With Akron two games up in the MAC East, several teams at that next level need to keep their focus over the next couple weeks. Among them are Buffalo and Ohio. Those two meet Friday night to kick off this weekend’s Mid-American Conference schedule.
Buffalo and Kent State are two games off the pace. Ohio is three games back.
The Bulls have been on a hot streak, winning four in a row and five of six before Toledo edged UB on its home court, 71-69 on a Rocket basket with 1.4 seconds left.
Ready to test Buffalo on the home hardwood again is Ohio. The Bobcats will be looking for their third win in a row and fifth in six games. Their only loss over the last five was an 80-68 setback to Akron Feb. 2 at the Convo.
Three teams are tied at the top in the MAC West. Two meet as part of Saturday's card. Ball State is at Central Michigan. Both are coming off losses. Toledo, meanwhile, can hold on to a share of the top with a win over Miami. The RedHawks were winless in conference play before winning three-of-four over the last two weeks.
Click Read More to see a schedule, standings and notes on each MAC team.
Buffalo and Kent State are two games off the pace. Ohio is three games back.
The Bulls have been on a hot streak, winning four in a row and five of six before Toledo edged UB on its home court, 71-69 on a Rocket basket with 1.4 seconds left.
Ready to test Buffalo on the home hardwood again is Ohio. The Bobcats will be looking for their third win in a row and fifth in six games. Their only loss over the last five was an 80-68 setback to Akron Feb. 2 at the Convo.
Three teams are tied at the top in the MAC West. Two meet as part of Saturday's card. Ball State is at Central Michigan. Both are coming off losses. Toledo, meanwhile, can hold on to a share of the top with a win over Miami. The RedHawks were winless in conference play before winning three-of-four over the last two weeks.
Click Read More to see a schedule, standings and notes on each MAC team.
Weedend Schedule
Friday, February 12th
Ohio at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m. (ESPNU/WatchESPN)
Saturday, February 13th
Kent State at Eastern Michigan, 12:00 p.m. (ESPN3)
Western Michigan at Bowling Green, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN3)
Ball State at Central Michigan, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Akron at Northern Illinois, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Miami at Toledo, 7:00 p.m. (BCSN/TWCS/ESPN3)
MAC Basketball Notebook (2.12.16)
Akron Zips (20-4, 9-2 MAC)
The Akron Zips earned its 20th win of the season, defeating Bowling Green 83-68 at the Stroh Center on Tuesday night. The Zips are riding a seven-game winning streak en route to a 20-4 overall record and 9-2 in Mid-American Conference play. Akron has won 20 games for the 11th straight season, joining Kansas as the first two teams, in a class of nine, to reach 20 wins this season – BYU, Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, North Carolina, Ohio State, and San Diego State. All nine teams have won at least 20 games for the previous 10 consecutive seasons.
Ball State (15-9, 6-5 MAC)
Ball State has been balanced offensively all season but especially in Mid-American Conference play, with five players averaging double-figure scoring: Ryan Weber (11.0), Jeremie Tyler (10.7), Bo Calhoun (10.5), Francis Kiapway (10.4) and Franko House (10.0). The Cardinals’ 205 3-pointers this season already rank as the fourth most in program history. The team is on pace to finish the regular season with 265 treys, which would rank second behind only the 310 made by the 2001-02 team ... The Cardinals rank 33rd nationally at 38.4 percent from 3-point range.
Bowling Green (13-11, 4-7 MAC)
BGSU guard Zack Denny leads the team and is ranked seventh in the MAC in rebounding with an average of 7.4 rebounds per contest on the season. Denny, at just 6-feet, 2 inches tall, is the shortest player in the top-10 in rebounding with the next smallest guy measuring in a 6 feet, 6 inches. In fact, the average height of the other top-nine rebounders in the MAC sits at 6 feet, 8 inches tall.
Buffalo (14-10, 7-4 MAC)
Freshman Nick Perkins led the Bulls with a career high 17 points on Tuesday night against Toledo. He finished 6-of-9 from the floor, while going 3-of-4 from behind the arc. The 3 three-pointers were also a career best.
Central Michigan (13-11, 6-5 MAC)
Central Michigan fell into an early hole and could never climb out Tuesday as the Chippewas dropped a 71-56 decision to Eastern Michigan at the Eagles’ Convocation Center.The loss, CMU’s second straight, dropped the Chippewas to 13-11 overall, 6-5 in the Mid-American Conference. Eastern is 12-12, 4-7. The Eagles, who had lost six of their previous seven entering Tuesday’s game, swept the season series from the Chippewas.
Eastern Michigan (12-12, 4-7 MAC)
It does not come as a shock to see James Thompson IV as one of the top freshmen in EMU laurels. Posting 15 double-doubles this season, the Baton Rouge, La. native has already made his mark in the Eastern Michigan record books. The 15 double-doubles are seventh-most recorded all-time in EMU history, while his 379 points place him second in the most points scored by a freshman, just one point behind teammate Raven Lee. In addition, Thompson has 269 rebounds this year, which puts him 15 rebounds shy of the top-20 mark in a single season in EMU history. On his current rebounding pace of 11.2 per game, at the end of the 2015-16 regular season, Thompson would accumulate 347 prior to the MAC Tournament. That rebounding number would give the 6-foot-10 center the fourth-most rebounds in EMU single season history.
