Kent State, Akron Battle Non-Conference Foes Tonight

•Akron closes out is four games in seven days stretch tonight against North Carolina A&T.  The Zips have gone 3-0 so far during the stretch. The Zips’ 13-game home winning streak is currently the 19th-longest active streak in the nation (games through Dec. 19).  Three teams in the top-20, including Akron, put their streak on the line Wednesday. Akron has five players averaging 9.0 or more points per game, including Zeke Marshall (10.6), Nick Harney (10.6), Quincy Diggs (9.9), Demetrius Treadwell (9.1) and Nikola Cvetinovic (9.0)... North Carolina A&T enters tonight’s contest with a 4-8 record and are coming off a 65-57 loss to Hawai’i on Dec. 18.  The Aggies have lost five-straight contests and are 1-8 on the road. NCAT has two players averaging double figures in the scoring column including Nic Simpson (10.7 ppg) and Marc Hill (10.6 ppg).  Austin Witter (5.6 rpg) is the squads top rebounder.

•Kent State (8-1) continues play in Utah on Wednesday night facing off against Texas-Arlington (4-5) at 5:30 (MST) for the Athletes in Action Classic sponsored by Gossner Foods.  The Golden Flashes are off to their best away/neutral start in 75 years and are looking to establish the best start  away from home in school history by adding to their 4-0 record this season. Winners of six straight, Kent State has started the season out winning eight of its first nine games for only the fourth time in school history (2002-03 [9-1]; 1999-00 [10-1]; 1998-99 [8-1]). Posting the Golden Flashes first double-double of the year with 13 points and 10 rebounds, senior forward Justin Greene helped lead the team to a 67-58 win over Saint Peter’s on Tuesday.  Junior guard Randal Holt added 12 points and junior forward Patrick Jackson had a career high 11 rebounds as Kent State closed out the game with a 10-0 run.  Behind the effort from Greene and Jackson the Golden Flashes grabbed a season best 48 rebounds and had a double digit rebounding margin (+16) for a third consecutive game.