Akron vs Kent State basketball score, recap, highlights and stats

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Akron vs Kent State basketball score, recap, highlights and stats

Nate Ulrich and Mike Popovich, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Fri, Feb 27, 2026 ·

8 min read

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KENT — The Wagon Wheel rivalry between the Akron and Kent State men's basketball teams shifted to a sold-out M.A.C. Center on Friday, Feb. 27, and the Zips dominated the rematch en route to a 92-70 victory.

Akron won the first meeting this season between the two Mid-American Conference adversaries , prevailing 69-52 on Jan. 30 at Rhodes Arena. The result kept Kent State seeking revenge, but the Golden Flashes instead stumbled to a seven-game series losing streak .

Akron (24-5, 15-1) extended its winning streak to five games and snapped what had been a four-game winning streak for Kent State (21-8, 12-4).

Here is how the showdown unfolded through our updates:

Akron defeats Kent State 92-70

Guard Shammah Scott led Akron with a game-high 23 points, followed by point guard Tavari Johnson with 22 points, guard Sharron Young with 18 points, wing Evan Mahaffey 13 points and guard Eric Mahaffey with 11 points.

Guard Morgan Safford led Kent State with 15 points. Forward Rayvon Griffith and point guard Cian Medley added 13 and 10 points, respectively, for KSU.

Kent State's last lead of the night occurred when KSU went ahead 8-5 with 15:34 left in the first half. Akron then went on a 15-0 run and rolled for the rest of the game.

College basketball column: Akron Zips peel back another layer of toughness vs Kent State. Opinion

Akron Zips guard Shammah Scott (1) drives past Kent State Golden Flashes guard Morgan Safford (8) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the M.A.C. Center, Feb. 27, 2026, in Kent, Ohio.

Akron is dominating Kent State and leads 83-61 with 5:41 left to play

During a timeout with 5:41 remaining in the second half, Akron led Kent State 83-61.

At this point, Akron had shot 56.6% from the field compared with Kent State's 42.3% shooting from the field.

Akron held a 35-23 rebounding advantage. UA had outscored KSU 50-15 in bench points and 23-7 in points off turnovers.

MAC basketball: Kent State can't match Akron's intensity in loss

Kent State Golden Flashes guard Cian Medley (1) gets tripped up as he controls the ball against Akron Zips guard Sharron Young (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the M.A.C. Center, Feb. 27, 2026, in Kent, Ohio.

Akron leads Kent State 79-57 with 7:25 left in the second half

Akron held a 79-57 advantage against Kent State with 7:25 left in the second half.

At this stage, Akron point guard Tavari Johnson had a game-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field (4 of 4 on 3-pointers). His 3 with 7:38 left gave Akron a 22-point cushion.

UA was 14-of-26 shooting on 3s, including 5 of 8 in the second half, at this juncture.

Like Johnson, Zips guard Shammah Scott was perfect on 3s (5 of 5) at this point. And UA guard Sharron Young was 4 of 6 on 3s.

UA's Shammah Scott has been on fire for Akron Zips , who lead Kent State 69-48 with 11:07 left in the second half

During a timeout with 11:07 remaining in the second half, Akron had complete control and a 69-48 lead.

Zips guard Shammah Scott made a 3-pointer with 11:22 left, giving UA a 21-point lead. With the make, Scott improved to a 5-of-5 shooting on 3-pointers in the game. And Akron's shooting totals were boosted to 13 of 25 on 3s, including 4 of 7 in the second half.

Kent State shows life in the second half but trails Akron 59-45 with 15 minutes left

After Akron scored the first 10 points of the second half, Kent State countered.

Forward Rayvon Griffith made back-to-back 3-pointers for KSU, and the Golden Flashes trailed the Zips 59-45 during a timeout with 15 minutes remaining.

Akron Zips lead Kent State Golden Flashes 55-37 with 16:55 left in the second half

Akron went on an 8-0 run to begin the second half, taking a 55-37 lead.

Akron started the second half 2-of-8 shooting from the field, which isn't great, but the Zips prefer it to Kent State's cold start after halftime. KSU began the second half 0-of-5 shooting from the field.

Akron point guard Tavari Johnson produced a three-point play with 16:55 remaining, making a layup while absorbing a hard foul and a free throw after a timeout.

Akron leads Kent State 47-37 at halftime

Cian Medley's 3 in the dying seconds of the first half cuts Akron's lead over Kent State to 47-37 at the break.

Akron's Sharron Young and Shammah Scott were a big difference in the first half. Young was 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Scott was 3 of 3 from behind the arc.

Young leads Akron with 14 points. Morgan Safford leads Kent State with 10,

Kent State's Rob Whaley Jr. also returned to the game with 1:11 left. He appeared to turn his ankle earlier in the half.

