Friday’s Men’s Basketball Results
Akron 94, Northern Illinois 55
Ball State 85, Central Michigan 69
Bowling Green 77, Eastern Michigan 69
Kent State 86, Western Michigan 78
No. 19 Miami 110, Ohio 108 (OT)
Toledo 99, Buffalo 78
Recaps courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments
Akron 94, Northern Illinois 55
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron men's basketball team set a new James A. Rhodes Arena record with its 31st straight home win on Friday, March 6. The Zips took down the Northern Illinois Huskies 94-55 at the JAR behind a 66.7 percent shooting night from beyond the arc.
The previous record of 30 straight wins at the JAR was set during the 2015-17 seasons.
Akron (26-5, 17-1) had five players score in double figures, led by Bowen Hardman, who tied his career-high of 20 points. Amani Lyles tacked on 17 points and two steals and Sharron Young helped out with 12 points, six rebounds and two steals off the bench. Evan Mahaffey recorded 11 points while Tavari Johnson added 10 points.
The Zips also set a new program record with its 26th win of the season, setting a new program high for wins in the regular season. The previous record was set by the 2024-25 squad.
The Akron offense was strong from downtown, knocking down 18 threes on 27 attempts. Hardman hit five treys for the Zips in the contest.
Akron's defense held Northern Illinois to only 19.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc and 37.9 percent from the field. The Zips also limited Dylan Ducommun to 1-of-10 shooting from downtown and nine points in the game. The Huskies did not have much luck cleaning up their misses on the offensive glass either, as they finished with five offensive rebounds and managed two second chance points while Akron cleared 34 defensive rebounds.
After jumping out to a 39-27 advantage, Akron went on an 8-0 run with 1:38 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Shammah Scott, to increase its lead to 47-27, a score that would hold until halftime. Akron relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down nine shots to account for 27 of its 47 points.
Following intermission, Akron kept widening that lead, expanding it to 63-34 before going on a 12-0 run, finished off by Evan Mahaffey's three, to grow the lead to 75-34 with 9:46 to go in the contest. The Huskies narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Zips still cruised the rest of the way for the 94-55 win. Akron shot well from three-point range in the half, hitting nine shots from deep to score 27 of its 47 points.
The Zips were incredible from long range, knocking down 18 of 27 three point attempts. The Zips held the Huskies to only 37.9 percent shooting from the field.
Akron never trailed on the way to a 94-55 victory. Akron recorded 20 total assists in the game.
Akron had a stellar day defensively, holding Northern Illinois to 19 percent from beyond the arc on 26 attempts. Five Akron players scored 10 or more points.
Akron had a 41-23 edge on the boards in the win.
Bowen Hardman led the Zips with a game-high 20 points. Akron got a game-high six rebounds from both Evan Mahaffey and Sharron Young.
The Akron Zips will travel to Cleveland, Ohio., to compete in the 2026 MAC Tournament as the No. 2 Seed. The first round is slated for March 12.
Ball State 85, Central Michigan 69
Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team shot the lights out in the first half and cruised to an 85-69 win over Central Michigan on Friday night at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals went 72.7 percent (16-22) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, making their last 11 field goal attempts of the period, to open up a 42-26 lead at halftime. Seven different Ball State players scored during the stretch that saw a 12-9 edge at the 10:20 mark of the first half expand into the 16-point advantage at the break. Central would get no closer than 13 points for the remainder of the contest.
Ball State (12-19, 7-11 Mid-American Conference) won its fourth straight game to wrap up the season and ended up knocking the Chippewas (10-21, 6-12 MAC) out of next week's MAC Tournament.
Davion Hill paced the Cardinals with 25 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Kayden Fish (15 points, three rebounds), Devon Barnes (14 points, five assists) and Armoni Zeigler (10 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, two blocks) joined Hill in double figures scoring.
