2016 – 17 Akron Zips men 's basketball team represented the University of Akron during the 2016 – 17 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season . The Zips , led by 13th-year head coach Keith Dambrot , played their home games at the James A. Rhodes Arena as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference . They finished the season 27 – 9 , 14 – 4 in MAC play to win the MAC East Division and MAC overall regular season championship . They defeated Eastern Michigan and Ball State to advance to the championship game of the MAC Tournament where they lost to Kent State , losing in the championship game for the second consecutive year . As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament , they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Houston in the first round before losing to Texas – Arlington
MAC Tournament
2017 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament
2016–17 Akron Zips men's basketball team