Kent State University
Akron
Flashes-Zips Wagon Wheel Showdown on Friday
1/30/2020 4:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio- The Kent State men's basketball team will welcome rival Akron for the first installment of the Crystal Clinic  Wagon Wheel Challenge on Friday night. Tip-off from the M.A.C. Center is set for 6:30 p.m. and will air on CBS Sports Network. The winner of the contest will earn a half-point for its school in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge standings, which is currently tied at 2.5.
THE GAME
Kent State (16-6, 5-3 MAC) vs. Akron (16-5, 6-2 MAC)
Friday, Jan. 31 | M.A.C. Center  | Kent, Ohio | 6:30 PM
BROADCAST
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: Ty Linder (pbp), WHLO 640 AM (flagship), iHeart Radio
AKRON HEAD COACH
John Groce
Record at Akron: 47-39 (3rd season)
KENT STATE HEAD COACH
Record at Kent State: 176-115 (ninth season)
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State leads the all-time series with a 77-75 record.
Kent State is 51-25 when playing the Zips at home.
Kent State is 8-12 against the Zips under head coach Rob Senderoff.
Akron head coach John Groce is 1-5 versus Kent State in true road games as a head coach (includes career at Ohio).
Last season the two teams split as the Flashes fell at Akron in the first installment of the Wagon Wheel Challenge, 72-53. Kent State closed the regular season with a win over Akron at home, 68-65. In the current format, the Zips have not swept both games in the regular season.
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 title in 2010-11 with a 66-65 overtime win, and the Flashes most recently won the tournament in 2016-17 (70-65).
The last time Kent State swept all three games (2 regular season games, 1 post season) was in 2008. Akron swept all three games back in 2012.
LAST TIME OUT
The Kent State men's basketball team improved to 16-6 overall and 5-3 in conference play after a come from behind victory at Toledo, 83-70. The Flashes rallied from a 21-point first half deficit to clinch the season sweep over the Rockets. Troy Simons scored a career-high 25 points on 6-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-8 from 3-point range while grabbing five rebounds. Antonio Williams added 21 points with four assists and four steals, while Danny Pippen recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Flashes were down by 21 points ( with 6:48 left to play in the opening half when a steal from Williams led to a fast break layup that sparked the Flashes' comeback. Philip Whittington's go-ahead layup put Kent State up 48-46 with 12:16 left to play and sparked a 14-3 run capped by Antonio Williams' layup for a 58-49 lead and the Golden Flashes held on.
On the season, the Flashes are shooting 45.8 percent (595-1300) from the floor and 191-532 (35.7 percent) from long range. Pippen leads the team averaging (14.0 ppg) as well in rebounds averaging 6.8 boards a game.
FLASH FACTS
- The Flashes have four players averaging in double-figure scoring with Troy Simons (13.5 ppg), Anthony Roberts (12.5 ppg), Antonio Williams (13.9 ppg), and Danny Pippen (14.0 ppg).
- Kent State ranks 30th in the country and third in the conference in scoring offense (78.3 ppg).
- As a team, Kent State ranks 35th in the country and leads the conference with 4.7 blocked shots per game.
- Danny Pippen leads the team with 40 total blocks, five of which he had against Towson. Kent State ranks 26th in the nation in total blocked shots (99) and leads the conference. Pippen also ranks 46th in the nation and is second in conference stats averaging 1.90 blocked shots per game.
- Troy Simons ranks 17th in the nation in 3-point FG per game (3.10) and leads conference stats.
-Kent State ranks 41st in 3-point FG per game (9.1) and ranks 3rd in conference stats.
- In conference stats, KSU is first in FG percentage (45.8) and ranks 73rd in the country. Â
-Flashes rank 54th in the country and lead the conference with a +9.0 scoring margin. Kent State ended the non-conference schedule with the highest scoring margin during the non-conference schedule in 20 seasons. (+12.5).
- Defensively, the Flashes have held its opponents to 69.0 points per game on 40.9 percent shooting from the field and 33.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
- Kent State has forced 308 turnovers (14.7 tpg) while collecting 157 steals (7.5 stl/g). On the glass, the Flashes have out rebounded their opponents 765-751Â for a +0.7 margin.
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips, stand 16-6 overall and 6-2 in MAC play under three-year head coach John Groce. Akron is coming off a 77-74 loss at home against Buffalo. A game-winning 3-pointer from the wing by Buffalo senior Antwain Johnson with 6.1 seconds left sealed the win for the Bulls after the Zips tied the game at 74-all on three consecutive free throws by Jackson seconds earlier. Loren Cristian Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) led the Zips with 28 points and a team-best six assists, while senior Xeyrius Williams (Springfield, Ohio) recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Zips have has four players averaging in double-figures in Jackson (19.0), Cheese (15.7), Williams (14.5), and Banks (11.3)
Defensively, Akron has held its opponents to score 65.9 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting from the field and 30.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Zips have 282 turnovers (13.4 tpg) while collecting 105 steals (5.0 stl/g) On the glass, Akron has out-rebounded their opponents 788-762 for a +1.2 margin. In league games only, Akron leads the MAC in 3-pt FG made per game (10.0 apg), 3-pt FG percentage (39.3), and 3-pt FGM (211). The Zips also lead the league in FT percentage (77.2).
FOLLOW ALONG
Flash fans unable to attend the game can watch the game on the CBS Sports Network, Â Â listen through iHeart Radio and Tune-In and follow along with live stats via sidearm. All the links are located below.
Listen: https://www.iheart.com/live/640-whlo-3520/
Live Stats: https://kentstatesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/
