Previews courtesy of MAC Sports Information Departments
Kent State at Akron
6:00 PM ET | CBS Sports Network
The Akron Zips host rival Kent State on Friday, February 23 for the 164th all-time meeting. Akron and Kent State can be viewed on CBS Sports Network with John Sadak and Tre Demps on the call. Fans can listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst).
The Flashes are now 6-7 in the MAC, putting them in a tie for fifth with Miami and Western Michigan. The Flashes are 4-6 on the road going into Friday night's game. The Flashes average 76.1 points per game with a +4.5 scoring margin placing them third in the MAC for each category. Kent State is 58th in the country in bench points per game (25.19), 35th in free throw percentage (.760),67th in free throws made per game (15.6), 89th in 3-point percentage (.357), 96th in 3-pointers made per game (8.3), and 59th in turnover margin (+1.2).
Jalen Sullinger leads the Flashes with 15.7 points per game in MAC Play. Sullinger has recorded double-digit points in 11 of the Flashes' 13 MAC games, including a 30-point game against Bowling Green. Davis has recorded double-digits in all of the Flashes' conference games, including three 20+ point games and a double-double in the win over Bowling Green.
Akron comes into Friday's contest spotting a 19-7 overall record and 11-2 record in the MAC. Greg Tribble led the Zips with 19 points on a 6-of-9 shooting night that saw a 3-for-4 performance from 3-point range. Ali Ali, Enrique Freeman, and Sammy Hunter all scored in double figures as well. Freeman recorded his 23rd double-double with a 14-point, 16-rebound performance that saw him go 7-of-12 from the field.
Freeman continues to lead the Zips in scoring (18.1), rebounding (13.0), and blocks (39). Kaleb Thornton leads the way in assists with 2.6 while two zips are tied with 0.9 steals per game. The Zips hold the MAC's best scoring defense (64.8) and scoring margin (+9.8). Akron is also third in fg% (.456) second in opponent (fg% (.424), first in opponent 3-point% (.301), and second in 3-point fg made per game (8.4). The Zips are also third in rebounding (37.1), first in opponent rebounding (32.0), and first in rebound margin (+5.1).
Toledo at Bowling Green
7:00 PM ET | ESPNU
The Toledo men's basketball team (17-9, 11-2 MAC) looks to maintain its grasp on the top spot in the Mid-American Conference when it makes a short trip down I-75 to face arch-rival Bowling Green (16-10, 7-6 MAC) at 7:00 p.m. The contest in the Stroh Center will be televised nationally on ESPNU and tip off at 7:00 p.m.
The matchup between BGSU and Toledo will mark the 182nd meeting all-time between the two teams, the longest rivalry in program history. Toledo leads the all-time series, 98-83, but the Falcons have the advantage when hosting with a record of 50-31. In the first matchup, all five Bowling Green starters reached double-digit points led by Marcus Hill's 25. Hill was joined by Da'Shawn Phillip's 13, 12 from both Trey Thomas and Jason Spurgin and 10 from Rashaun Agee.
Both Rashaun Agee and Marcus Hill are nearing the Top 10 in the BGSU record book for single-season stats. So far this season, Agee has tallied 244 rebounds for the Falcons and needs 55 more to enter the record book. He needs to reach 299 to break into the Top 10 all-time for rebounds in a single-season, trailing Rex Leach's 1956-57 campaign. As for Hill, he has 551 points this year and needs 600 to enter a three-way tie for ninth all-time, 601 for eighth and 604 for seventh. He is currently 49 points away from the list.
Junior Ra'Heim Moss has scored in double digits in 25 of 26 games this season after scoring in double digits on 13 occasions last year. He ranks seventh in the MAC with 16.3 ppg and has a 60.0 3PTFG% (6-of-10) in his last FOUR games.
Junior Dante Maddox Jr. ranks second in team scoring with a career-high 15.6 ppg. Maddox scored a career-high 26 pts. vs. BG (Jan. 27) and leads UT with TEN 20-point outings. Junior Tyler Cochran leads the MAC with a team-high 2.0 spg. He also leads the team with 6.7 rpg and has scored in double digits in a season-high TEN straight games.
Toledo has an 11-2 record in MAC play for the second straight season. UT lost two of its first three MAC games last year before winning its final 15 league contests. The Rockets are 26-2 in their last 28 MAC games with their only losses a three-point setback at Central Michigan (Jan. 19) and a seven-point defeat at Akron (Feb. 2).
UT is 59-11 (.843) in league play since the start of the 2020-21 season. The Rockets are 33-3 (.917) in MAC home games and 26-8 (.765) in MAC road games. Toledo leads the MAC with 80.5 ppg, a 47.9 FG%, and 7.4 spg and is second with a 37.4 3PTFG% and +2.50 turnover margin.
In league play, the Rockets are first with 80.2 ppg, a 48.9 FG% and +2.8 turnover margin and second with a 74.6 FT%, 6.5 spg, and a +8.0 scoring margin. Toledo also ranks in the Top 40 nationally in 3PTFG% (24th/37.4) and FG% (47.9%/31st).
