Courtesy: Jeff Harwell-Zips Sports Photography Sophomore forward Brett McKnight leads Akron in scoring, averaging 11.6 points per game.

GAME 26

Miami (Ohio) (15-8, 8-3 MAC) at Akron (16-9, 7-4 MAC)

Wednesday, February 18
7 p.m. EST
Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Akron, Ohio

Television: None

Webcast/Audio Stream/Live Statistics: Webcast and audio stream through ZipsZone subscription, live statistics free of charge.
    
Radio: Akron-ISP Sports Network – SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron and through the ZipsZone subscription package. Steve French (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (analyst) (6:30 p.m. EST airtime).

Akron Coach Keith Dambrot (Akron '82):
Is in his fifth season at the helm for the Zips, maintaining a 108-47 (.697) mark in that time. His win percentage ranks fourth in program history, while his win total is fifth all-time. He is 216-117 (.649) in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach. Dambrot is 5-9 all-time versus Miami.

Miami Coach Charlie Coles (Miami '65):
Is in his 13th season on the sideline for the RedHawks, owning a 222-163 (.577) record in that time. In 19 years as a collegiate head coach he is 191-130 (.595). He is 16-12 all-time versus Akron.

The Series: Miami leads the series 23-16 and picked up a 64-51 overtime win on Jan. 10 in Oxford in the league-opener for both teams. The Zips have won five-straight meetings at Rhodes Arena and hold a 9-6 edge when playing in Akron.

Up Next: Akron steps out of conference play when it travels to Valparaiso on Saturday for an 8 p.m. EST contest. The game is derived from the ESPNU BracketBusters pool. The meeting will be the fifth all-time between the two schools on the hardwood, with UA leading the series 4-0.

Zips Open Season's Stretch Run Versus Miami (Ohio)...
With just six games remaining in the regular season, the University of Akron men's basketball team (16-9, 7-4 MAC) entertains Miami (Ohio) (15-8, 8-3 MAC) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. EST at Rhodes Arena.

The Zips, who have won seven of their last eight games and four in a row at home, look to rebound from an 83-79 loss at Northern Illinois on Sunday.
   
The RedHawks, who have won in five of their last six outings, posted a 64-46 home win over Western Michigan on Saturday. Miami is 7-6 (4-1 MAC) in road games, which ties Akron for best road mark by a MAC team.
    
Streaks, Storylines, Sidebars...
    • Akron is 62-7 (9-2 this season, won four straight) at Rhodes Arena under fifth-year head coach Keith Dambrot. The Zips have won 30 of their last 33 MAC home games and 53 of the last 59 overall outings on their home floor.
    • At NIU on Sunday, the Zips battled back from a 19-point deficit in the second half to tie the score at 75-all with 1:42 to go, but were unable to gain the lead. Brett McKnight led the Zips with 24 points and a career-high 10 rebounds (first career double-double), while Nate Linhart tied his career best with 19 points and had five rebounds, four assists and four steals.
    • The Zips' scoring offense (67.8 ppg) ranks second in the MAC, while its scoring defense (59.5 ppg) ranks third in the league and 11th nationally. The squad's +8.3 scoring margin is listed first in the league and 50th in the nation. At home, Akron allows 54.9 ppg and averages 68.8 ppg.
    • UA's field goal percentage defense (39.7 percent/494-of-1244) ranks first in the MAC (32nd nationally), while its 3-point field goal percentage defense (30.8 percent/124-of-403) is listed fourth (25th nationally).
    • UA has forced 466 turnovers (18.6 tpg) (Northern Illinois had 19), while committing 337 (13.5 tpg) (15 at NIU). The Zips +5.2 turnover margin ranks first in the MAC and eighth nationally.
    • Akron is outscoring its opponents 525-324 in points off turnovers (led 25-14 in that category at Northern Illinois).
    • UA is averaging a MAC-best 7.1 3-pointers made per game and has made eight or more treys eight times this season (7-of-22 at NIU).
    • The Zips use a 10-player rotation that includes three freshmen and three sophomores, and have two rookies in their starting five (Nikola Cvetinovic and Anthony "Humpty" Hitchens).
    • Brett McKnight comes off the bench to lead Akron in scoring (11.6 ppg, 15th in MAC). Starters Nate Linhart (10.3 ppg, 21st in MAC) and Anthony "Humpty" Hitchens (9.6 ppg, 26th in MAC) pace McKnight.
    • Nate Linhart, leads UA in rebounding (6.0 rpg/10th in MAC), steals (1.8 spg, fourth in MAC) and minutes (30.4 mpg). Over the last five games, he has averaged a team-high 7.0 boards and grabbed a season-high 11 against Ball State on Feb. 11 (the most by a Zip this season).
    • Linhart's 169 career steals (45 this season) (in 123 career games) rank him fourth in the school record book (177 is third, held by Eric McLaughlin/1985-89/115 games). His 910 career points (257 this season) and 557 rebounds (151 this season) rank him among the MAC's active career leaders.
    • UA's 71.8 percent (326-of-454) free throw shooting ranks second in the MAC (75th nationally). Darryl Roberts leads the league at the line (96.5 percent/55-of-57). He has made nine straight and 37 of his last 38 attempts (he is just shy of the 2.5 made per game required to rank nationally).