Akron will be looking to extend its four-game winning streak when it travels to Bradley on Thursday evening. The Zips wrapped up an unbeaten four-game homestand with an 87-55 win over Maine on Monday. Bradley has won five of its last six games, including a 79-50 win over Stonehill earlier this week.
Akron has some momentum coming into this game, as it has won each of its last four games. The Zips lost four games earlier this season, but they were underdogs in all of those setbacks. They also notched a 72-53 win over Western Kentucky as 3-point underdogs in late November, though. Akron has been favored in all four games during its current winning streak, covering the spread in two out of the three that had a Vegas point spread. The Zips beat Wright State by 12 points as 6.5-point favorites before rolling to an 87-55 win over Maine as 12.5-point favorites in one of their best performances of the season.
we'll take a #??1??3?? please, with a side of sauce????#GoZips?? | @castaneda_x pic.twitter.com/vGfTMIvcCq
— Akron Zips MBB (@ZipsMBB) December 21, 2022
They have not been a good offensive team this year, ranked outside the top 200 in 3-point percentage (31.9), 2-point percentage (49.2) and free throw percentage (69.1). Fortunately, the Zips have been able to salvage some of their possessions with a low turnover rate and a high offensive rebounding rate, despite being the second-shortest team in the country. Their lack of turnovers can be attributed to a very experienced roster, paced by senior guard Xavier Castaneda. He is averaging a team-high 19.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while junior forward Enrique Freeman is adding 12.4 points and 10.0 rebounds.