UNCG (2-6) @ Akron (5-3)

When: Friday, December 18 7 pm
Where: Rhodes Arena (5,500)
TV: None

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Spartan Notes:
- Last time out, UNCG dropped a home game to Princeton, 65-50. Ben Stywall lead UNCG with 14 points and 7 rebounds.
- The Spartans are 2-2 in road games this season. UNCG dropped it's first 2 games at Duke and Virginia Tech before rebounding with 2 straight wins against USC-Upstate and Samford.
- Including Princeton, UNCG has out rebounded its last three opponents.
-Stywall leads UNCG in points (13.0) and rebounds (9.0). Kyle Randall leads in assists (2.4).
- For the season, UNCG shooting 39.5% from the field, 33.6% from behind the arc and 68.7% from the free throw line.

Zips Notes:
-Akron defeated Malone College (NAIA) 62-30 on Saturday. Brett McKnight had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
- Akron defeated UNCG 75-53 in Fleming Gym last season. "Humpty" Hitchens and Nate Linhart each scored 13 points for the Zips. Ben Stywall lead UNCG with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
- Media members picked Akron as the preseason favorite in the MAC conference.
-The Zips come into the contest sporting a 3-1 home record so far this season. Their only loss was the home opener to Austin Peay.
-No Akron player is averaging double digits in points. However, 4 players are averaging over 8 points.
- Nikola Cvetinovic lead Akron in scoring (8.9). Zeke Marshall Leads in rebounds (6.0). Hitchens leads the Zips in assists (2.4).
- For the season, Akron is shooting 40.8% from the field, 33.3% from behind the arc and 59.5% from the free throw line.

My Thoughts:
The Zips have a very tall team, and should have a huge size advantage over UNCG. However, the stats point to Akron not being a good shooting team (especially free throws). If it's close game down the stretch, I like UNCG's chances of taking advantage of this bad free throw shooting by Akron.

The Spartans have played much better on the road. For whatever reason, the guys have came out as the visitors and shot really well. Maybe they can continue the good play on the road against a team that is still trying to hit their stride. With a tough finish to the non-conference schedule, it would be great to pick up another win.

Go Spartans !!!