Kent State University
Akron
Flashes Look to Break Rivalry Tie Against Zips
1/13/2022 4:35:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Kent, Ohio – The Kent State men's basketball team (7-8, 2-3 MAC) will host Akron (9-4, 2-1 MAC) on Friday night at 8 p.m., inside the M.A.C. Center with hopes of breaking the historic rivalry's 79-79 tie.
The Flashes have dropped back-to-back Mid-American Conference games and have lost three of its last four games inside the M.A.C. Center. Kent State will look to change that on Friday and take the lead in the Wagon Wheel rivalry.
Sincere Carry added to his great start to the season, scoring his 1,000th career point against NIU. He leads the team in points (17.3), assists (5.1) and steals per game (1.7) and ranks second in the MAC with 21.8 points per game in conference play.
Scouting the Zips
Akron is coming off a 10-point win over Ball State earlier in the week. The Zips lead the MAC in scoring defense (62.5ppg) and rank second in the conference in field goal percentage (.460) and scoring margin (+11.8).
After a 2-3 start to the season, the Zips have won seven of their last eight games heading into Friday night. Akron is led by Ali Ali, who is averaging 18.3 points per game in MAC play, and Xavier Castaneda who is averaging 18.7 points per game. Enrique Freeman leads the conference in rebounding and has posted eight double-doubles this season.
About the Wagon Wheel
According to legend, the "Wagon Wheel" trophy traces its beginnings to the spring of 1870 when Akron industrialist John R. Buchtel set out for the town of Kent in search of a site to establish a college. In the muddy Ohio fields, however, his wagon became bogged down in the area where Kent State University is currently located. When horses pulled the wagon, a wheel came loose and became buried until it was discovered in 1902 during the construction of a pipeline along the Western Reserve Trail.
The wheel eventually fell into the possession of Dr. Raymond Manchester, who as the Kent State Dean of Men in 1945, suggested the local historic artifact be offered as the trophy to the winner of the annual Akron-Kent State football game.
Each year, the two schools compete throughout all athletics teams in the Crystal Clinic Wagon Wheel Challenge. The Golden Flashes currently hold a 3.0-1.5 advantage during the 2021-22 schedule and Kent State will look to earn a half-point on Friday evening in one of the two meetings against the Zips this season.
Follow the Flashes
Home tickets for the 2021-22 season are on sale now. Fans are required to wear face coverings while inside the M.A.C. Center. For questions regarding ticket information, email athletictickets@kent.edu or call 330-672-4455.
For more information on the men's basketball team, follow Kent State Men's Basketball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and visit kentstatesports.com for additional updates.
