Akron is trying to remain the hottest men's basketball program in the country Tuesday night, when the Zips will honor UA great Enrique Freeman by unveiling his jersey number in the rafters at Rhodes Arena during a halftime ceremony.
Victorious in each of its past 13 games, Akron owns the nation's longest active winning streak entering its Mid-American Conference showdown with Northern Illinois on what UA has dubbed "Enrique Freeman Night." When the Indiana Pacers picked Freeman during the second round (No. 50 overall) in June, he became the first Zips player drafted by an NBA team since 1987. A Cleveland native, Freeman was voted an Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention selection and the MAC Player of the Year last season as a UA senior.
Tipoff for Akron (20-5, 12-0) versus Northern Illinois (5-20, 1-11) occurred shortly after 7 p.m. Updates will be here throughout the game.
UA's pace is giving NIU problems.
Akron led 24-11 during a media timeout with 7:42 left in the first half. And at this stage, the Zips had outscored the Huskies 7-0 in fast-break points.
Defense leads to transition offense for the Zips when they're rolling.
UA forward James Okonkwo blocked the shot of NIU guard Quentin Jones on an attempted layup. Then on the other end of the floor, Zips guard Bowen Hardman made a 3-pointer to give UA an 18-6 lead with 12:59 left in the first half.
Akron had a 22-9 advantage during the second media timeout with 9:31 remaining in the first half. At this juncture, guard Tavari Johnson led a balanced UA attack with five points.
Akron jumped out to a 12-2 lead and held the 10-point advantage during the first media timeout with 15:08 remaining in the first half.
Tavari Johnson got off to a hot start with a 3-pointer and a layup during what would become a 12-0 run by UA.
Here is some pregame information:
Akron entered Tuesday with a 13-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the nation. Towson ranks second with a 12-game winning streak.
According to UA, the Zips still have a decent amount of work to do to break program records for most wins in a row.
Akron is 13-0 at home this season. According to UA, only 14 of the 364 men's hoops teams in NCAA Division I are unbeaten at home this season. No other MAC team has an unblemished home record this season.
Speaking of the MAC, UA would improve to 13-0 in the conference for the first time since the 2012-13 season with a win over Northern Illinois.
More Akron Zips men's basketball: Tavari Johnson goes from 'quiet as a church mouse' to making noise with UA
Earlier this season, Akron prevailed 80-70 at Northern Illinois on Jan. 28.
Akron leads its all-time series with Northern Illinois 33-14. UA has won the past four meetings.
And Akron's John Groce is 9-3 in his head coaching career against NIU.
Why are Zips so hot right now?: UA remains atop MAC men's basketball standings with 'modern NBA-style offense'
The Akron-Northern Illinois game will be televised on ESPN+, with Michael Reghi serving as the play-by-play announcer and Jeff Phelps the analyst. It will be broadcast on local radio via WHLO (640-AM), with Dave Skoczen doing play by play and Joe Dunn analyzing.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips men's basketball score vs Northern Illinois live updates