Injury concern for Kent State's Rob Whaley Jr.

Kent State's Rob Whaley appeared to turn his left ankle when he fouled Akron's Evan Mahaffey with 7:15 left in the first half. He hopped off the court without putting weight on his ankle and was tended to. He later returned to the bench.

The Zips lead the Flashes 38-31 with 2:56 left in the first half.

Kent State run pushes Flashes closer

The Zips take a timeout after Jahari Williamson's second 3 of the game cuts their lead to 28-22.

Kent State is 5 of 10 from behind the arc. The Flashes are on a 14-8 run

Record-tying Cian Medley assist helps end Akron run

The Zips extended their run to 15 straight points before Delrecco Gillespie hit a 3 to cut Akron's lead to 20-11.

Here's some good news for the Flashes. Their two 3-pointers already surpass the number of 3s they hit in their first game against Akron.

Here's more good news for Kent State. Cian Medley's assist on Gillespie's 3 was his 180th of the season, tying a Flashes record. He later broke the record when he set up a Morgan Safford 3.

Shammah Scott keys quick Akron run

A 10-0 Akron run pushes the Zips in front 15-8. Shammah Scott hit two 3s during the run.

Two successful coaching challenges early on

We had two coaching challenges before the first media timeout. An offensive foul on Kent State's Rob Whaley Jr. was overturned and led to the first points of the game. An out of bounds call on Akron also was overtuned,

Kent State has an early 6-3 lead.

Below is some pregame information.

Kent State's Jahari Williamson warming up

Jahari Williamson appears good to go for Kent State.

Three days after dislocating his finger in a win over Central Michigan, the junior guard was warming up before tip-off. He was able to return to the Central Michigan game after suffering the injury.

Akron vs. Kent State men's basketball series history

Akron leads the all-time series 86-82 and has emerged victorious from the past six clashes.

Kent State hasn't triumphed in the series since March 10, 2023, when the Golden Flashes won 79-73 in a MAC Tournament semifinal in Cleveland .

College basketball column: Akron vs. Miami would be a dream MAC championship matchup | Opinion

Zips coach John Groce is 13-7 against Kent State during his UA tenure. Groce is 17-12 overall versus KSU, including his time at Ohio .

The Akron-Kent State basketball series began during the 1915-16 season.

Kent State Golden Flashes forward Rayvon Griffith (0) topples on top of Akron Zips forward Chabi Barre (8) as he fights to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the JAR, Jan. 30, 2026, in Akron, Ohio.

Could big man Rob Whaley Jr. be the difference for Kent State basketball this time vs. the Akron Zips after previously landing on injury report?

An undisclosed injury prevented Kent State starting center Rob Whaley Jr. from playing at Akron earlier this season.

Whaley has played in each of Kent State's past six games, though, and he even made a game-winning shot on Feb. 24 , lifting KSU to an 83-81 victory over Central Michigan.

Whaley has started 21 of the 26 games in which he's appeared this season, averaging 11.6 points on 50.2% shooting from the field, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 23.5 minutes.

Kent State University's Rob Whaley Jr. (2) shoots past Eastern Michigan University's Godslove Nwabude (13), Feb. 11, 2026, at M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio. — Kent State University’s Rob Whaley Jr. (2) shoots past Eastern Michigan University’s Godslove Nwabude (13), Feb. 11, 2026, at M.A.C. Center in Kent, Ohio.

Kent State basketball's starters vs. Akron

Point guard Cian Medley (10.6 points, 6.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals)
Guard Jahari Williamson (10 points, 1.8 rebounds)
Guard Morgan Safford (14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists)
Forward Delrecco Gillespie (18.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.5 blocks)
Center Rob Whaley Jr. (11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists)

Akron Zips' Tavari Johnson (5) shoots in a game against UMass, Feb. 13, 2026, at James A Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio. — Akron Zips’ Tavari Johnson (5) shoots in a game against UMass, Feb. 13, 2026, at James A Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio.

Akron basketball's starters vs. Kent State

Point guard Tavari Johnson (20.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.3 steals)
Guard Bowen Hardman (7.4 points, 1.5 rebounds)
Wing Zach Halligan (3 points, 2.5 rebounds)
Wing Evan Mahaffey (10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals)
Forward Amani Lyles (15.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists)

Kent State basketball coverage: Coach Rob Senderoff's KSU contract details: Salary, bonuses, staff money and more

How can I watch, listen, stream the Akron Zips basketball game vs. the Kent State Golden Flashes tonight?

The Akron-Kent State game will be broadcast nationally by ESPNU. The Akron radio broadcast can be heard locally on WHLO (640-AM). The Kent State radio broadcast can be heard locally on Fox Sports 1350 the Gambler (1350-AM).

The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com .

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron men's basketball score vs Kent State, recap, highlights, stats

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