Elmore James IV contributed nine points, while Preston Copeland tallied seven points and Mason Jones posted five points, three rebounds and five assists. Barnes, James IV, Cam Denson and Juwan Maxey were honored in a pregame Senior Day ceremony and started the game.
The Chippewas collected one more rebound (29-28), and both teams finished the game with 12 turnovers, but Ball State held advantages in points from turnovers (16-7), fast break points (12-4) and bench points (55-10). The 55 points off the bench were the most this season for the Cardinals.
Phat Phat Brooks (17 points) and Nathan Claerbaut (16) led CMU in scoring. Central Michigan would've clinched a spot in the MAC Tournament with a win since Buffalo lost at Toledo earlier in the night.
Ball State shot 58.2 percent (32-55) on field goals including 39.1 percent (9-23) on 3-pointers and made 63.2 percent (12-19) of its free throw attempts. The Chippewas went 51.8 percent (29-56) from the field, 25 percent (3-12) from distance and 53.3 percent (8-15) at the foul line.
The Cardinals finished in a tie with Buffalo and UMass for seventh place in the MAC standings but lost the tiebreaker and missed out on the eight-team conference tournament. This was the first time since the 2012-13 season that the Ball State men's basketball team has won at least its last four games to conclude the regular season.
Bowling Green 77, Eastern Michigan 69
Box Score
YPSILANTI, Mich. - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team closed out the regular season with a 77-69 victory over Eastern Michigan Friday night (March 6). The Falcons jumped out to an early 19-9 lead, but the Eagles fought back to take the advantage into the halftime locker room. In the second half, the Falcons erupted offensively, more than doubling their field goal percentage, to capture the win. Javontae Campbell led the way in scoring and assists with 22 and seven, respectively, while Sam Towns added his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and a team-high 18 rebounds. BGSU will now transition to the MAC Tournament, beginning on Thursday (March 12) with a Battle of I-75 rubber match.
The Falcons won the opening tip and drained back-to-back threes from Javon Ruffin and Javontae Campbell before the first EMU points. The Eagles responded with a 6-0 run, but another three from Ruffin ended the burst. Troy Glover II added a second-chance layup before a third Ruffin triple, this time from the corner for a 14-9 BGSU lead at the first media timeout. Before the second media break, Sam Towns added a second-chance layup, working his rebound total to eight in less than 10 minutes of game action.
The first points out of the break came on a second-chance three from Goins. He grabbed the rebound, dribbled to the corner and connected, pushing the run to 8-0 for BGSU. Eastern Michigan ended the run with a 7-0 burst of their own, closing the gap to 19-16 at the under-8 media timeout.
Glover restarted the scoring by slamming down an alley-oop over a defender. Mayar Wol kept it going with two at the line plus Glover later adding another, but EMU worked to knot it up at 24-24. Towns spun for a layup, pushing the Falcons back in front, but EMU again tied it before the final media timeout of the first half, 26-26.
Coming out of the break, Eastern Michigan added three to their tally for a 29-26 lead. A driving layup from Campbell in transition pulled the Falcons back within one, 29-28, with an EMU timeout. The lead for the Eagles moved to 31-28 at the halftime buzzer.
Justin Thomas opened the second half with three to tie the score, but Eastern Michigan recorded four at the line. Glover worked for a hook shot before two Towns free throws knotted it up again. The back-and-forth continued with five for Eastern Michigan, making it 40-35 at the first media timeout of the second half.
Josiah Shackelford went up-and-under for two. Campbell later added one at the line before swiping a steal and getting a second-chance layup. Campbell kept it going with an and-one. One at the line from Towns tied it at 44-44. A Thomas swipe and lob to Towns for an alley-oop put the Falcons in front, but EMU matched for a 46-46 tie at the under-12 media timeout.
