Akron men's basketball opens 2026-27 season with win, Zips women lose

The University of Akron men's basketball team opened their 2026-27 season with a win over Louisiana on Monday, November 2, 2026, led by newcomers Ty Pence and Tahj Staveskie alongside returnee Evan Mahaffey. The Akron women's basketball team also began their season on the same day but suffered a loss. The two games marked the official start of the 2026-27 campaign for both Zips programs.