Zips Journey to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday

AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zips battle the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Tuesday, February 3, at 6:30 p.m. for the sixty fourth all-time assembly between the 2 faculties. 

Akron and Eastern Michigan will be considered on ESPN+ with Ryan Wooley (PxP) and Reggie Butler (Analyst) on the decision. Fans can hearken to the motion on the Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst) on the decision. Live stats are additionally accessible on GoZips.com/protection

Akron (18-4, 9-1 Mid-American) at Eastern Michigan (9-13, 3-7 Mid-American)

Tuesday, Feb. 3 – Gervin GameAbove Center – Ypsilanti, Mich.

6:30 pm ET – ESPN+ – WHLO 640 AM

HEAD COACHES

Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 368-224 | At Akron: 186-92

Eastern Michigan: Stan Heath | Overall Record: 265-298 | At Eastern Michigan: 56-91

ALL-TIME SERIES

Akron Leads 39-24 | Groce vs Eastern Michigan: 13-6 (11-4 at UA)

First Met: Feb. 3, 1968 At Akron (Akron, 62, Eastern Michigan. 55)

Last Met: Dec. 19, 2025 At Akron (Akron 93, Eastern Michigan 72)

Current Streak: W2

At Akron: 21-10 | At EMU: 15-13 Neutral: 3-1

INSIDE THE SERIES

Tuesday’s sport marks the sixty fourth assembly in sequence historical past between Akron and Eastern Michigan. It’s the twentieth assembly for a Groce-coached squad, sixteenth at Akron. Akron holds a 39-24 all-time sequence benefit whereas Groce is 13-6 total towards the Eagles all-time and 11-4 at Akron.

The Zips have received 29 of the final 36 conferences, together with 16-of-20 video games after falling to EMU on March 5, 2024 on a final second dunk. 

Akron is 1-0 towards EMU this season after defending the JAR with a 93-72 victory to being MAC play on December 19, 2025.

Akron secured a 105-81 victory at EMU final season as seven Zips scored in double figures. Akron’s 105 factors marked simply second time an opponent has surpassed 100 factors on the George Gervin GameAbove Center (since 1998-99). Florida Atlantic scored 101 factors, Dec. 4, 2022, making the 2023 Final Four.

The Zips break up the season sequence in 2023-24 after profitable at EMU77-46 whereas falling on the JAR 61-60. Akron swept EMU in 2022-23, profitable 104-67 on the JAR whereas profitable 78-51 on the highway. The Zips swept the 2021-22 sequence, profitable 46-44 at James A. Rhodes Arena and 67-48 at Gervin GameAbove Center. The two groups break up the 2020-21 season sequence with lopsided victories defending their respective residence courts. Eastern Michigan received the primary assembly this season 71-59 at EMU Convention Center and Akron claimed the second assembly 86-65 at The JAR.

LAST TIME OUT (VS KENT STATE 1/30/26)

AKRON, Ohio – The Akron males’s basketball crew recorded its twenty eighth consecutive win at James A. Rhodes Arena whereas defeating Kent State 69-52 on Friday.

Akron’s 28 sport residence profitable streak at present stands because the longest within the nation. The Blue and Gold have additionally defeated Kent State within the earlier six contests.

The Zips did an incredible job at limiting Kent State from deep, holding the Golden Flashes to a 4.3 p.c evening from 3-point vary in a 1-for-23 taking pictures efficiency.

The Zips (18-4, 9-1) had two gamers rating in double figures, led by Tavari Johnson, who had 16 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Bowen Hardman tacked on 15 factors off of the bench. Eric Mahaffey, Evan Mahaffey and Shammah Scott all recorded 9 factors within the win.

Chabi Barre pulled down two offensive rebounds to tempo the Akron offense which grabbed 10 boards and turned them into eight second likelihood factors.

After taking part in to a 2-2 tie, Akron went on a 9-0 run with 16:59 left within the first half to take an 11-2 lead. The Zips then maintained that lead and entered halftime with a 38-29 benefit. Akron relied on its three-point taking pictures within the interval, flattening six pictures to account for 18 of its 38 factors.

Akron saved its lead intact earlier than happening a 12-0 run, completed off by Hardman’s three, to develop the result in 50-33 with 12:25 to go within the contest. The Zips held onto that lead for the remainder of the sport for the 69-52 win. Akron shot nicely from three-point vary within the half, hitting 5 pictures from deep to attain 15 of its 31 factors.