Out of the break, Campbell converted a free throw to put BGSU in the lead. A jumper from Wol extended the lead followed by a massive alley-oop slam from Glover and a Campbell layup for a 7-0 run, 53-46 lead and an EMU timeout. Eastern Michigan ended the run, but an and-one slam from Wol erased the points and more. The back-and-forth continued with Wol and Campbell each adding a layup, but a 5-0 Eagle run cut into the score, 60-55 at the under-8 media break.
The lead stretched to double-digits for BGSU with another Glover alley-oop slam followed by an and-one from Campbell. EMU added a basket for a 65-57 score at the final media timeout in regulation. Towns added four at the line after the timeout with Ruffin later connecting on a three to make it 72-59 before a BGSU timeout with the score at 72-61. Down the stretch, Campbell added a layup and a free throw followed by two Towns free throws for the 77-69 final score.
Kent State 86, Western Michigan 78
Box Score
KENT – Kent State Men's Basketball (23-8, 14-4 MAC) closed out their regular season home slate with an 86-78 victory over Western Michigan University on Friday night at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. Six Golden Flashes dropped double digits while KSU knocked down 14 three-pointers to secure the win on Senior Night. Seniors Morgan Safford and Rob Whaley Jr. were honored during pregame.
Kent State came out firing in the opening half establishing an early lead and never trailing in the ballgame. Morgan Safford scored the first seven points for the Flashes with a jumper and a pair of free throws before drilling a three. Jahari Williamson added an early triple as Kent State jumped ahead 13-3. Quinn Woidke provided a spark off the bench with five first-half three-pointers, including three consecutive triples in a four-minute span that extended the lead. Cian Medley orchestrated the offense and contributed his own three-pointer as the Flashes built momentum. Kent State shot a scorching 58.6% from the field in the opening half, including 66.7% from beyond the arc, making 10-of-15 three-point attempts. The Golden Flashes led 46-37 at the half. The Blue and Gold maintained control throughout the second half. Woidke continued his hot shooting with two more three-pointers in the opening minutes of the second half to extend his personal total to seven triples. Rob Whaley Jr. scored efficiently inside, while Safford battled for rebounds and key baskets. Western Michigan made a push downt he stretch trimming the lead to three points at 71-68 with 6:19 left to play. Kent State responded as Williamson knocked down a clutch three-pointer with six minutes remaining to push the lead back to six, and Magnus Entenmann hit a momentum-swinging triple on the next possession to make it 79-70. The Flashes sealed the victory at the free-throw line to maintain their advantage winning by eight.
The win marks Kent State's 14th in conference for the fifth time in program history. Williamson led the Flashes with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-7 from three-point range. Woidke finished with 15 points going 5-of-7 beyond the arc. Medley and Safford each contributed 14 points, with Medley adding five assists and Safford grabbing four rebounds. Whaley Jr. chipped in 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Delrecco Gillespie added 11 points and a team high eight rebounds. Kent State won the rebounding battle 36-35 and forced 11 Western Michigan turnovers while committing just 13 themselves. The Flashes made 14-of-34 three-pointers and converted 14-of-22 free throws in the victory.
Kent State is locked in as the three seed in next week's Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland. The Flashes will take on Ohio University in the first round as the final game on Thursday, March 12th.
No. 19 Miami 110, Ohio 108 (OT)
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio –Eian Elmer scored 32 points and Trey Perry added 21 as the Miami University men's basketball team downed Ohio University 110-108 in overtime to finish the regular season a perfect 31-0. Brant Byers (15), Peter Suder (13) and Justin Kirby (10) also scored in double figures for the RedHawks, who scored the final three points of the contest to capture a road win at Ohio for the first time since 2011.
Byers started the contest with a pair of threes to help the RedHawks to a 10-4 advantage. The Bobcats responded by taking their first lead since the opening points of the game at 12-11. Perry added a driving layup and the RedHawks continued to knock down shots from beyond the arc, as Almar Atlason and Elmer each knocked down a three at 19-17 with 10:55 on the scoreboard.The score was knotted at 25-25 after Elmer, Antwone Woolfolk and Perry each scored a shot in the paint.
