Zips Host UMass; Honor Isaiah Johnson on Friday

Akron looks to bounce back at home after road loss to Troy

Feb. 12, 2026 at 4:15pm

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The University of Akron men's basketball team will host the UMass Minutemen on Friday, February 13, 2026 at 9 p.m. The Zips will also honor former all-time great Isaiah Johnson by retiring his No. 23 jersey during the game. Akron is 19-5 overall and 10-1 in the Mid-American Conference, while UMass comes in at 15-10 overall and 6-6 in the MAC.

Why it matters

This game is an important conference matchup for the Zips as they look to maintain their position atop the MAC standings. Honoring Isaiah Johnson, one of the program's all-time greats, will also be a special moment for the Akron community to celebrate the legacy of a player who helped lead the team to success during his career from 2013-17.

The details

Akron is coming off a road loss to Troy on February 7, despite strong performances from Tavari Johnson (26 points) and Shammah Scott (11 points). The Zips will look to bounce back at home, where they are a perfect 12-0 this season. UMass is led by Daniel Hankins-Sanford, who averages a double-double, and Leonardo Bettiol, who scores 17.6 points per game.

  • The game will tipoff at 9 p.m. on Friday, February 13, 2026.
  • Isaiah Johnson will have his No. 23 jersey honored during a special ceremony prior to the game.

The players

Tavari Johnson

Akron's leading scorer, averaging 20.4 points and 5.2 assists per game.

Daniel Hankins-Sanford

UMass' double-double machine, averaging 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per contest.

Isaiah Johnson

Akron's all-time great who played from 2013-17, earning AP All-America honors in 2017 and being named MAC Player of the Year.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Zips will travel to Western Michigan on Tuesday, February 17 for their next game.

The takeaway

Akron's home dominance and the retirement of Isaiah Johnson's jersey number will make this a special night for the Zips as they look to bounce back from their recent road loss and maintain their position atop the MAC standings.