KALAMAZOO, Mich. (Interstat) — A surging Akron team riding a five-game winning streak will face a struggling Western Michigan squad coming off a rare victory when the Mid-American Conference rivals meet Tuesday night at University Arena. The Akron Zips (18-5), among the MAC’s top teams, have won 10 of their last 11 games. Their only loss in that stretch was a 79-69 nonconference road defeat at Troy on Feb. 7. They arrive in Kalamazoo fresh off a 99-92 home win over Massachusetts last Friday, where guard Tavari Johnson scored 23 points. Johnson has been the catalyst for Akron’s success, averaging over 20 points per game in his last seven contests. He dropped 26 points in the loss at Troy and 25 points with 7 assists in a win over Toledo on Jan. 27. The Western Michigan Broncos (8-15) snapped a four-game skid with a 76-62 road win at Eastern Michigan last Saturday. Forward Brady Swartz led the way with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Swartz has been inconsistent but is coming off one of his better performances of the season. The matchup presents a stark contrast in trajectories. Akron’s potent offense, which has scored 90 or more points three times in the last month, will test a Western Michigan defense that has allowed 90 points in two of its last four home games. Western Michigan will need another strong outing from Swartz and support from players like EJ Ryans, who had 13 points in the win over Eastern Michigan, to counter Akron’s balanced attack. For Akron, maintaining their offensive rhythm on the road will be key as they continue to pursue a conference title. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. EST tip-off Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026.