 The Akron Zips travel to take on the Massachusetts Minutemen in second round NIT action on Saturday. The game is set for a Noon ET tip-off and will be televised by ESPN. The Zips are one of just two MAC teams still alive in postseason play and will be looking to advance to the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Tournament for the first time in the program's history
NIT Second Round
(6) AKRON (24-10, 11-5 MAC) vs. (2) MASSACHUSETTS (22-10, 10-6 Atlantic 10)
Date: Saturday, March 22
Time: Noon ET
TV: ESPN
SERIES HISTORY: First Meeting
Game Snapshot:
AKRON ZIPS
OVERALL RECORD: 24-10
CONFERENCE: 11-5 (2nd, MAC East)
 Quick Take: Sixth-seed Akron enters its second round NIT matchup after defeating third-seeded Florida State 65-60 in overtime at Tallahassee on Tuesday. It was the first-ever victory over an ACC opponent by the Zips. Akron was led in overtime by Nick Dials' three consecutive three-pointers. Dials had struggled from the field in the contest, going 2-9 prior to catching fire in the overtime session and finishing with a game-high 21 points.
The Zips have won five straight road games and have posted an 11-7 mark on the road this season. Akron has faced two previous opponents from the Atlantic 10 this season, defeating Temple 67-65 at home on November 26 and falling to Dayton 83-81 in double overtime on January 2.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
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F Jeremiah Wood
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13.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg
|
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F Chris McKnight
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6.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg
|
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F Nate Linhart
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8.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg
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G Nick Dials
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12.1 ppg, 4.3 apg
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G Cedrick Middleton
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9.6 ppg, 1.5 apg
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Coach: Keith Dambrot (200-107: 92-37 at Akron - 4th season)
Akron NIT History:
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1987
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at Illinois State
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L 79-72
|
|
1989
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at Ohio State
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L 81-70
|
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2006
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at Temple
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W 80-73 (OT)
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|
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at Creighton
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L 71-60
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2008
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at Florida State
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W 65-60 (OT)
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MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMEN
OVERALL RECORD: 22-10
CONFERENCE: 10-6 (3rd, Atlantic 10)
 Quick Take: The Minutemen advanced to the second round of the NIT after defeating seventh-seeded Stephen F. Austin 80-60 at home in the opening round on Tuesday. Second-seeded Massachusetts was led by senior center Dante Milligan's career-high 24 points who also added nine rebounds and seven blocked shots in a dominating performance. The 80 point effort against Stephen F. Austin represented the most points given up this season by the Lumberjacks who had entered the game allowing only 55.2 points per game.
Massachusetts finished third in the Atlantic 10 this season but was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament, falling to Charlotte, 69-65. UMass forward Gary Forbes was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and finished 37th in the nation in scoring while scoring twenty or more points in 18 games this season. Guard Chris Lowe topped the A-10 in assists per game and was 13th nationally.
The Minutemen played one MAC opponent this past season, defeating Toledo 65-61 at home on December 15.
PROBABLE STARTERS:
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F Gary Forbes
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20.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg
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F Etienne Brower
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12.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg
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C Dante Milligan
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8.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg
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G Chris Lowe
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11.9 ppg, 6.1 apg
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G Ricky Harris
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17.8 ppg, 1.5 apg
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Coach: Travis Ford (187-145; 59-34 at Massachusetts - 3rd season)
UMass NIT History:
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1970
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vs. Marquette (at MSG)
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L 62-55
|
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1971
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vs. North Carolina (at MSG)
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L 90-49
|
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1973
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vs. Missouri (at MSG)
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W 78-71
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|
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vs. North Carolina (at MSG)
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L 73-63
|
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1974
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vs. Jacksonville (at MSG)
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L 74-69
|
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1975
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vs. Manhattan (at MSG)
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L 68-51
|
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1977
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vs. Seton Hall
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W 86-85
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|
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vs. Villanova (at MSG)
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L 81-71
|
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1990
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at Maryland
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L 91-81
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1991
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vs. LaSalle
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W 93-90
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|
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at Fordham
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W 78-74
|
|
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at Siena
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W 82-80 (OT)
|
|
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vs. Stanford (at MSG)
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L 73-71
|
|
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vs. Colorado (at MSG)
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L 98-91
|
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2000
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at Siena
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L 66-65
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2007
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vs. Alabama
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W 89-87 (OT)
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|
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at West Virginia
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L 90-77
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2008
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vs. Stephen F. Austin
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W 80-60
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Tale of the Tape:
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Akron
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UMass
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|
Points Per Game
|
71.1
|
81.9
|
|
Scoring Margin
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+7.4
|
+6.1
|
|
Field Goal Pct
|
.442
|
.447
|
|
3PT FG Pct
|
.385
|
.363
|
|
3PT FG Per Game
|
8.4
|
9.3
|
|
Free Throw Pct
|
.702
|
.667
|
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Rebounds Per Game
|
31.4
|
38.2
|
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Rebound Margin
|
-1.0
|
-1.4
|
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Assists Per Game
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13.4
|
15.8
|
|
Turnovers Per Game
|
12.7
|
13.6
|
|
Assist/TO Ratio
|
1.1
|
1.2
|
|
Steals Per Game
|
7.2
|
7.3
|
|
Blocks Per Game
|
2.8
|
7.5
|
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