MACtion Packed Weekend Begins Friday Night
MBB Release:
https://bit.ly/2FZvrJ8
Updated Statistics:
https://bit.ly/2STKuGG
What You Need To Know
• The University at Buffalo men's basketball team won their 21st straight game inside Alumni Arena on Tuesday night. It is the first time in school history that Buffalo has won 19 games before the start of February.
• Northern Illinois Huskies head coach Mark Montgomery earned his 100th career win, becoming just the fourth head coach in NIU history to reach the century mark.
• Toledo's victory on tuesday over Miami was the Rockets' fifth in their last six games and kept UT in a tie for first place in the MAC's West Division with Northern Illinois (12-9, 5-3 MAC).
• The MAC is currently ranked as the eighth conference in the nation based on average NET Rankings. (Jan. 22, 2019). Buffalo (19) & Toledo (60) are currently ranked in the Top-100.
This Week’s Schedule
Friday, February 1st
Buffalo at Bowling Green - 8:00 PM ET (CBSSN)
Saturday February 2nd
Kent State at Ball State - 12:00 PM ET (CBSSN)
Miami at Eastern Michigan - 12:00 PM ET (
ESPN+)
Toledo at Northern Illinois - 3:00 PM ET (
ESPN3)
Akron at Ohio - 3:30 PM ET (
ESPN+)
Western Michigan at Central Michigan - 4:30 PM ET (
ESPN+)
MAC Team-By-Team Notebook
AKRON
The Zips are currently undefeated (4-0) in league play at home and limits conference opponents to scoring just 57.25 points at James A. Rhodes Arena. For the year, Akron only allows 62.8 points per game which currently ranks No. 1 in the MAC and No. 19 in the NCAA. Akron is 12-8 overall and 4-3 in the MAC. The Zips will travel to Athens on Saturday to take on Ohio at 3:30 PM.
BALL STATE
Ball State suffered an 83-59 loss Tuesday night at No. 18/17 Buffalo, as the Bulls extended the nation's second-longest home winning streak. K.J. Walton led Ball State with 18 points on 8-of-14 of shooting .Ball State (11-10, 2-6 MAC) played on the road for the fourth time in the past five games and will return home this weekend to face off against Kent State on CBS Sports Network.
BOWLING GREEN
The Falcons will get almost a week of rest to prepare for nationally ranked Buffalo to come to town on Friday Feb. 1st. BG is coming off of their first conference defeat of the season at Miami, which also broke a 10 game winning streak for the Falcons. Bowling Green still sit in first place in the Mid-American Conference, along with No. 18 Buffalo.
BUFFALO
The University at Buffalo men's basketball team won their 21st straight game inside Alumni Arena on Tuesday night as the Bulls led for all 40 minutes in an 83-59 victory over Ball State. With the win, UB improves to 19-2 on the year and 7-1 in school play. It is the first time in school history that Buffalo has won 19 games before the start of February. Caruthers paced four Buffalo players in double figures with a game-high 21 points as he went 8-of-10 from the field and 2-for-2 from behind the arc. Senior CJ Massinburg added 16 points as he moved into fourth place on UB's all-time scoring list with 1,715 career points.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Five Central Michigan players scored in double figures and the Chippewas made 26 of their 28 free throw attempts in holding off Eastern Michigan, 86-82, on Tuesday. David DiLeo finished with a team-high 20 points, Roundtree scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half, and Kevin McKay earned his ninth career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. CMU plays host to rival Western Michigan on Saturday (4:30 p.m.).
EASTERN MICHIGAN
The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped a road contest against Central Michigan on Tuesday. The loss snapped Eastern's six-game win streak against CMU. Redshirt senior Paul Jackson dropped 21 points and added four assists, while sophomore Kevin McAdoo poured in a season-high 20 points. EMU returns to the friendly confines of the Convocation Center Saturday, Feb. 2 for a 12 p.m. showdown with Miami University.
KENT STATE
Kent State is 15-5 overall and 4-3 in league play. The Flashes were prepared to depart the KSU campus for a trip to Kalamazoo following a morning practice Monday. However, with the game being postponed due to weather, the Flashes will continue on the road this weekend with a matchup against Ball State on Saturday, Feb. 2 in Muncie, Ind. Tipoff is slated for noon and will broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
MIAMI
Miami had their three game win streak snapped on tuesday at home against Toledo. The team made a furious second half rally to overcome an 11 point deficit and take a two point lead with just over a minute to go, but Toledo scored the final five points to take a 66-63 victory. Sophomore guard Nike Sibande led the Red and White with 18 points. Bam Bowman finished with 17 points for the RedHawks, tying a career high with five 3-pointers. Miami hits the road Saturday as it travels to Eastern Michigan for a noon matchup.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Northern Illinois University men's basketball team outscored Ohio 22-10 in the final seven minutes as the Huskies earned the season sweep over the Bobcats with a 71-60 win on Tuesday evening at the NIU Convocation Center. With the win, Huskie head coach Mark Montgomery earned his 100th career win, becoming just the fourth head coach in NIU history to reach the century mark, joining John McDougal (136), Chick Evans (125) and Brian Hammel (117). NIU will return to action on Saturday, February 2, when the Huskies host Toledo at 2 p.m.
OHIO
The Ohio men's basketball team (11-9, 3-5 MAC) was unable to overcome late three-pointers from Northern Illinois (12-9, 5-3 MAC), falling to the Huskies, 71-60. Redshirt Sophomore Jason Carter finished the game with 15 points, going 6-of-15 form the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line, while also grabbing six rebounds. Up next, the Bobcats return to Athens on Saturday, Feb. 2 when Ohio hosts Akron. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. and is a part of the Convocation Center's 50thAnniversary celebration doubleheader, which will begin at 1 p.m. when the Ohio women's basketball team takes on Ball State.
TOLEDO
Toledo's victory on tuesday over Miami was the Rockets' fifth in their last six games and kept UT in a tie for first place in the MAC's West Division with Northern Illinois (12-9, 5-3 MAC). Senior Nate Navigato finished with a game-high 20 points (17 in the second half) and also grabbed a season-high eight rebounds. Marreon Jackson scored 16 points and dished out a game-high five assists. The Rockets will travel to Northern illinois to take on the Huskies in a battle at the top of the MAC West Division.
WESTERN MICHIGAN
Due to inclement weather and its impact on travel, the Western Michigan men's basketball game versus Kent State originally scheduled for Tuesday night inside University Arena has been postponed to February, 14th. WMU has four of its next six MAC games at home and under head coach Steve Hawkins is 103-33 at home in conference play … when the Broncos get 20 points from the bench, WMU is 3-2 … WMU has six players with double digit three’s this season with sophomore Michael Flowers leading the way with 42 threes’. WMU travels to Central Michigan to take on the Chippewas this Saturday at 4:30.
