UMass Falls to Akron in Tough Road Test

Minutemen put up a fight but come up short against MAC powerhouse Zips

Feb. 14, 2026 at 12:47pm

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The Massachusetts men's basketball team took on a tough road test against the Akron Zips, a Mid-American Conference juggernaut, and ultimately fell 99-92 in a high-scoring affair. The Minutemen hung with the Zips throughout the game, but were unable to overcome Akron's efficient offense and timely three-pointers down the stretch.

Why it matters

This loss drops UMass to 15-11 overall and 6-7 in MAC play, making their path to the postseason more challenging. Akron, on the other hand, remains one of the top teams in the conference at 20-5 and 11-1 in league play.

The details

UMass was led by the backcourt duo of Marcus Banks Jr. and K'Jei Parker, who combined for nine made three-pointers. However, the Minutemen struggled to contain Akron's veteran point guard Tavari Johnson, who controlled the tempo and scored efficiently. The game was marred by 49 total fouls and several lengthy delays, including an ejection of Akron's Evan Mahaffey after a scuffle with Banks Jr.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • UMass will host No. 23 Miami (OH) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

The players

Marcus Banks Jr.

A guard for the UMass Minutemen who was a key contributor in the loss, hitting multiple three-pointers.

K'Jei Parker

Another guard for UMass who teamed up with Banks Jr. to provide much of the Minutemen's scoring.

Tavari Johnson

The veteran point guard for the Akron Zips who controlled the tempo of the game and led his team to victory.

Evan Mahaffey

An Akron player who was ejected from the game after a scuffle with UMass' Marcus Banks Jr.

Frank Martin

The head coach of the UMass Minutemen, who was critical of his team's defensive performance in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We can't guard. It's not like [Akron] ran some complicated offense. They ball-screen their point guard, our point guard gets sideways, gets behind the ball … we [have] no rim coverage … [guys] get out of the way and reach. It's unfortunate.”

— Frank Martin, Head Coach, UMass Minutemen

“When you let things get out of hand, that's what happens when you have two competitive teams. I feel bad for [Mahaffey], but if things would've been handled a certain way, [Mahaffey] never gets ejected.”

— Frank Martin, Head Coach, UMass Minutemen

What’s next

UMass will look to bounce back when they host the undefeated and 23rd-ranked Miami (OH) RedHawks on Tuesday, February 17th.

The takeaway

This loss highlights the challenges UMass faces in the competitive MAC conference, as they were unable to contain Akron's efficient offense despite strong performances from their backcourt. The Minutemen will need to shore up their defense if they hope to make a postseason push in the final stretch of the season.