LAST TIME AGAINST EASTERN MICHIGAN (12/19/25)

AKRON, Ohio – Tavari Johnson led the Zips with 25 factors whereas Amani Lyles and Evan Mahaffey each recorded double-doubles to assist lead the Akron males’s basketball crew to a 93-72 victory over Eastern Michigan at residence on Friday.

Akron has now received their final eight Mid-American Conference openers beneath John Groce and are 26-8 in MAC openers since becoming a member of the convention in 1992. The Zips have additionally posted victories in 22-straight residence video games.  The Zips (9-3, 1-0) had three gamers rating in double figures, led by Johnson, who had 25 factors, 5 assists and 4 steals. Lyles tacked on a double-double with 16 factors, 12 rebounds whereas including 4 assists and two blocks. Evan Mahaffey chipped in together with his first profession double-double with 14 factors and a career-high 10 rebounds whereas including 4 assists and one steal.

Akron recorded a season-high 70 factors within the paint.

Akron out-rebounded Eastern Michigan 44-36 in Friday’s sport, paced by Lyles’ 12 boards. The Zips additionally pulled down 14 offensive rebounds and scored 18 second likelihood factors.

The Akron protection held Eastern Michigan shooters to simply 39.1 p.c from the sphere, together with 26.3 p.c from three-point vary.

Akron shared the ball nicely towards the Eagles, recording 22 assists on 39 made baskets. Tavari Johnson and Eric Mahaffey led the Zips with 5 assists whereas Lyles and Evan Mahaffey added 4 assists every.

After leaping out to a 32-27 benefit, Akron went on an 8-0 run with 5:08 left within the first half, culminating in a 3 from Bowen Hardman, to extend its result in 40-27. The Zips then added one level to that lead by the top of the interval and entered halftime with a 48-34 benefit. Akron did most of its first half injury within the paint, scoring 34 of its 48 factors near the basket.

Following intermission, Akron saved widening that lead, increasing it to 74-53 earlier than happening a 7-0 run, completed off by Lyles’ layup, to develop the result in 81-53 with 6:11 to go within the contest. The Eagles narrowed the margin considerably earlier than the sport was over, however the Zips nonetheless cruised the remainder of the best way for the 93-72 win. Akron took care of enterprise within the paint, recording 36 of its 45 factors within the lane.

ZIPS AT A GLANCE

Akron travels to face Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, February 3.

The Zips enter Tuesday’s contest with an 18-4 total document and a 9-1 document within the MAC. The Blue and Gold are 4-2 on the highway this season.

Akron just lately defeated Kent State, 69-52, to document its eighth straight win, the twenty eighth straight win on the JAR and sixth straight over Kent State. The Zips have been led by Tavari Johnson’s 16 factors whereas Bowen Hardman added 15. Akron did an incredible job at limiting Kent State from deep, holding the Golden Flashes to a 4.3 p.c evening from 3-point vary in a 1-for-23 taking pictures efficiency.

Johnson leads the Zips in factors (20.3) and assists (5.5). Amani Lyles leads the Blue and Gold in rebounds (7.5) whereas Evan Mahaffey leads the best way in steals (1.8) and whole blocks (17).

Akron is scoring 91.5 factors per sport whereas outscoring its opponents by 17.0 factors per sport. The Zips shoot .514 from the sphere whereas taking pictures .381 from past the arc and common 11.0 3s per sport. The Blue and Gold maintain a .764 ft share whereas averaging 38.3 rebounds, 19.9 assists, 11.0 turnovers, 7.8 steals and three.3 blocks per sport.

Akron ranks within the prime 5 within the MAC in scoring offense (2nd – 91.5), scoring margin (2nd – +17.0), fg pct (2nd – .514), opp fg pct (1st – .420), 3pt pct (third – .381), opp 3pt pct (fifth – .332), ft pct (third – .764), rebounds (2nd – 38.3), off rebounds (4th – 11.8), def rebounds (third – 26.5), rebound margin (third – +4.9), turnover margin (2nd – +3.09), assist-turnover ratio (1st – +1.81), assists (1st – 19.86) and steals (2nd – 7.82).

The Zips rank tenth within the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+1.81), 4th in assists per sport (19.9), forty second in bench factors (29.86), sixth in efficient fg pct (.598), twenty third in fastbreak factors (15.41), seventh in fg pct (.514), 79th in fg pct protection (.420), 67th in fewest fouls per sport (16.1), forty sixth in ft pct (.764), 71st in rebound margin (+4.8), 67th in def rebounds (26.45), 73rd in rebounds per sport (38.27), tenth in scoring margin (17.0), fifth in scoring offense (91.5), 84th in steals per sport (7.8), twentieth in 3pt pct (.381), eleventh in made 3s per sport (11.0), thirty fifth in turnover margin (+3.1) and fifty fifth in compelled turnovers per sport (14.09).

