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BUFFALO, NY ­ In a season of up-and-down play for UB men's basketball team, the Bulls hope their latest streak continues. UB - which got back on the winning track with an 85-73 victory at Northern Illinois on Sunday - hosts the Akron Zips at 7 pm on Wednesday at Alumni Arena.

Mark Bortz

In Sunday's win, junior forward Mark Bortz (Commerce Township, MI/Walled Lake Central) posted his first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Buffalo (6-9, 2-5 Mid-American Conference) was led by junior point guard Turner Battle's (Kernersville, NC/East Forsyth) 17 points, but it was sophomore guard Roderick Middleton (University Park, IL/Marion Catholic/Brewster Academy) who sparked the Bulls with 13 second-half points.

Wednesday's match-up includes two teams that are very similar statistically in the major categories. Both teams have nearly the same averages for points, points allowed, rebounds and rebounds allowed per contest.

Akron (9-6, 3-4 MAC) is coming in on a two-game winning streak, having beaten Ohio and Central Michigan last week. Senior guard Derrick Tarver - who averages a MAC-best 24.3 points per game - is the focus of the Zips' offense. He has led Akron in scoring for five consecutive contests.

The Zips have also gotten significant contributions from freshman Jeremiah Wood. He leads all MAC freshmen with both 11.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

Between the two schools, the all-time series edge belongs to Akron, which has a 16-12 mark against the Bulls. Last season, the two teams split the season series - with each team winning at home.