Akron head coach Keith Dambrot and Western Michigan head coach Steve Hawkins have quite a history together. They're the longest-tenured coaches in the conference and have met 20 times before tonight's game - with Dambrot owning a 15-5 edge over Hawkins.
Dambrot notched another win over Hawkins on Friday night, as the Zips (13-2, 2-0) struggled from the field and on the glass but came up with a 62-53 victory. Western Michigan (6-9, 0-2) had the Akron lead down to just five with 6 minutes left, but the Zips closed the game out with a 9-3 run as a Kwan Cheatham dagger three-ball put the Zips up 11 with a minute on the clock.