Kent State (16-8, 7-4 MAC)
Kent State is off to a 16-8 start to the 100th season in program history and tied for second-place in the conference standings at 7-4. Galal Cancer’s two free throws with 7.5 seconds to play provided the winning margin as Kent State held off a late Northern Illinois run to win 75-74 at the M.A.C. Center on Tuesday. Khaliq Spicer led a balanced scoring effort with 17 points, as four starters reached double-figures. Jimmy Hall and Kellon Thomas contributed 11 points each and Deon Edwin rounded out the starting unit with 9 points.
Miami (9-15, 3-8 MAC)
Miami has won three of its last four, including its last two games. The RedHawks collected a 72-59 win against Northern Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 30 and used a balanced team effort one week later to notch a 55-51 win against Bowling Green on Saturday, Feb. 6. Miami won its second-straight game with a 45-44 win at Western Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The RedHawks allowed 51.3 ppg in those three wins. Miami picked up its first road win of the season at Western Michigan on Feb. 9. It was the RedHawks’ first road win since a 57-52 overtime triumph at Akron on Feb. 21, 2015. The win also snapped a six-game losing skid in the series with the Broncos and was the RedHawks’ first win in University Arena since Feb. 4, 2010.
Northern Illinois (16-8, 5-6 MAC)
he Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team trailed by seven in the final minute but rallied to take a lead, only to fall to Kent State, 75-74, on Tuesday night at the MAC Center. Junior Aaric Armstead scored a career-high tying 22 points to pace the Huskies, who fell to 16-8 overall, 5-6 in Mid-American Conference play. Sophomore Marin Maric scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while senior Travon Baker added 12 points and a game-high seven assists.
Ohio (15-8, 6-5 MAC)
Through 11 MAC games in 2016, the Bobcats are scoring 73.5 points per game while allowing the opposition to average 75.2 points per game. Antonio Campbell leads the team with 17.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Jaaron Simmons and Kenny Kaminski are both averaging 13.5 points per game, with Simmons also tallying a team-high 8.1 assists per game. Treg Setty is averaging 9.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in league play.
Toledo (15-9, 6-5 MAC)
Toledo (15-9, 6-5 MAC) looks to extend its winning streak to a season-high four straight games when it hosts Miami (9-15, 3-8 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 13. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on BCSN locally as well as on the Time Warner Cable Sports Channel in Ohio. UT is tied for first place in the MAC’s West Division with Ball State and Central Michigan, while Miami is in last place in the MAC’s East Division. Senior Nathan Boothe notched his 12th double-double of the season and sixth in a row with 11 points and 11 rebounds against Buffalo. He also recorded a double-double with 25 points and 11 boards in UT’s 84-76 victory at Miami on Jan. 9.
Western Michigan (9-15, 3-8 MAC)
A free throw by Miami’s Rod Mills with 5.4 seconds remaining was the deciding point as Western Michigan fell to the RedHawks, 45-44, Tuesday at University Arena. Thomas Wilder was the leading scorer for Western Michigan, recording 13 points. Avery finished with nine points and Haymond had eight. Freshman Seth Dugan led the Broncos on the glass with eight rebounds.
Friday, February 12th
Ohio at Buffalo, 7:00 p.m. (ESPNU/WatchESPN)
Saturday, February 13th
Kent State at Eastern Michigan, 12:00 p.m. (ESPN3)
Western Michigan at Bowling Green, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN3)
Ball State at Central Michigan, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Akron at Northern Illinois, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Miami at Toledo, 7:00 p.m. (BCSN/TWCS/ESPN3)
MAC Basketball Notebook (2.12.16)
Akron Zips (20-4, 9-2 MAC)
The Akron Zips earned its 20th win of the season, defeating Bowling Green 83-68 at the Stroh Center on Tuesday night. The Zips are riding a seven-game winning streak en route to a 20-4 overall record and 9-2 in Mid-American Conference play. Akron has won 20 games for the 11th straight season, joining Kansas as the first two teams, in a class of nine, to reach 20 wins this season – BYU, Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville, North Carolina, Ohio State, and San Diego State. All nine teams have won at least 20 games for the previous 10 consecutive seasons.
Ball State (15-9, 6-5 MAC)
Ball State has been balanced offensively all season but especially in Mid-American Conference play, with five players averaging double-figure scoring: Ryan Weber (11.0), Jeremie Tyler (10.7), Bo Calhoun (10.5), Francis Kiapway (10.4) and Franko House (10.0). The Cardinals’ 205 3-pointers this season already rank as the fourth most in program history. The team is on pace to finish the regular season with 265 treys, which would rank second behind only the 310 made by the 2001-02 team ... The Cardinals rank 33rd nationally at 38.4 percent from 3-point range.
