If Kent State, Akron basketball meet in MAC Tournament, you won't need caffeine

Story by

Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal

Sat, Mar 1, 2025 ·

6 min read

Rob Senderoff conceded at roughly 11:30 p.m. Friday he wouldn't be going to bed anytime soon.

The longtime Kent State men's basketball coach had plenty to ponder in the wee hours after his team fell 77-72 at rival Akron , which clinched at least a share of the Mid-American Conference regular-season championship by extending its Wagon Wheel series winning streak to five games.

The predominant takeaway for Senderoff should be the Golden Flashes significantly narrowed the gap between their first MAC showdown this season with the Zips, an 85-71 UA win at KSU, and the most recent clash televised nationally by ESPN2.

Yes, Akron (23-6, 15-1) earned a 2024-25 regular-season sweep against Kent State (19-10, 9-7), but everyone knows a potential rendezvous in the MAC Tournament would render the past two meetings meaningless.

Prevailing in the MAC Tournament and thereby securing the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament is the ultimate goal.

And punching a ticket to March Madness seems to be far more attainable now for KSU than on Jan. 31, when Akron dominated in Kent.

“We leave here with a confidence level like, 'OK, if we play them, we have confidence that we could, if we played well, compete in that game,” Senderoff said before departing Rhodes Arena with no sleep in sight. “If you had asked me that after we played them at home, I couldn't answer that, not honestly the way I can answer that honestly today.”

Kent State Golden Flashes coach Rob Senderoff works the sideline during the second half at Rhodes Arena on Feb. 28, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.

Akron and Kent State encountering each other during the MAC Tournament March 13-15 at Rocket Arena is far from a given.

But get your popcorn ready in case it happens. Kent State nearly shocked Akron last year in the MAC tourney title game, yet the Zips triumphed 62-61 after an all-time mental gaffe by the Golden Flashes sent UA to the free-throw line for the tying and winning shots with 4.8 seconds remaining.

Akron vs. Kent State basketball recap: Zips clinch MAC regular-season championship

With an announced crowd of 4,967 packing the arena on UA's campus Friday, the atmosphere was electric. Zips fans created a hostile environment for the Golden Flashes (earmuffs were needed for any children who were allowed to stay up for the 9 p.m. tipoff). A neutral site in downtown Cleveland would make the third part of a trilogy fascinating.

Akron has had a tremendous season and should be oozing confidence. The only hiccup UA has experienced this calendar year occurred when it laid an egg in an 84-67 loss Feb. 22 at Ohio, which snapped the Zips' 14-game winning streak in another MAC matchup on ESPN2.

UA bounced back by winning 87-82 at Ball State Tuesday and holding off KSU under the bright lights of prime time.

Kent State Golden Flashes forward VonCameron Davis (1) gets a pass off between Akron Zips guard Isaiah Gray (13) and Akron Zips forward Amani Lyles (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at James A. Rhodes Arena on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.

Despite all of the good vibes surrounding Akron, coach John Groce and his players know Kent State is a legitimate threat.

“It's never going to be an easy game no matter what,” said Nate Johnson, who posted a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds) and finished behind only fellow junior guard Tavari Johnson (16 points) in scoring among UA players.

“If we see them again, it's going to be probably even harder. It'll be an even tighter game.”

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A glance at the statistics from UA versus KSU 2.0 further illustrates the point about degree of difficulty.

Kent State held the lead for 29:11 compared with Akron at 7:38.

KSU exploited matchups inside to outscore UA 44-36 in the paint and earn a 21-14 advantage in second-chance points, even though the teams tied with 39 rebounds apiece.

KSU finished with a better field goal percentage (46.8%, 29 of 62) than UA (43.1%, 28 of 65).

Kent State lost the turnover battle, but it was close (13-12).

The Zips, though, made more 3-pointers (7 of 26) and free throws (14 of 19) than the Golden Flashes (4 of 16 on 3s and 10 of 16 on fouls shots).

And the greatest difference: Akron played better in the clutch.

Akron Zips guard Shammah Scott (1) is fouled by Kent State Golden Flashes guard Jamal Sumlin (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at James A. Rhodes Arena on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.

The score was tied 68-68 with 3:14 left. Nate Johnson drew a foul on a missed corner 3-pointer and made all three free throws with 2:53 left. Senior guard Shammah Scott drew a foul on a fast break and made both of his free throws with 2:30 remaining.

Akron led 73-68 after those sequences and then produced enough defensive stops down the stretch to participate in celebratory net cutting.

“The first time we played them, we were noncompetitive in the game, and I was certainly disappointed in that,” Senderoff said. “And you leave that first game wondering if you even are in the same category or same class as them. Tonight, we competed. We're much better today than we were in January.

“They're an elite team, and they have dominated the league because of how well they're able to win close games, make plays that you need to make, and give them credit — they had guys step up and make those winning plays. If we're fortunate enough to play them again, there are some things we're going to have to do a little bit better in order to come out on the other side of this.”

Akron Zips forward Amani Lyles (0) dunks over Kent State Golden Flashes forward VonCameron Davis (1) and forward Delrecco Gillespie (23) during the second half at Rhodes Arena on Feb. 28, 2025, in Akron, Ohio.

Kent State has shown it's capable of growth.

KSU followed its first loss to Akron by going on a five-game winning streak. Senior guard Jalen Sullinger (game-high 19 points) has ascended as a leader. Senior forward VonCameron Davis (nine points) and senior center Cli'Ron Hornbeak (nine points) have been steady. And senior guard Marquis Barnett (14 points, seven rebounds), junior forward Delrecco Gillespie (10 points, eight rebounds) and sophomore guard Jamal Sumlin (six points) have dramatically improved in the past month.

Plus, no one should count a Senderoff team out.

Last season, Kent State entered the MAC Tournament with a record of 15-16, including 8-10 in the MAC, and the tourney's lowest seed, No. 8. However, KSU knocked off No. 1 Toledo and No. 5 Bowling Green before taking a one-point lead against No. 2 Akron with 6.2 seconds left in the championship game, only to squander it.

So consider yourself warned. Things could get wild a couple of weeks from now in Cleveland.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips basketball wins but gets notice about Kent State threat