Saturday, March 22nd, 12:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Mullins Center (9,493) -- Amherst, Massachusetts. Television: ESPN. NIT Record: Akron 2-3, Massachusetts 7-11. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The Massachusetts Minutemen will play host to the Akron Zips in second-round action of the NIT this afternoon. The Minutemen made light work of Stephen F. Austin in the first-round of this event, with an 80-60 rout on Tuesday. With the win, UMass moved to 7-11 all-time in NIT play and will attempt to get past the second round in this event for the first time since 1991. Standing in the way is a solid Akron squad. The Zips are an impressive 24-10 on the season and played on the road in the first-round this week, topping Florida State in overtime, 65-60 for their fifth straight road win. It was just the second NIT victory in school history for Akron, which is now 2-3 in the event all-time. This game marks the first-ever meeting between these two teams on the hardwood. The winner of this matchup will move into the quarterfinals next week against Syracuse.

Nick Dials saved his best for last, as he scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the overtime session, leading the Zips to a five-point win in Tallahassee. Dials, who was 3-of-3 from behind the arc in the extra session and 5-of-10 from long range in the game, was aided in the scoring column by Nate Linhart and Chris McKnight, who chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively. Akron really forced the issue defensively in the game, as FSU turned the ball over a costly 23 times. The team's leader in the scoring column and on the boards is Jeremiah Wood, who finished with nine points in the first round. The veteran forward is shooting a solid .508 from the floor overall, while averaging 13.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Dials is the only other player currently averaging double figures at 12.1 ppg, although Cedrick Middleton is not far under the mark (9.6 ppg).

Senior Dante' Milligan erupted for a career-high 24 points, leading the Minutemen to a 20-point romp over Stephen F. Austin in first-round action this week. Milligan, who was 11-of-14 from the floor, had a terrific all-around game, finishing with nine rebounds and a whopping seven blocks. Star forward Gary Forbes poured in 19 points, and Ricky Harris tacked on 16 for UMass, which shot 50 percent from the floor overall, including a scorching 60 percent in the second half. Forbes was named the Atlantic-10 Player of the Year this season and for good reason, as the explosive senior leads the team in both scoring (20.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg) and is just two assists shy of the century mark as well (98). Harris is another prolific scorer on the roster at 17.8 ppg. He is followed by Etienne Brower and Chris Lowe, who tack on 12.7 and 11.9 ppg, respectively. The Minutemen are one of the more dangerous offensive teams left in the tournament, averaging a steady 81.9 ppg.

The Zips have proved to be a strong road team and with the type of defensive pressure they bring, there is no reason they can't move into the quarterfinals. Still, Forbes is a dynamic player with the ability to carry a team on his shoulders. He may not have to in this one, as Harris, Milligan and company provide more than enough support.

Predicted Outcome

Massachusetts 73, Akron 67