Bowling Green (13-11, 4-7 MAC)
BGSU guard Zack Denny leads the team and is ranked seventh in the MAC in rebounding with an average of 7.4 rebounds per contest on the season. Denny, at just 6-feet, 2 inches tall, is the shortest player in the top-10 in rebounding with the next smallest guy measuring in a 6 feet, 6 inches. In fact, the average height of the other top-nine rebounders in the MAC sits at 6 feet, 8 inches tall.
Buffalo (14-10, 7-4 MAC)
Freshman Nick Perkins led the Bulls with a career high 17 points on Tuesday night against Toledo. He finished 6-of-9 from the floor, while going 3-of-4 from behind the arc. The 3 three-pointers were also a career best.
Central Michigan (13-11, 6-5 MAC)
Central Michigan fell into an early hole and could never climb out Tuesday as the Chippewas dropped a 71-56 decision to Eastern Michigan at the Eagles’ Convocation Center.The loss, CMU’s second straight, dropped the Chippewas to 13-11 overall, 6-5 in the Mid-American Conference. Eastern is 12-12, 4-7. The Eagles, who had lost six of their previous seven entering Tuesday’s game, swept the season series from the Chippewas.
Eastern Michigan (12-12, 4-7 MAC)
It does not come as a shock to see James Thompson IV as one of the top freshmen in EMU laurels. Posting 15 double-doubles this season, the Baton Rouge, La. native has already made his mark in the Eastern Michigan record books. The 15 double-doubles are seventh-most recorded all-time in EMU history, while his 379 points place him second in the most points scored by a freshman, just one point behind teammate Raven Lee. In addition, Thompson has 269 rebounds this year, which puts him 15 rebounds shy of the top-20 mark in a single season in EMU history. On his current rebounding pace of 11.2 per game, at the end of the 2015-16 regular season, Thompson would accumulate 347 prior to the MAC Tournament. That rebounding number would give the 6-foot-10 center the fourth-most rebounds in EMU single season history.
Kent State (16-8, 7-4 MAC)
Kent State is off to a 16-8 start to the 100th season in program history and tied for second-place in the conference standings at 7-4. Galal Cancer’s two free throws with 7.5 seconds to play provided the winning margin as Kent State held off a late Northern Illinois run to win 75-74 at the M.A.C. Center on Tuesday. Khaliq Spicer led a balanced scoring effort with 17 points, as four starters reached double-figures. Jimmy Hall and Kellon Thomas contributed 11 points each and Deon Edwin rounded out the starting unit with 9 points.
Miami (9-15, 3-8 MAC)
Miami has won three of its last four, including its last two games. The RedHawks collected a 72-59 win against Northern Illinois on Saturday, Jan. 30 and used a balanced team effort one week later to notch a 55-51 win against Bowling Green on Saturday, Feb. 6. Miami won its second-straight game with a 45-44 win at Western Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The RedHawks allowed 51.3 ppg in those three wins. Miami picked up its first road win of the season at Western Michigan on Feb. 9. It was the RedHawks’ first road win since a 57-52 overtime triumph at Akron on Feb. 21, 2015. The win also snapped a six-game losing skid in the series with the Broncos and was the RedHawks’ first win in University Arena since Feb. 4, 2010.
Northern Illinois (16-8, 5-6 MAC)
he Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team trailed by seven in the final minute but rallied to take a lead, only to fall to Kent State, 75-74, on Tuesday night at the MAC Center. Junior Aaric Armstead scored a career-high tying 22 points to pace the Huskies, who fell to 16-8 overall, 5-6 in Mid-American Conference play. Sophomore Marin Maric scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while senior Travon Baker added 12 points and a game-high seven assists.
Ohio (15-8, 6-5 MAC)
Through 11 MAC games in 2016, the Bobcats are scoring 73.5 points per game while allowing the opposition to average 75.2 points per game. Antonio Campbell leads the team with 17.9 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Jaaron Simmons and Kenny Kaminski are both averaging 13.5 points per game, with Simmons also tallying a team-high 8.1 assists per game. Treg Setty is averaging 9.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in league play.
Toledo (15-9, 6-5 MAC)
Toledo (15-9, 6-5 MAC) looks to extend its winning streak to a season-high four straight games when it hosts Miami (9-15, 3-8 MAC) on Saturday, Feb. 13. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. and can be seen on BCSN locally as well as on the Time Warner Cable Sports Channel in Ohio. UT is tied for first place in the MAC’s West Division with Ball State and Central Michigan, while Miami is in last place in the MAC’s East Division. Senior Nathan Boothe notched his 12th double-double of the season and sixth in a row with 11 points and 11 rebounds against Buffalo. He also recorded a double-double with 25 points and 11 boards in UT’s 84-76 victory at Miami on Jan. 9.
Western Michigan (9-15, 3-8 MAC)
A free throw by Miami’s Rod Mills with 5.4 seconds remaining was the deciding point as Western Michigan fell to the RedHawks, 45-44, Tuesday at University Arena. Thomas Wilder was the leading scorer for Western Michigan, recording 13 points. Avery finished with nine points and Haymond had eight. Freshman Seth Dugan led the Broncos on the glass with eight rebounds.
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