The Massachusetts Minutemen are set to travel to the James A. Rhodes Arena to take on the Akron Zips, with the Zips looking to build on their impressive 10-1 conference record and strengthen their case for an NCAA Tournament bid, having already amassed a 19-4 overall record, including a 6-0 mark against Quad 3 opponents and an 11-0 record against Quad 4 foes, with their quad record standing at 0-2 in Quad 1, 0-3 in Quad 2, 6-0 in Quad 3, and 11-0 in Quad 4 games. Meanwhile, the Minutemen, who have gone 3-7 against Quad 3 opponents and 10-2 against Quad 4 teams, are seeking to bolster their tournament resume with a quality win, having gone 0-1 against Quad 1 teams and 1-0 against Quad 2 teams, with their NET ranking of 191 leaving them in need of significant improvement to crack the tournament field.
Akron Zips' Home Dominance
The game is scheduled to take place on February 13, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET, at the James A. Rhodes Arena, and will be available to stream on various platforms, including the Mid-American Conference's official website, with the over/under set at 160.5 points and the Akron Zips favored by 13.5 points, according to Fanduel, with a moneyline of -1250 for the Zips and 760 for the Minutemen.
The Massachusetts Minutemen have compiled a 15-10 overall record and a 6-6 mark in conference play, with their recent form seeing them go 3-2 over their last five games, including a win over the Eastern Michigan Eagles and a loss to the Toledo Rockets, with their NET ranking of 191 and quad record of 0-1 in Quad 1, 1-0 in Quad 2, 3-7 in Quad 3, and 10-2 in Quad 4 games leaving them in need of quality wins to build a strong tournament case, having averaged 74.5 points per game while allowing 71.1 points per contest, with a rebounding margin of +2.5 and a turnover margin of -1.1.
Key Matchups
The Akron Zips have put together an impressive 19-4 overall record and a 10-1 conference mark, with their recent form seeing them go 4-1 over their last five games, including a win over the Buffalo Bulls and a loss to the Kent State Golden Flashes, with their NET ranking of 59 and quad record of 0-2 in Quad 1, 0-3 in Quad 2, 6-0 in Quad 3, and 11-0 in Quad 4 games positioning them firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble, having averaged 82.1 points per game while allowing 70.5 points per contest, with a rebounding margin of +4.5 and a turnover margin of +2.1, and boasting a 12-0 record at home, with an average margin of victory of 15.8 points per game.
The matchup between the Massachusetts Minutemen and the Akron Zips will feature a clash of styles, with the Zips' high-powered offense, which has averaged 82.1 points per game, facing off against the Minutemen's more methodical approach, which has seen them average 74.5 points per contest, with the Zips' +4.5 rebounding margin and +2.1 turnover margin likely to play a significant role in the outcome, as the Minutemen have struggled to defend the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot 36.2% from three-point range, while the Zips have been potent from beyond the arc, shooting 38.5% as a team, with their pace of 70.5 possessions per game likely to test the Minutemen's defense, which has allowed 71.1 points per game.
CHD Scout Prediction
Massachusetts
75
Akron
85
For the Massachusetts Minutemen, Noah Fernandes has been a key contributor, averaging 14.5 points and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 42.1% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range, with a recent hot streak seeing him score 20 or more points in three of his last five games, including a 25-point outing against the Eastern Michigan Eagles, and a 22-point performance against the Toledo Rockets. For the Akron Zips, Ali Ali has been a standout, averaging 17.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 49.2% from the field and 42.1% from three-point range, with his recent form seeing him score 15 or more points in four of his last five games, including a 28-point outing against the Buffalo Bulls, and a 20-point performance against the Kent State Golden Flashes.
Tournament Stakes
The CHD Scout prediction has the Akron Zips emerging victorious by a margin of 10.6 points, with an 81.6% win probability, citing the Zips' strong home record, potent offense, and significant advantages in rebounding and turnover margin, with the predicted score being 85-75 in favor of the Zips, and the confidence level in this prediction being high, given the Zips' impressive performance against Quad 3 and Quad 4 opponents, and their ability to dominate games on their home court.
This game has significant tournament implications for both teams, with the Akron Zips seeking to bolster their case for an NCAA Tournament bid and solidify their position on the bubble, having already amassed a strong conference record, but struggling against Quad 1 and Quad 2 opponents, with their quad record of 0-2 in Quad 1 and 0-3 in Quad 2 games leaving them in need of quality wins to strengthen their resume, while the Massachusetts Minutemen are looking to build a strong tournament case with a quality win, having gone 0-1 against Quad 1 teams and 1-0 against Quad 2 teams, with their NET ranking of 191 leaving them in need of significant improvement to crack the tournament field, and a win over the Zips, who are ranked 59 in the NET, would be a major boost to their resume.