MAC Men’s Basketball – Tuesday. February 4th
Ball State at Kent State, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Bowling Green at Central Michigan, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Buffalo at Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Western Michigan at Miami, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Northern Illinois at Toledo, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
AKRON
The first game of the Akron/Kent State rivalry series came down to the final seconds as the Golden Flashes pulled out a one-point, 68-67, victory over the Zips at the M.A.C. Center on Friday evening. Seniors Xeyrius Williams and Tyler Cheese followed with 15 points each. Williams captured his ninth double-double with a team-high 10 rebounds while dishing out four assists. Cheese also stuffed the stat sheet with six rebounds and six assists. Senior Channel Banks rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points.
BALL STATE
Ball State improved to 4-0 at home in MAC play with a 65-54 victory Saturday over Ohio. The Cardinals are back on the road for two games this week before returning to Muncie to play five of their next seven at home.
BOWLING GREEN
BGSU has won eight-straight conference games for the first time since 1979-80. All eight games have been won by single digits. The Falcons have won eight-straight games by single digits for the first time in school history. BGSU has won the eight games by a combined 32 points, marking the lowest combined margin of victory across an eight-game winning streak in the history of the program. For just the second time ever – and first time since 1961-62 – the Falcons have won their first four conference road games. Bowling Green has matched the school record for best MAC start through nine games. The Falcons have started MAC play with an 8-1 record a total of five times, including each of the last two seasons. BGSU has started 8-1 in the MAC in the following seasons: 2019-20; 2018-19; 1982-83; 1979-80; 1961-62. BGSU has won at least 17 of its first 22 games for the first time since 2001-02. Bowling Green has won at least 17 of its first 22 games for just the 10th time in program history.
BUFFALO
The Bulls had 13 blocks against Bowling Green which is the third most in school history. Senior guard Davonta Jordan led the way with a career high five blocked shots. Despite a 5-4 record in league play, three of those losses have come by a combined six points, including one-point defeats by Northern Illinois and Bowling Green. The Bulls will now head to the MAC West for their next four games beginning on Tuesday night at Eastern Michigan.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan hosts Bowling Green on Tuesday night in a showdown of division leaders; David DiLeo is 7 3-pointers shy of breaking the CMU career record; CMU has won 10 or more games at home in each of the last 6 seasons
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Eastern Michigan will conclude a two-game home stint by welcoming Buffalo Tuesday, Feb. 4. The Eagles claimed its first MAC victory of the 2019-20 season and broke a seven-game losing streak with a 61-57 win over Toledo, Feb. 1. EMU continues to lead the nation in steals per game with 10.9, and ranks fourth among Division I teams in total steals (229).
KENT STATE
Flashes look to make it four in a row as they host Ball State on Tuesday before hitting the road for a Friday night matchup at Northern Illinois. The Flashes have four players averaging in double-figure scoring with Troy Simons (13.4 ppg), Anthony Roberts (12.1 ppg), Antonio Williams (14.1 ppg), and Danny Pippen (14.3 ppg).
MIAMI
The RedHawks have been a tough team for opponents to face at home in Mid-American Conference play so far this season. Miami is averaging 72.0 points per game in MAC home games compared to 68.8 points per game in MAC away games. The 'Hawks are shooting .450 at home compared to .413 on the road. Redshirt sophomore guard Isaiah Coleman-Lands has had his best games at Millett Hall during conference play. He is averaging 11.5 points per contest and is 12-for-22 (54.5 percent) from behind the arc.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Eugene German passed T.J. Lux (1995-2000; 1,996 points) with his 21 points against Miami to become NIU’s all-time leading scorer. German finished the game against the RedHawks on 2,000 career points, becoming the first Huskie men’s basketball player to reach that mark. German has scored in double figures 99 times in his career, including 52 20-plus point performances, and is ninth among active scorers in NCAA Division I. Head coach Mark Montgomery moved into third on NIU’s career wins list with victories over Ohio and Miami last week. Montgomery has 118 wins during his tenure with the Huskies and sits seven behind Chick Evans for second in school history.
OHIO
Jordan Dartis needs one more three pointer to set the new program record in career three-pointers.
TOLEDO
Marreon Jackson is averaging 26.2 ppg in his last five games. Jackson ranks among the Top Five in the MAC with 19.2 ppg (2nd), 6.0 apg (2nd), 1.9 spg (4th) and a 2.0 assist/turnover ratio (T-4th). In league play, he is second with 22.4 ppg, 6.0 apg, 4.0 treys per game and an 85.7 FT%. Jackson has scored in double figures in a career-high 11 straight games...Willie Jackson leads the MAC and ranks third nationally with 12.2 rpg (3rd in nation with 8.8 defensive rpg) after ranking fourth in the MAC last year with 8.9 rpg. In league play, he is averaging 12.1 ppg and 12.2 rpg with a 51.7 FG%. He has led Toledo on the boards in 18 games, including a career-high tying 20 caroms at Notre Dame (Nov. 21).
WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan heads to Miami on Tuesday looking to snap a 14-game losing skid on the road in the MAC, the Broncos seek their first MAC road win since Feb. 23, 2018. During MAC play, the Broncos are led by Michael Flowers, Brandon Johnson and B. Artis White who are all averaging in double figures against conference opponents at 11.9 turnovers per game, WMU ranks 48th in the NCAA in fewest turnovers per game.
