MBB: Conference Action Resumes Tonight
Complete Release (.PDF)
Tuesday’s MAC Men's Basketball Schedule
Buffalo at Western Michigan - 7:00 PM ET (
ESPN+)
Kent State at Ohio - 7:00 PM ET (
ESPN+)
Miami at Toledo - 7:00 PM EST (
ESPN3)
Ball State at Bowling Green - 7:00 PM EST (
ESPN+)
Eastern Michigan at Akron - 7:00 PM EST (
ESPN+)
Central Michigan at Northern Illinois - 8:00 PM EST (
ESPN+)
MAC Basketball Notebook (01.15.19)
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
The MAC is currently ranked as the eighth conference in the nation based on average NET Rankings. (Jan. 14, 2019). Current programs in the Top-100 include: Buffalo (14), Toledo (76) & Ball State (88).
AKRON
The Akron Zips are currently 9-7 overall and 1-2 in MAC play, after falling to Northern Illinois on Saturday. Akron has won all nine of their games by a +22.6 margin and currently rank 53rd in the NCAA and third in the MAC with a +10.4 scoring margin. Taking it a step further, in six of Akron's setbacks, the Zips have only lost by a combined total of 20 points, falling by six points or less in each contest. The Zips are ranked 20th in the NCAA for scoring defense only allowing 62.9 points per game. Akron returns to the JAR to play Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. The "Fear the Roo" game is scheduled to be aired on ESPN3 and Akron-IMG Sports Radio Network. A win would improve Akron's home record to 8-1 and give the Zips their second league win
BALL STATE
Ball State (10-6, 1-2 MAC) will look to end a two game skid after falling to Ohio at home 52-70 this saturday. The Cardinals will head out on the road for two games, traveling to play Tuesday at Bowling Green and Saturday at Central Michigan. Ball State comes in rated among the top 100 by the major power ranking systems, including a high mark of 81st in ESPN's BPI. Ball State ranks 17th nationally in team field goal percentage at 49.9 percent. The Cardinals feature the two most efficient players in the MAC in Tahjai Teague, who is 20th nationally at 63.3 percent, and K.J. Walton, who is 52nd at 56.3 percent
BOWLING GREEN
Bowling Green has won its first three MAC games by 10-plus points for the first time in school history. Bowling Green is currently on its first seven-game winning streak since 2001-02, having won seven-straight games by double digits for the first time since 1947-48. Justin Turner became the first BGSU sophomore in 15 years to score 30-plus points in a game. Turner is agaveraging a MAC high 23.3 points in conference play.
BUFFALO
No. 16 Buffalo used a dominant second half to pull away from Miami for thier 15th win on Saturday afternoon. The win was the 19th straight at home for the Bulls as they finished with a season-low four turnovers, their fewest in a game in over 20 years. The Bulls improved to 15-1 on the season Saturday, tied for their best mark in school history through 16 games, which they also completed during the 1929-30 season. On Monday, the Bulls were named in the Top 25 for the 10th straight week. just one week shy of the MAC record of 11 set by Bowling Green in the 1961-62 season.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
After suffering their first conference loss this past weekend, CMU will look to bounce back at MAC West leading Northern Illinois on Tuesday at 8 PM . In the loss to Bowling Green Senior Larry Austin Jr. recorded his second straight double-double and fourth this season with 26 points and 11 rebounds. CMU ranks No. 2 in the nation in free throw attempts (482).
EASTERN MICHIGAN
The Eagles have won two straight, including a record-setting win over Kent State University, 95-61, Jan. 12, to improve to 8-8 on the season and 2-1 in the MAC. The Eagles' 63.2 percent shooting effort from beyond the three-point line was the third-best in program history, while the 65.4 percent overall shooting percentage was fourth-best. The Green and White also knocked down 12 threes in the game, good for a tie of eighth-best in EMU laurels. Senior Elijah Minnie is averaging 22.7 points per game, while shooting 55.2 percent from downtown. His points per game ranks second in conference play, while his 16 made threes is tops in the league.
KENT STATE
Kent State dropped to 12-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play after falling on the road on Saturday against Eastern Michigan, 61-95. KSU had two Flashes lead the team in scoring with Senior Jaylin Walker scoring 14 points and junior Philip Whittington adding 13 points. The Flashes lead the conference in fewest turnovers (185) and rank 32nd in the nation and a 16.4 turnover percentage on possessions ranking 31st in the country.
MIAMI
Miami is 0-3 in the MAC for the first time since the 2015-16 season after falling to No.16 Buffalo on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore guard Nike Sibande led Miami with 18 points offensively, and redshirt sophomore guard Milos Jovic had 10 each. For Jovic it was a new career-high. The RedHawks look to get back on track when they travel to Toledo on Tuesday. Miami returns home when it hosts Akron Saturday at Millett Hall.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
NIU heads into Tuesday night with a 10-6 overall record, including a 3-0 mark in conference play, following a 73-56 win over Akron this past Saturday (Jan. 12). The Huskies overturned a 12-point first half deficit against the Zips as they outscored Akron, 48-22, in the second half. NIU shot 70 percent (21-of-30) from the field in the second half while holding Akron to just 20 percent (5-of-25) shooting. Through three games of league play, NIU currently leads the MAC in scoring defense (64.0), free throw percentage (76.7 percent), field goal percentage (51.2 percent) and three-point defense (26.8 percent) in conference games.
OHIO
The Bobcats enter the matchup with Kent State with an overall record of 9-6 and an 1-2 mark in MAC play. The Bobcats are coming off of a 70-52 performance at Ball State on Jan. 12. Teyvion Kirk led the Bobcats with 19 points, going 6-of-18 from the field and 7-of-12 from throw line, while grabbing nine rebounds. Redshirt sophomore forward Jason Carter added 13 points, going 5-of-12 from the field, 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. 15 games into the season, Ohio is averaging 72.7 points per game. They are shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from three-point range.
TOLEDO
Toledo (13-3, 1-2 MAC) looks to even its record in Mid-American Conference play when it hosts MAC East Division foe Miami (8-8, 0-3 MAC). The Rockets rebounded from an 0-2 start in league action with an 85-77 triumph at Western Michigan on Saturday. UT ranks fifth nationally (as of Jan. 13) with its 78.1 FT%. The Rockets also rank in the Top 30 nationally in 3PTFGs per game (10.3/18th), defensive rebounds per game (29.1/20th), fewest personal fouls per game (15.4/22nd), assists per game (17.1/22nd) and three-point FG% (38.8/28th).
WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan prepares for its match-up with the Bulls with an overall record of 6-10 and 0-3 in MAC play. The Broncos are coming off a 77-85 loss against Toledo on Saturday as the Brown & Gold had four score in double figures. Sophomore guard Michael Flowers has powered the Bronco offense this season, ranking ninth in the MAC with 16.6 points per game. Flowers has scored in double figures in each of the last 10 games. Against Toledo, senior Seth Dugan collected his 6th double-double of the season (16pts / 12 reb.)
