A Full Slate of MAC Men's Basketball Action Awaits
What You Need To Know
• Buffalo improved 17-1 on the season and is one of just six one loss schools left in the nation. On Friday, Buffalo won its 20th straight game at home, which is currently the second longest home winning streak in the nation.
• Bowling Green is 5-0 in Mid-American Conference play for the first time in 57 years. Bowling Green is winning games within the conference in 2018-19 by an average of 16.6 points.
• Toledo's Nate Navigato hit the 277th 3-pointer of his career on Saturday, setting the all-time UT record.
• The MAC is currently ranked as the eighth conference in the nation based on average NET Rankings. (Jan. 22, 2019). Buffalo (10), Toledo (60) & Ball State (78) are currently ranked in the Top-100.
Tonight’s Schedule
Western Michigan at Ohio - 7 PM ET (
ESPN+)
Central Michigan at Akron - 7 PM ET (
ESPN+)
Miami at Ball State - 7 PM ET (
ESPN+)
Bowling Green at Eastern Michigan - 7 PM ET (
ESPN3)
Toledo at Kent State - 7 PM ET (
ESPN+)
No. 14 Buffalo at Northern Illinois - 8 PM ET (
ESPN+)
MAC Team-By-Team Notebook
AKRON
The Zips will look avenge the overtime road loss to the Chippewas earlier this season, as they head home to take on CMU on Tuesday Jan. 22nd. A win would preserve Akron’s unblemished conference record at home (3-0). The Zips are ranked 16th in the NCAA for scoring defense only allowing 62.4 points per game.
BALL STATE
Ball State snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday at Central Michigan behind a career-high 24 points from junior guard K.J. Walton. The Cardinals held the nation’s seventh-highest scoring team 15 points below its average to hand the Chippewas just their second home loss of the season (and first in regulation). Senior point guard Tayler Persons joined an exclusive club of active Division I players with at least 1,500 career points and 500 career assists. Marshall’s Jon Elmore and Charlotte’s Jon Davis are the only other two active players to reach both of those marks.
BOWLING GREEN
In the only scheduled meeting between the two institutions, the Falcons of Bowling Green are set to battle with the Eastern Michigan University Eagles on Tuesday (Jan. 22) night. Bowling Green holds a 50-43 advantage in the all-time series. Bowling Green is 5-0 in Mid-American Conference play for the first time in 57 years. The 1961-62 Falcons
won their first seven league games. Bowling Green is winning games within the conference in 2018-19 by an average of 16.6 points. Bowling Green and Buffalo are the only remaining undefeated teams in MAC play this year.
BUFFALO
Buffalo improved 17-1 on the season and is one of just six one loss schools left in the nation. On Friday, Buffalo won its 20th straight game at home, which is currently the second longest home winning streak in the nation. Buffalo also has nine win away from home, which is the most in the country among schools in the Top 50 of the NET rankings. UB is on the road for the next two with games at Northern Illinois and Kent State.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan (14-4, 3-2 MAC) will open a two-game conference road swing on Tuesday, Jan. 22 when it visits Akron to clash with the Zips in a 7 p.m. game at James A. Rhodes Arena. Despite the setback on Saturday, Central Michigan remains atop the MAC West standings, tied with Toledo and Northern Illinois for first place. Senior guard Larry Austin Jr. leads CMU and ranks No. 4 in the MAC in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game. Austin also ranks first in the MAC in assists (5.8) and second in steals (2.4). He is one of just 12 players in Division I to average 17.0 or more points and 2.0 steals per game.
EASTERN MICHIGAN
The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team looks to rebound from a hard-fought road loss with a matchup against Bowling Green State University in the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Tuesday, Jan. 22. The cross-division Mid-American Conference showdown will tip at 7 p.m. Eastern has the sixth-toughest schedule in the NCAA... The next closest MAC school is Ball State at 76th; Have one more MAC East matchup against Bowling Green before getting back into divisional play against Western Michigan
KENT STATE
Kent State enters the week 14-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The Flashes have a big week coming up hosting Toledo on Tuesday and then Buffalo on Friday night. Kent State had three Flashes score in double-figures with senior Jaylin Walker leading the way with 31 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Antonio Williams scored 13 points, and Akiean Frederick, who had his best game of the season added 12 points and three rebounds. Jaylin Walker's performance secured him his fourth MAC Athlete of the Week Accolade.
MIAMI
The Miami University men's basketball team heads 90 minutes down the road to Muncie, Indiana as it takes on Ball State Tuesday. The RedHawks come off of their first MAC victory on Saturday over Akron. Junior Bam Bowman had his first double-double of the season and second of his Miami career with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Zips.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
For just the second time since 1993, the Northern Illinois University men's basketball team will host a ranked opponent when No. 14 Buffalo visits the NIU Convocation Center on Tuesday night, January 22. Senior Lacey James posted his fourth double-double of the season, and fifth of his career, last time out against Kent State. Junior Eugene German leads NIU, and the MAC, in scoring at 20.7 points per game, 30th-best in the country. German has scored in double figures in 50 consecutive games and 63 times in his 79 career games played.
OHIO
Ohio returns home this week for two games, the first time they've been home for consecutive games since Dec 30 and Jan, 5. The Bobcats enter the matchup with Western Michigan with an overall record of 9-8 and an 1-4 mark in MAC play. Individually, Jason Carter is averaging 16.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He is shooting 47.9 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three-point range and 72.7 percent from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Teyvion Kirk is adding 15.7 points per game 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
TOLEDO
Toledo (15-3, 3-2 MAC) looks to stretch its winning streak to four when it visits MAC East Division foe Kent State (14-4, 3-2 MAC) on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at the M.A.C. Center. The Rockets have rebounded from a 0-2 start in league action with an 85-77 win at Western Michigan and a pair of double-digit home wins over Miami (71-59) and Ohio (75-52). Toledo is currently tied for first place in the MAC’s West Division with Central Michigan (14-4, 3-2) and Northern Illinois (10-8, 3-2). Jaelan Sanford leads the MAC with an 87.8 FT% and is sixth with a team-high 16.7 ppg. The Evansville, Ind. native ranks ninth on UT’s all-time scoring list with 1,576 points, sixth with 215 career treys and 10th with an 80.6 career free-throw percentage.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
WMU has had a tough opening stretch to begin MAC play with its first five opponents having a combined record of 69-21 (.766) … the Broncos have three players averaging in double figures and four players averaging at least 4.5 rebounds per game … after a road game at Ohio, WMU returns home for five of the next seven games.
