Ohio State, Akron Play for First Time Since 1989 – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 14, 2016
Ohio State Notes | Akron Notes | Big Ten Notes | 2015-16 Schedule
Preview: Coach Matta
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No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (20-13) vs. No. 6 Akron Zips (28-8)
2016 National Invitation Tournament Bracket
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| Date: | March 15, 2016 |
| Site: | Value City Arena (19,049) |
| Game Time: | 7 p.m. |
| Television: | ESPN |
| Talent: | Bob Wischusen (Play-By-Play) Dan Dakich (Expert Analysis) None (Sideline) |
| Radio: | OSU-IMG Sports Network (56 stations) |
| Satellite Radio: | None |
| Local Radio: | WBNS-FM 97.1, AM-1460 |
| Radio Talent: | Paul Keels (Play-By-Play) Ron Stokes (Expert Analysis) |
Ohio State NIT History
The Buckeyes are playing in the National Invitation Tournament for the ninth time. The Buckeyes are 18-7 all-time in the event with a pair of championships (1986, 2008). The Buckeyes are 10-2 at home in the NIT, 3-2 on the road and 5-3 at Madison Square Garden in New York in deutral court competition. Thad Matta’s Buckeyes are 5-0 in the NIT, including a 3-0 home record and a 2-0 record at MSG. The Buckeyes have played an Ohio team in seven of nine years in the event and own a 4-2 record in those games. Ohio State takes on Akron this year in the opening round.
Ohio State Game by Game in the NIT
Date W/L Opponent Score
3/7/79 W 1-St. Joseph’s 80-66
3/12/79 W 2-@Maryland 79-72
3/19/79 L 3-vs. Indiana 55-64
3/21/79 L 3-vs. Alabama 86-96
3/15/84 L 4-@Xavier 57-60
3/14/86 W 5-@Ohio University 65-62
3/17/86 W 1-Texas 71-65
3/21/86 W 9-Brigham Young 79-68
3/24/86 W 7-vs. Louisiana Tech 79-66
3/26/86 W 7-vs. Wyoming 73-63
3/16/88 W 1-Old Dominion 86-73
3/22/88 W 6-Cleveland State 86-80
3/25/88 W 8-@New Mexico 68-65
3/29/88 W 7-vs. Colorado State 64-62
3/30/88 L 7-vs. Connecticut 67-72
3/15/89 W 1-Akron 81-70
3/20/89 W 6-Nebraska 85-74
3/23/89 L 9-St. John’s (ot) 80-83
3/17/93 L 1-Miami (O.) 53-56
3/19/03 L 10-@ Georgia Tech 58-72
3/18/08 W 1*-UNC Asheville 84-66
3/24/08 W 11-California 73-56
3/26/08 W 9*-Dayton 74-63
4/1/08 W 7-vs. Mississippi 81-69
4/3/08 W 7-vs. Massachusetts 92-85
1-NIT 1st Round, St. John Arena, Columbus, Ohio/1* Value City Arena
2-NIT 2nd Round, College Park, Maryland
3-NIT Semifinals and 3rd-Place game, New York
4-NIT 1st Round, Cincinnati, Ohio
5-NIT 1st Round, Athens, Ohio
6-NIT 2nd Round, St. John Arena, Columbus, Ohio
7-NIT Semifinals, Championship Game, New York
8-NIT 3rd Round, Albuquerque, New Mexico
9-NIT 3rd Round, St. John Arena, Columbus, Ohio/9* Value City Arena
10-NIT 1st Round, Atlanta, Georgia
11-NIT 2nd Round, St. John Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State vs. Akron Series
Ohio State is 6-1 all-time in the series vs. Akron. The teams have not met since the 1989 National Invitation Tournament first round in Columbus. The Buckeyes won that game 81-70. The teams first met in 1906, a 20-17 win for the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s loss in the series was at Akron Jan. 2, 1913, a 21-19 setback for the Buckeyes. Against Ohio teams all-time, the Buckeyes are 231-76 with a 72-21 record vs. Division I teams from the state of Ohio. The Buckeyes faced Ohio teams back-to-back a season ago. Ohio State downed Miami, Ohio, 93-55 Dec. 22, 2014 and then took down Wright State 100-55 a game later Dec. 27, 2014. Dayton was the last Ohio team to defeat the Buckeyes. The Flyers won 60-59 March 20, 2014 in the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, New York. Thad Matta teams are 15-1 as coach of the Buckeyes vs. Ohio teams. The last time an Ohio team won in Columbus was Dec. 22, 1994 when Bowling Green won 59-50 at St. John Arena.
Last Time vs. Akron
Akron and Ohio State last met in the third round of the 1989 National Invitation Tournament in Columbus. The Buckeyes prevailed in that game 81-70. Four Buckeyes were in double figures led by Perry Carter’s 15 points. Grady Mateen added 14 followed by Jerry Francis with 13 and Jamaal Brown with 11.
Scouting the Zips
Isaiah Johnson, a junior center from Cincinnati, Ohio, is the leading scorer for the Zips with 13.6 points per game. He will be playing in his 100th career game for Akron when the Zips tip off vs. the Buckeyes Tuesday in Columbus. Johnson also is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.5 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Antino Jackson adds 11.9 points per game while senior guard/forward Reggie McAdams pitches in with 11.4 ppg. Akron enters the game with a 26-8 overall record. The Zips were 13-5 in the Mid-American Conference. Akron was the winner of the East Division and fell in the conference tournament final to Buffalo, 64-61, last Saturday at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
For more on the Buckeyes click on the Ohio State Notes link above.
