Kent State University
University of Akron
Flashes Open MAC Play With Rival Akron on New Year’s Day
12/31/2020 4:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio-Â The Kent State men's basketball team returns to action as the Flashes open conference play on New Year's Day. On Jan. 1, 2021, the Flashes are scheduled to make the 12-mile trip down the road to take on rival Akron. Tip-off from the James A. Rhodes arena is set for 7 p.m. and will air on CBS Sports Network.
THE GAME
Kent State (3-1, 0-0) vs. Akron (3-1, 1-0)
Friday, Jan. 1 | James A. Rhodes Arena| 7 PM
BROADCAST
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: Dave Wilson (pbp), Kent State Radio, Tune-In
AKRON HEAD COACH
John Groce
Record at Akron: 58-42 Â (fourth season)
KENT STATE HEAD COACH
Record at Kent State: 184-122 (10th season)
ALL-TIME SERIES
Friday's game marks the 155th meeting in series history between Akron and Kent State.
Kent State leads the all-time series with a 78-76 record.
Kent State is 24-43 against the Zips when playing at the JAR.
Kent State is 9-13 against the Zips under head coach Rob Senderoff.
Last season the two teams split as the Flashes came away with a 68-67 victory at home in the first installment of the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge. Kent State closed out the season on the road with Akron falling, 79-76.
LAST TIME OUT
The Kent State men's basketball team dropped to 3-1 overall after defeating Northern Kentucky back on Dec. 13, 92-73. KSU had five players finish in double-figures as Justyn Hamilton led the way with a career-high 22 points. Michael Nuga and Danny Pippen both added 19 points, while Malique Jacobs and Gabe O'Neal rounded out the double-digit scoring with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Kent State finished the game shooting 48.3 percent (29-of-60) from the floor and 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from beyond the arc. The Flashes edged the Titans 32-10 in points in the paint and 10-8 in second-chance points.
On the season, the Flashes are shooting 47.6 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Defensively, Kent State has held its opponents to 62.8 points per game on 36.3 percent shooting from the floor and 28.1 percent from long range.
FLASH FACTS
- The Flashes have three players averaging in double figures in Nuga (17.8), Pippen (17.0), and Hamilton (13.0)
- As a team, Kent State ranks 25th in the nation in fewest turnovers (55) and 2nd in league
-Kent State ranks 23rd in the nation and leads conference stats in field goal percentage (35.8)
-The Flashes are the 11th-ranked team in the country in rebound margin (11.2) and lead MAC stats
-KSU ranks 43rd in country and 1st in conference stats in scoring defense (62.8)
- The Flashes are 3rd in the conference and 32nd in the nation with with 9.0 steals per game
-As a team, KSU ranks 4th in conference in forced turnovers (15.50)
-KSU ranks 28th in the country in total rebounds (42.5) and lead MAC stats
-Senior Justyn Hamilton ranks 12th in the country in offensive rebounds per game (4.00) and leads the conference. He also ranks 31st in the nation and leds the conference in FG % (62.5)
-Malique Jacobs ranks 5th in the nation and leads conference stats in steals per game (3.00)
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips, stand 3-1 under the direction of four-year head coach John Grove after coming away with a 90-70 win over Ohio. Junior guard Bryan Trimble, Jr. led Akron with a season-best 22 points on 6-of-6 shooting from long distance, while senior guard Loren Cristian Jackson added 21 points and eight assists. In a well-balanced offensive effort, senior guard Maishe Dailey tallied 16 points and senior forward Camron Reece banked 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Zips are averaging 88.5 points per game on 50.6 percent (129-255) shooting from the floor and 33.6 percent (40-119) from long range.
Defensively, the UA has allowed its opponents to score 70.8 per game on 43.5 percent shooting from the field and 24.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Zips have 49 turnovers (12.3 tpg) while collecting 23 steals (5.8 stl/g) On the glass, the Zips have out-rebounded their opponents 166-126 for a +10.0.
SCHEDULE UPDATE
Kent State and Eastern Michigan's game scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 2 is postponed and the conference will reschedule at a later date
WAYS TO FOLLOW
Watch: https://www.cbssports.com/cbs-sports-network/
Listen: https://kentstatesports.com/watch/?Live=296&type=Live
Live Stats: https://gozips.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
