One month remains in the non-conference schedule for Mid-American Conference (MAC) men’s basketball. With Bowling Green picking up two wins in a row over New Mexico State and Morgan State, it’s time to see how the rest of the MAC did this week.
Kent State (7-2)
The current number one ranked team in the conference, the Golden Flashes are 5-1 in their last six matchups, with back-to-back victories vs Kennesaw State and Portland.
In the 76-57 win over Portland, senior forward VonCameron Davis scored 16 points and sophomore guard Cian Medley scored a season-high 15 points.
Kent State is averaging 68.3 points per game and sports a record of 7-2, with a 3-0 record at home.
Akron (6-2)
The hottest team in the MAC, the Zips have won five in a row after starting the season 1-2; the reigning MAC champions also have a perfect home record, standing at 6-0 with an overall record of 7-2.
Akron is coming off a 101-48 win over SUNY-Brockport, a game where the entire starting five scored double-digit points against their nonconference opponent. Junior guard Bowen Hardman scored a season-high 20 points on 8/14 shooting from the field.
Akron is averaging 85.8 points per game and 41.1 rebounds per game as a team.
Toledo (6-3)
After beginning the season 5-1, the Rockets have gone 1-2 in their past three matchups, including back-to-back losses to UC San Diego and Oakland. Toledo bounced back with a 111-49 win against Defiance.
4/5 of the starting lineup hit the double-digit scoring mark for the Rockets, with sophomore Sam Lewis recording a perfect shooting night, going 7/7 from the field for 18 points.
The Rockets are averaging 80.6 points per game.
Central Michigan (5-3)
The Chippewas are 5-1 in their last six contests, recording back-to-back wins over Purdue Northwest and Aquinas after a 68-65 loss to Minnesota.
In the victory over Aquinas, senior guard Anthony Pritchard and junior guard Kyler Vanderjagt both scored 18 points in the win.
The Chippewas are averaging 79.6 points per game.
Miami [OH] (5-3)
After a three-game winning streak, the RedHawks ended their week with a 76-57 loss to Indiana. The three-game winning streak was the RedHawks first winning streak of the season.
In the 73-60 win over Air Force, the latest victory of the season for Miami OH, junior guard Peter Suder went off, scoring 42 points on 17/21 shooting—one of the largest scoring games for any MAC player this season.
Miami is averaging 71.9 points per game on 45.2% shooting.
Eastern Michigan (5-4)
The Eagles ended their week with back-to-back losses against Detroit Mercy and Loyola. Eastern Michigan’s last victory came against N Arizona on Nov. 26.
The 72-68 win over N Arizona saw a 20-point performance by senior guard Da’Sean Nelson and a 15-point night by junior guard Christian Henry.
The Eagles are averaging 69.0 points per game through nine games.
Buffalo (5-5)
The last team in the MAC with a .500 record, the Bulls record stands at 5-5, as they come off a 65-55 loss to Saint Bonaventure.
The Bulls’ last win was a 100-65 victory versus Pitt Bradford, where the trio of Ryan Sabol, Anquan Bolden Jr., and Tyson Dunn combined for a total of 51 points.
Buffalo is averaging 76.1 points per game while shooting 45.5% from the field.
Ohio (4-5)
Ranking just below Bowling Green in the overall standings, Ohio, after starting the season 2-5, the Bobcats recorded back-to-back victories for the first time this season against Robert Morris and Morehead St.
Junior guard Jackson Paveltzke was the star of the show versus Morehead St., scoring 23 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out three assists.
The Bobcats, who were projected to finish first in the MAC, are averaging 78.7 points per game.
Western Michigan (3-5)
Heading into the bottom three of the conference, the Broncos are 1-2 in their last three games, coming off a 77-69 loss at Dayton.
Western Michigan took a 73-62 win at Youngstown State, with sophomore forward Max Burton scoring 18 points on 7/9 shooting.
Western Michigan is averaging 72.1 points per game while grabbing 39.6 rebounds per game.
Ball State (3-6)
Ball State is coming off back-to-back double-digit losses to Richmond and SIUE Edwardsville.
The lone bright spot in the 13-point loss to SIUE was junior guard Juanse Gorosoito’s 17-point night. Gorosito also scored 18 vs Richmond.
Ball State is averaging 72.3 points per game.
Northern Illinois (3-7)
Finally, sitting at the bottom of the conference in the last month of the non-conference schedule, Northern Illinois ranks in 12th place with a record of 3-7.
The Huskies are coming off a 101-57 loss to Northern Iowa. The Huskies are 1-5 in their last six games.
Northern Illinois is averaging 69.6 points per game.