Individually, Evan Mahaffey ranks forty seventh within the NCAA in assist-turnover ratio (+2.86) and 89th in whole steals (39). Tavari Johnson ranks 63rd  in assist-turnover ratio (+2.69), thirty sixth in whole assists (121), forty second in assists per sport (5.5), 67th in fg pct (.544), eighth in whole fg made (167), 18th in ft pct (.909), twenty fourth in whole factors (446) and twenty fifth in factors per sport (20.3). Amani Lyles ranks 82nd in double-doubles (5), twenty ninth in fg pct (.597) and 68th in def rebounds per sport (5.64).

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

Eastern Michigan enters Tuesday’s contest with a 9-13 total document and a 3-7 document within the MAC. The Eagles are 6-3 at residence this season and are at present on a four-game dropping skid.

Gregory Lawson II poured in a career-high 20 factors within the Eagles’ loss at UMass on Saturday, January 31. Mohammad Habhab added 15 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and two blocks.

Habhab leads the Eagles in factors (14.3), assists (3.0) and rebounds (8.1). Carlos Hart serves because the chief in steals (1.3), whereas Godslove Nwabude has recorded a team-high 28 whole blocks.

Eastern Michigan is scoring 71.5 factors per sport whereas being outscored by its opponents by 1.5 factors per sport. The Eagles shoot .446 from the sphere whereas taking pictures .324 from past the arc and common 16.1 3s per sport. Eastern Michigan holds a .727 ft share whereas averaging 35.5 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 12.0 turnovers, 6.2 steals and 4.0 blocks per sport.

Eastern Michigan ranks within the prime 5 within the MAC in scoring protection (third – 73.0), opp fg pct (fifth – .444), opp 3pt pct (4th – .326) and blocked pictures (2nd – 3.95).

The Eagles rank 94th within the NCAA in blocks per sport (4.0).

Individually, Mohammad Habhab ranks twenty ninth within the NCAA in double-doubles (8), 82nd in whole rebounds (171), thirtieth in def rebounds per sport (6.24), 63rd in rebounds per sport (8.1), twenty third in minutes performed per sport (35:49) and third in triple-doubles (1). Addison Patterson ranks 51st in fg pct (.567).

TAVARI JOHNSON: PLAYER OF THE WEEK (2/2)

For the second time this season. University of Akron guard Tavari Johnson was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, as introduced by the convention workplace on Monday, February 2

Nearly recording double-doubles in back-to-back video games, Tavari Johnson helped the Akron Zips to a 2-0 week. Averaging 20.5 factors, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per sport, Johnson went 14-of-27 (.519) from the sphere, 6-of-12 (.500) from past the arc and 7-of-7 (1.000) from the free throw line.

He began the week by recording 25 factors, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals in a 91-81 win over Toledo whereas taking pictures 50 p.c from the sphere (9-18).

In a 69-52 win over rival Kent State, he added 16 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 assists to his resume.

AKRON IN THE MAC

Akron is 92-27 for the reason that 2019-20 season in MAC play, proudly owning the best profitable share (.773) within the league. The Zips are 77-24 within the MAC beneath the brand new convention format with out divisions (new in 2020-21). Akron is 115-28 (.804) at residence in league play for the reason that begin of the 2011 MAC schedule. UA has seen a ton of success in league play for the reason that begin of the 2004-05 season, and is 260-110 total (.703), together with a 157-32 mark in MAC play at residence (.831). The Zips’ 260 wins are probably the most within the league throughout that stretch. The Zips have received 175 of their final 260 MAC video games (.673).

HOT START TO #MACTION

The Zips have gotten off to a sizzling begin to start MAC play beneath John Groce‘s steering. The Zips have began at the least 9-1 in 4 straight season (25-26: 9-1 |  24-25: 10-0 | 23-24: 9-1 | 22-23: 9-1) and at the least 7-3 previously seven seasons.

Akron began the 2025 MAC schedule with 13 straight wins earlier than falling at Ohio on Feb. 22.  The 13 wins to start convention motion is the very best begin for a UA-led John Groce squad. 

