swept all three games back in 2012.
Kent State is 7-12 against the Zips under head coach Rob Senderoff.
FLASH FACTS
- Kent State improved to 21-9, 10-7 MAC after a 78-73 after a 75-66 win on the road over Miami.
- The nine-point win, coupled with NIU's victory at Central Michigan moved Kent State into the fourth seed with one game to go. By moving one game ahead of CMU, the Flashes now control their seeding fate. With a win Friday, Kent State clinches a spot in Thursday night's MAC Tournament Quarterfinals.
- The Flashes are 13-3 at home and average 78.8 points per game on the M.A.C. Center court.
- The Flashes are first in conference stats in fewest turnovers (351) and rank 71st in the nation and a 16.1 turnover percentage on possessions ranking 28th in the country.
- Walker ranks 15th in the country in 3-point FG per game and leads the conference with 3.44. He ranks 19th in the country in points per game (21.9) and is the conference leader, while also ranking second in the conference in 3-point field goals made (86) ranking 41st in the nation.
- Walker moved into the No. 2 spot in all-time points with 1,770 career-points. He needs 51 points to pass the all-time leader, Trevor Huffman (1,820).
- Avery leads the nation with a 5.28 assist/turnover ratio.
- On the season, the Flashes are shooting 43.5 percent (794-1826) from the floor, and 234-of-686 from long range (34.1 percent). ). The Flashes have four players averaging in double-figure scoring with Walker leading the team averaging 21.9 points per game, Jalen Avery with 10.7, Williams with 11.7, and Philip Whittington with 10.3. Whittington also leads the team averaging 8.0rebounds per game and has 241 total on the season. Defensively, Kent State has held its opponents to 72.5 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting from the field and 33.4 percent from long range.
- Akron is coming off a huge win at home over Bowling Green, 91-67.
- The Zips have four players averaging in double-digit scoring with Utomi leading the way with 13.8 points per game. Jackson is averaging 13.7, while Ivey and Cheese rounds out the double-figures with 12.0 and 11.6, respectively. Ivey also leads the team in the rebound category averaging 6.4 rebounds per game with 191 total.
- Defensively, the Zips have limited their opponents to score 63.5 points per game on 39.9 percent shooting from the field and 29.8 percent from downtown allowing 6.5 made 3-pt FG per game. Akron has 351 turnovers (11.7 tpg) while collecting 171 steals (5.7 stl/g). On the glass, the Zips have been out-rebounded their opponents 1161-1104 for a -1.9 margin.
