Preview: Massachusetts at Akron AKRON, Ohio (Interstat) — A surging Akron squad aims to rebound from a rare stumble when it hosts a resilient Massachusetts team in a key mid-February men’s NCAA Division I basketball clash Friday night at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Zips (17-5), among the conference leaders, saw a six-game winning streak snapped in a 79-69 loss at Troy last Saturday. They return home, where they are 10-1 this season, led by guard Tavari Johnson. The dynamic scorer has averaged over 20 points per game in his last six contests, including a 26-point effort in the loss at Troy. The visiting Minutemen (15-10) are looking to build momentum after a heartbreaking 94-91 triple-overtime loss at Coastal Carolina last Saturday. In that marathon, guard K’Jei Parker erupted for a season-high 31 points. Parker’s scoring has been volatile, but his high-ceiling performances make him a constant threat for UMass, which has won three of its last five. Akron’s defense, which held four opponents under 65 points during its recent streak, will be tested by a UMass offense coming off a 91-point outing. Minutemen forward Daniel Hankins-Sanford grabbed 20 rebounds in the triple-overtime contest, setting up a critical interior battle. The Zips won the first meeting this season, 82-63, in Amherst on Jan. 20. Johnson led Akron with 13 points and six assists in that victory. For UMass, the road tilt begins a challenging stretch. Akron seeks to reaffirm its dominance at home and in the conference standings before hitting the road for three of its next four. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST Friday.