The Akron Zips are one of the favorites to win the MAC this season and this veteran group has gotten off to a respectable start standing 8-3 overall coming into this neutral site test. Akron puts in effort on both sides of the ball ranking around 90th in the nation in both scoring average and total defense.

UC Irvine lost 4 starters from last year's squad and to makes things even tougher top returner Luke Nelson has also been out. UC Irvine has fallen off losing 5 of their last 7 games to now stand 5-8 overall. In their last outing UC Irvine fell to New Mexico State on the road by a final of 79-85 and fatigue has to be considered a factor given the Anteaters have played in 5 of their last 6 on the road. UC Irvine has been painful to watch on the offensive end at times this season as UCI ranks 335th in the nation in scoring average.

Akron is at a much better spot right now as a team given the amount of veteran talent they have leading a team that's favored to win the MAC. Take Akron here tonight at the SUN BOWL INVITATIONAL on a neutral court in Texas.