The final, and solely different time, the Zips began 13-0 was again in 2012-13. The 2012-13 squad completed 26-7 total and 14-2 within the MAC. Akron holds the very best begin to MAC play at 13-0 with each the 2012-13 and 2024-25 squads hitting that mark.

Kent State (2001-02) and Toledo (2022-23)  maintain the convention document for many consecutive MAC wins with 15 every. The Rockets’ common season MAC win streak ultimately ended with a complete of 20 in a row, spanning from January, 14 2023 to January 16, 2024.

ON THE ROAD

Akron is 4-2 in highway contest this season, falling to No. 2/1 Purdue and (RV) Miami (OH) whereas defeating Tulane, Bowling Green, Buffalo and Ohio.

The Zips have been 8-4 on the highway in 2024-25.

TOP 10 FOR ASSISTS AND CLIMBING

Tavari Johnson entered the highest 10 for profession assists with 10 assists towards CMU (Jan. 6). Standing with 346 assists, Johnson wants 6 extra to go Nate Barnett (1972-75) who’s sixth all-time with 351 assists.

1K SCORING AS A ZIP AND CLIMBING

Tavari Johnson recorded his 1,000th profession level sporting the Akron Blue and Gold towards Concord on Dec. 29, 2025 with a 28 level efficiency. He turned the fiftieth participant in program historical past to document 1k factors. Johnson, who stands at 1,180 factors, at present ranks because the thirtieth highest scorer in program historical past.

THE SENIOR CLASS: A WHOLE LOT OF WINNING

Akron’s senior class has seen an excessive amount of success sporting the Blue and Gold. Since the 2022-23 season, the Zips have gone 92-33 (.800) total and 52-12 (.812) within the MAC. Akron has additionally claimed the MAC Regular Season Title (2025) and MAC Tournament Title (2024+25) in that span as nicely.

SINCE 19-20

Since the 2019-20 season, Akron has recorded a 155-58 (.727) total document and an 92-27 (.773) document within the MAC. The Zips have claimed the MAC Regular Season Title twice (’20,’25) and the MAC Tournament Title 3 times as nicely (’22,’24’25).

RAINING 3S

Ranking within the prime 15 for made 3’s per sport (eleventh – 11.0), Akron has been one of many prime 3-point taking pictures groups within the nation the previous couple of seasons. The Zips have made 10 or extra 3pters in 16 video games this season, with a season-high 20 falling towards Western Michigan. Akron tied this system document for 3s in a sport towards the Broncos.

Akron is 14-2 this season when hitting 10 or extra 3s and went 18-2 in in the course of the 2024-25 season. Under the course of John Groce, Akron is 102-22 (.823) when making 10 or extra 3’s.

Akron ranked eighth within the nation for made 3’s per sport in 2024-25 (10.7). The Blue and Gold hit 10 or extra 3’s in 20 video games, 15 or extra in six, whereas connecting on 19 3’s towards South Alabama (Feb. 8), which is the second most in program historical past.

DISHING OUT DIMES

Ranking within the prime 10 in assists per sport within the NCAA (4th – 19.9), the Zips aren’t afraid to share the rock. Akron has recorded 20 or extra assists in 10 video games with a season excessive 32 coming towards PSU Shenango (Nov. 12). The most up-to-date sport with 20+ assists was at Buffalo (21) on Jan. 20, 2026.

The Zips are 10-0 this season when recording 20 or extra assists and 37-0 with John Groce main the Blue and Gold.

Akron can also be one of many prime groups within the nation relating to assist-turnover ratio, rating No. 10 (+1.81).

The Zips ranked 4th within the nation in assists per sport (17.7) final season. The Blue and Gold recorded 20 or extra assists in 15 video games with a season excessive 28 coming towards Ohio Wesleyan (11/8/24). 

HIGH OCTANE OFFENSE

One of the nation’s prime scoring crew’s, Akron ranks within the prime 10 in scoring offense (fifth – 91.5). The Zips are 14-2 this season when scoring 85 or extra factors. The most up-to-date sport this season to characteristic 85 or extra factors was 91 towards Toledo on Jan 27. 

Akron scored 85 or extra factors in 19 video games in 2024-25,  have been 19-0 when hitting that mark and completed ranked No.8 within the nation in scoring offense (84.0).

Under John Groce, Akron is 65-5 (.928) when scoring 85 or extra factors.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Akron travels to Troy, Ala., to battle the Troy Trojans as a part of the MAC-SBC Challenge on February 7 for a 6 p.m. ET begin. Akron and Troy will likely be featured on ESPN2.