Kent State University
University of Akron
Rival Rematch: Kent State Hosts Akron to Close Out Series
2/4/2021 3:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ESPNU | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
KENT, Ohio-Â The Kent State men's basketball team returns to action on Friday, Feb. 5 as the Flashes will close out the season series with rival Akron at 7 p.m. The winner of the contest will earn a half-point for its school in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge standings.
THE GAME
Kent State (10-4, 7-3) vs. Akron (10-4, 8-3)
Friday, Feb. 5 | M.A.C. Center| 7 PM
BROADCAST
TV: ESPNU, Jason Benneti (pbp) and Dan Dakich (analyst)
Radio: Dave Wilson (pbp), Kent State Radio, Tune-In
THIS GAME IS NO SECRET
Kent State and Akron coaches/staff and student athletes will be wearing t-shirts that say "This Game is No Secret" to support "Eracism," a social inclusion movement that features college coaches across the country committed to bringing forth change through education, awareness and action. These shirts are part of College Insider's initiative to recognize legendary coach John McLendon and the "Secret Game". McLendon, while the coach at the North Carolina College for Negroes (now North Carolina Central), arranged the "Secret Game" in 1944. It was the first integrated college basketball game in the South between his team and a group of Duke University students. The game played with no fans and the public only learned about the game years later. McLendon's revolutionary up-tempo style helped his team win the game 88-44. The two teams then mixed squads and played a scrimmage. McLendon would go on to coach Horizon League member Cleveland State from 1967 to 1969.
AKRON HEAD COACH
John Groce
Record at Akron: 65-45 (4th season)
KENT STATE HEAD COACH
Record at Kent State: 191-125 (10th season)
ALL-TIME SERIES
Friday's game marks the 156th meeting in series history between Akron and Kent State.
Kent State leads the all-time series with a 78-77 record.
Kent State is 52-25 when playing the Zips at home.
Kent State is 9-14 against the Zips under head coach Rob Senderoff.
Earlier this season, Kent State fell to the Zips, 66-62 in Akron. Akron went on 13-1 run early in the second half that tied the game at 37. The Zips went on another scoring run to take a 57-47 lead after a 3-pointer. A three-pointer from Nuga followed by a putback cut KSU's deficit to 61-60. In the final minute of the game, Giovanni Santiago missed a game tying three with 29 seconds left, as the Zips would claim the 66-62 victory.
LAST TIME OUT
The Kent State men's basketball team improved to 10-4 overall and 7-3 in MAC play after coming away with a 77-68 victory over Miami at home on Saturday for its third-straight win. Danny Pippen had his third 30-point performance of the season with 30 points, while three other Flashes scored in double figures. Tervell Beck scoring 11 points, and sophomore Giovanni Santiago and Gabe O'Neal both adding 10 points each. Junior Malique Jacobs dished out a game-high six assists.
 On the season, the Flashes are shooting 46.3 percent from the floor and 34.5 percent from beyond the arc. Defensively, Kent State has held its opponents to 72.2 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting from the floor and 32.3 percent from long range.
FLASH FACTS
- The Flashes have three players averaging in double figures in Nuga (17.8), Pippen (21.6), and Beck (10.6)
- Pippen recorded his third 30+ point game of the season scoring 30 points against Miami.
- In his last four games, Pippen has notched a double-double in three giving him five on the season.
- Pippen ranks 8th in the country and leads the league in points per game (21.6)
- As a team, Kent State leads the league in FG percentage defense (41.4)
-The Flashes are the 20th-ranked team in the country in rebound margin (8.0) and lead MAC stats
-KSU ranks 21st in the country and lead the MAC in scoring offense (81.9)
- The Flashes are 3rd in the conference with 7.1 steals per game
-As a team, KSU ranks 5th in conference in forced turnovers (13.07)
-Flashes rank 15th in the country in total rebounds per game (40.86) and rank 2nd in league stats.
-KSU ranks 17th in the nation and 2nd in league in offensive rebounds per game (13.29)
-Senior Justyn Hamilton ranks 46th in the country in offensive rebounds per game (3.07) and leads the conference. He also ranks 41st in national stats and third in league in rebounds per game (7.6)
-Pippen ranks 43rd in the nation and 3rd in the league in rebounds per game (7.6)
-Malique Jacobs ranks 30th in the nation and is 2nd conference stats in steals per game (1.71)
-Pippen leads the league with (1.62) total blocked shots per game and total blocks (21).
- Kent State's Danny Pippen, Justyn Hamilton and Tervell Beck have combined to account for 45 percent of the team's scoring this season, including 50 percent of all Golden Flashes points over the last five games.
-Kent State has won its last five home games, scoring an average of 84 points while giving up 74.
-Kent State has an assist on 50 of 85 field goals (58.8 percent) over its previous three games
SCOUTING AKRON
The Zips, stand (10-4, 8-3 MAC) under the direction of 4-year head coach John Groce after falling to conference leader Toledo,91-76. Senior guard Loren Cristian Jackson recorded his fifth 30-plus point performance of the season and second against Toledo this year with game-high 32 points, four assist and three rebounds. Junior guard Bryan Trimble, Jr. also reached double figures in points with 14.
Akron's Loren Cristian Jackson is second in the league in scoring averaging 21.4 points per game. Bryan Trimble Jr is also averaging double figures with 11.4 points per game.
As a team the RedHawks are averaging 72.5 points per game on 44.7 percent shooting from the field and 37.5 percent from long range. Miami has three players averaging in double figures per game in Grant (13.1), Brown (13.1), and Lairy (12.5).
Loren Cristian Jackson has made or assisted on 44 percent of all Akron field goals over the last five games. Jackson has accounted for 33 field goals and 29 assists in those games.
Defensively, Akron has held its opponents to score 69.1 per game on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 29.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Zips have 174 turnovers (12.4 tpg) while collecting 71 steals (5.1 stl/g) On the glass, the Zips have out rebounded by opponents 555-476 for a +5.6 rebounding margin.
WAYS TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPNU
Listen: https://kentstatesports.com/watch/?Live=313&type=Live
Live Stats: https://kentstatesports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
