Kent State Golden Flashes vs Akron Zips Picks and Predictions for Friday, January 30, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Kent State Golden Flashes will be on the road Friday night for a game inside James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, OH, at 6:00 PM against the Akron Zips Golden Flashes will be on the road Friday night for a game inside James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, OH, at 6:00 PM against the Akron Zips. Kent State has sixteen wins and five losses thus far this season. The Akron Zips stay home Friday night with 17 wins and four losses. Kent State comes into Friday having gone for the last five, including two in a row, after a 15-point home loss during their last outing. Akron comes into Friday night playing some of its best basketball of the season, riding a long winning streak after a 10-point home victory against Toledo last time out. Read more about this Kent State vs Akron prediction! Struggling with handicapping? Try our NCAAB Predictions!
Kent State looks to stay hot
Offensively, Kent State has been solid this season, averaging 89.2 points on 47% shooting from the floor. Defensively, Kent State has been strong enough, allowing 81.6 points per game this season, but has given up an average of 66 points per game over its last two wins. Offensively, Kent State continued to roll in its last outing, scoring 72 points on 30% shooting and knocking down 6 triples in the game. Defensively, Kent State was smothering, allowing 57 points on 30% shooting. The Kent State Golden Flashes won the rebounding battle by 20 and forced 10 turnovers in the victory. Morgan Safford led the way for the Kent State offense in their last outing with 18 points on nine shots and 32 minutes. Delrecco Gillespie chipped in 15 points on 12 shots, while Cian Medley scored 13 points on ten shots in 37 minutes, as the third starter in double digits. Magnus Entenmann led the way off the Kansas State bench with 12 points on eight shots in 28 minutes.
Delrecco Gillespie leads the Kent State offense this season with 19.1 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. Morgan Stafford is second on the team, having 14 points in just over 31 minutes per game. Rob Whaley Jr. averages 12.5 points. Jahari Williamson is fifth on the team, averaging 10 points per game. Cian Medley averages a fourth-best 10.9 points to go along with a team-leading 6.9 assists per game.
Key Injury Report for Kent State:
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Akron tries to extend winning streak
The Akron offense has been the team's biggest strength this season, averaging 92.6 points on 52% shooting from the floor, and the Zips have averaged exactly 90 points per game over their last five wins. Defensively, Akron has held its own, allowing 75.5 points per game this season and averaging 69.6 points per game over its last three victories. Defensively, Akron did just enough in their last outing, allowing 81 points on 54% shooting from the floor and 55% from beyond the arc. Offensively, Akron was the better team, scoring 91 points, including 50 in the second half, to erase an 8-point halftime deficit on 51% shooting and 37% from beyond the arc. The Zips won the rebounding battle by 12 and forced 15 turnovers in the win. Tavari Johnson led the Akron offense in their last game with 25 points on 18 shots and 37 minutes. Amani Lyles added a second-best 19 points on eight shots and 32 minutes. Evan Mahaffey chipped in 11 points on seven shots, and Zach Halligan scored 10 points on six shots and 20 minutes. Eric Mahaffey led the way off the Akron bench with 13 points on eight shots in 23 minutes.
Tavari Johnson leads the Akron offense this season with 20.5 points and 5.6 assists per game. Amani Lyles is second in team scoring, averaging 15.6 points, to go along with the team high 7.5 rebounds. Shammah Scott averages 13.3 points as the third player in double digits. Evan Mahaffey averages 9.8 points, and Eric Mahaffey is fifth on the team, averaging 8.2 points per game.
Key Injury Report for Akron:
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Kent State vs Akron Pick
- Kent State vs Akron Spread Pick
Both teams are playing great basketball coming into this matchup, as each is riding a winning streak. Both teams are competing for the top spot in the conference, and each will play accordingly in this matchup. However, look for Akron to do the work Friday night, as they are better on both ends of the floor. Akron is the hotter team in this game and will play to their strengths against a red-hot Kent State team. Expect Akron to do the job down the stretch Friday night, leading to the win and cover at home as they pick up their 18th victory of the season and 9th in conference play.
- Kent State vs Akron Over/Under Pick
Both teams have won a ton of games thus far this season, and each scores a lot of points and has a high-scoring offense. To match strong offense, neither team has an elite defense. Expect a scoring onslaught Friday night as both teams look to fill it up in pursuit of a victory. Kent State has been rolling offensively lately, and Akron has been red-hot over the last month. Look for both teams to score in bunches as this total goes well over the number on Friday night.
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