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AKRON, Ohio – Akron center Zeke Marshall joined some elite company on Saturday against Ohio, becoming just the eighth player in Mid-American Conference history to record 200 career blocked shots.

Marshall’s block of OU’s D.J. Cooper with 8:59 left in the game was his third of the contest and the 200th of his career. With that swat, Marshall supplanted his name in the annals of league history as one of the premier defenders to patrol the paint in the conference’s 65 season of basketball. 

The career blocked shots list in the MAC includes impressive names and honors, including six NBA pros, six league MVPs, five All-Americans and five defensive player of the year awards.  In Marshall’s rearview mirror are pros such as Chris Kaman, (CMU), Ron Harper [Miami (Ohio)] and Dan Roundfield (CMU).

Marshall’s mantel already houses school records for blocked shots in a game (9), season (92) and career (200).  He also holds league records for blocked shots in a MAC Tournament game (9) and swats in a single conference tournament (17).

So, what’s next for Marshall?  He will now set his sights on the all-time blocked shots mark in the MAC (301), which is currently held by Ball State’s Lonnie Jones (1998-2002). 

Through 88 career games, Marshall is averaging 2.3 swats per game.  At that rate, he would need 45 games to take over the top spot.  With 15 guaranteed games left this season, he would reach the mark in game 30 next season.  However, with his average continuing to rise this season, (2.9 bpg), his climb to the top should come sooner rather than later.

Until that momentous day comes, Marshall will continue to protect the paint, looking to lead the Zips to another MAC title and a third trip to the NCAA Tournament in four years.