With two weeks remaining until Mid-American Conference (MAC) basketball tips off, each team is starting to settle into the season and find the things that work best for them.
Kent State stands alone in first place down with eight wins, as Western Michigan and Northern Illinois share the last pace with three wins each.
Here is how the teams fared over the past week:
Kent State (8-2)
The leaders of the MAC so far, the Golden Flashes, are now the winners of three in a row and 6-1 in their last seven matchups.
In their 87-57 win over Mercyhurst, senior forward VonCameron Davis tallied 17 points. Not far behind were Cli’Ron Hornbeak, Marquis Barnett, and Jalen Sullinger, as they all were able to score 15 points in the win.
To go along with their first place standing in the MAC, the Kent State defense stands alone at the top as they hold opponents to 60.2 points per game.
Akron (6-3)
The Zips are not going to relinquish their spot atop the MAC easily. Last year’s MAC tournament winners are still within striking distance to take over the number one spot in the MAC.
Akron dropped the ball as they went to Milwaukee and lost 100-81. Junior guard Tavari Johnson leads the Zips with 22 points. Milwaukee could knock down shots that led to the Akron loss, as the Panthers shot 57.8% (37-64) from the field, 11-19 (57.8%) from three and 15-20 (75%) from the free throw line.
Kent State still holds the number one offense in the MAC, averaging 85.2 points per game and the best point differential at a margin of 9.8 points.
Miami (OH) (6-3)
Supporting a 3-1 home record, the Miami RedHawks are looking to keep the winning ways going this season. They have not lost back-to-back games and are looking to start a new winning streak.
The RedHawks took down Bethany (WV) 112-70. Led by sophomore forward Kam Craft, who notched a career-high 34 points and knocked down 10 three-pointers. Miami was able to follow Craft’s lead and shot 22-44 (50%) from three as a team.
Miami might not be the highest-scoring team in the MAC, as they only average 76.3 points a game, but they are one of the most efficient when it comes to scoring, as they shot 46.4% from the field as a team this season.
Toledo (6-4)
The Rockets look to right the ship as they are 1-3 in their last four games. As a loss to the Youngstown State, the Penguins capped off their week.
The 93-87 loss to the Penguins was a heartbreaker. Sophomore guard Sam Lewis led the Rockets despite the loss with 21 points and six offensive rebounds. It was the Penguins’ three-point shooting that led them to the win, as they were able to make eight more than the Rockets.
Toledo’s offense is one of the best in the MAC, supporting a scoring average of 81.2 points per game and the best field goal percentage in the MAC at 48.3%.
Central Michigan (5-4)
As Central Michigan moved toward conference play, they dropped a game vs Valparaiso.
Central Michigan Chippewas fell to Valparaiso University 93-77. A 20-point outing by senior guard Anthony Pritchard was not enough to bring Central Michigan the win. Central Michigan struggled from behind the arc against Valparaiso as they shot 4-17 (23.5%).
Statistically, Central Michigan has a top-three offense and defense in the MAC. Scoring 79.3 points per game and holding opponents to 70.3 points per game.
Buffalo (5-5)
The Buffalo Bulls have not played a game of basketball since Dec 7. A game in which they lost 65-55 against St. Bonaventure. They next play in Georgia on Dec 19.
Eastern Michigan (5-4)
Eastern Michigan dropped their third straight game to the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons on Dec. 15.
The Mastodons bested the Eagles 99-76. Eastern Michigan’s guard Jalen Terry was able to score 28 points in the game. The offense for Eastern Michigan could not get going as they shot 29-61 (47.5%) from the field and 6-21 (28.6%) from three-point range.
Eastern Michigan’s defense is a top half of the MAC defense as their opponents only score an average of 74.2 points against them.
Ball State (4-6)
Ball State squeaked out a win over Bellarmine 86-82 and got the Cardinals back in the win column.
The Cardinals were led by Juanse Gorosito, who scored 21 points on 7-12 from three. Gorosito was one of five different Cardinals who were able to score in double digits. As a team, Ball State shot 26-48 (54.2%) from the field and 10-19 (52.6%) from behind the arc.
Ball State, statistically, has the fourth-best defense in the MAC, as they hold opponents to 72.7 points per game.
Bowling Green (4-6)
The Falcons lost to the Kansas City Roos 85-77 on Saturday, Dec 14. Snapping Bowling Green’s two-game winning streak.
Javontae Campbell was able to score 27 points in the loss to the Roos. Campbell was one of three Falcons to score in double figures this game. BGSU struggled from behind the arc and plagued them all game as they shot 9-23 (39.1%) as a team.
The Falcons do host a MAC-best 79.9% free throw percentage and have two players in the top ten in MAC scoring. Marcus Johnson in second place and Campbell in sixth place.
Ohio (4-6)
The Ohio Bobcats fell to the Marshall Thundering Herd Dec 14 with a score of 79-70. Snapping their season-best two-game winning streak
In the loss to Marshall, it was Sophomore guard AJ Brown who led the Bobcats with a season of 22 points. The Bobcats had struggled this game offensively, shooting 25-65 (38.5%) and 9-30 (30%) from behind the arc.
Ohio does have the fifth-best offensive average in the MAC, as they average 77.8 points per game.
Northern Illinois (3-7)
The Huskies had not played a game since Dec 7 when they lost to Northern Iowa 101-57. Northern Illinois returns to action on Dec 18 when they take on Illinois State.
Western Michigan (3-7)
The Broncos are in the midst of a three-game losing streak as they dropped games against St Thomas 77-70 and North Dakota State 98-62.
Western Michigan was led by Chansey Wills Jr. with 22 points, and Marquese Josephs added 12, as they were the only double-digit scorers for the Broncos against North Dakota State. A rough offensive night all around for the Broncos as they shot 24-62 (38.7%) from the field and 5-13 (38.5%) from three-point range.
Although the Broncos are still finding their footing offensively, their defense has been solid so far, holding opponents to 73.3 points per game.