Perry added another layup through contact and knocked down a pull-up three the next possession. Elmer also sparked the RedHawks with a transition layup plus the foul and added a shot from the top of the three-point line the following possession to take a 38-32 lead with under five minutes to go before the break. Kirby got into the action with a fast-break layup of his own and sank a right-wing three the next trip down the floor at 44--37. Luke Skaljac found Suder cutting to the rim for a shot off the glass, giving Miami its first 10-point lead of the night. A pair of free throws from Woolfolk and layups from Woolfolk and Elmer sent the RedHawks into halftime leading 54-48.
Suder opened the second half by getting to the free-throw line and Byers buried his third deep shot of the game at 59-48. Elmer went on to score a second-chance shot at the rim, stole the ball for a layup and put in his third three of the evening to push the RedHawks ahead 72-64. A collection of free throws kept the Red and White above Ohio at 83-79 with just under nine minutes left to play.
The Bobcats continued to keep it close, as they stayed within one possession of Miami at 83-81. Elmer answered with his fourth shot from behind the arc to try and separate from Ohio. The Bobcats evened the score at 88-88 before Perry added two free throws, a three and Elmer tipped in a missed shot at 95-91. Elmer recorded yet another offensive rebound that led to a bucket in the paint and Skaljac added a free throw and a driving layup to put the score at 100-96 in favor of the RedHawks with 1:42 on the scoreboard. Ohio went on to tie the game at 100 apiece, ultimately forcing overtime.
Suder attacked the rim for a traditional three-point play on Miami's first offensive possession in overtime to give Miami a 103-102 lead. Free throws from Elmer and a layup on the fast break from Perry put Miami on top 107-104 with 1:26 left in overtime. The Bobcats reclaimed a 108-107 lead with 22 seconds to play before Suder connected on a pair of free throws with 12 seconds to go. Suder then forced OU's Jackson Paveletzke into a tough shot and Kirby secured the rebound. After Kirby knocked down a free throw, OU's buzzer-beater was off the mark to secure the Miami win.
Miami captured its 1500th win in program history.
Miami earned its first victory at the Convocation Center since Jan. 9, 2011 in a 92-88 triple overtime game.
The RedHawks continued to build on the program record for most consecutive road wins overall (15) and in a season (14). The Red and White finish the regular season with the most consecutive conference wins in MAC history (originally set by Miami in 1956-57 at 16-0).
Miami has secured the No. 1 seed in the 2026 MAC Tournament and will play in a quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 12 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
Toledo 99, Buffalo 78
Box Score
TOLEDO, Ohio – Junior Sonny Wilson poured in a team-high 24 points and freshman Leroy Blyden Jr. tallied 20 points, a season-high 13 assists and seven rebounds to lead the Toledo men's basketball team to a dominating 99-78 Senior Night victory over Buffalo on Friday night in Savage Arena.
The Rockets shot 60.3 percent from the field, including a blistering 74.2% in the second half, to improve to 17–14 overall and 11–7 in the Mid-American Conference. UT will be the No. 4 seed in next week's tournament at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio and face Bowling Green in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12.
Wilson spearheaded the Rockets' shooting efficiency, finishing 10-of-14 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range. Blyden was 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range and his 13 assists were one shy of the school record as well as the most by a Rocket in 44 years.
Sophomore Mynor Strong also had a big night with a career-high 18 points and four triples. Senior Sean Craig (14 pts.) and sophomore Jaylan Ouwinga (12 pts.) also scored in double figures.
Toledo held a 37–33 halftime lead before exploding for 62 points after the break. The Rockets knocked down 8-of-12 shots from beyond the arc to finish the night shooting 50.0% (12-of-24) from downtown.
Buffalo (17–14, 7–11 MAC) was paced by junior Ryan Sabol's 26 points.
