MACtion recap: Toledo and Buffalo lengthen leads atop men's basketball standings


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Sophomore guard Kevin McKay passes an opponent during the men's basketball game against Kent State on Jan. 27 at McGuirk Arena. 

Central Michigan men's basketball lost two games last week against Miami (Ohio) and Kent State — dropping them to last place in the MAC West Division standings.

Meanwhile, Toledo and Buffalo both lengthened its first place leads in the MAC West and East Divisions to three games with a pair of wins each.

Here is an update on the MAC men’s basketball standings:

Tuesday, Jan. 23 - Akron 71, Ohio 68

Coming into the game tied for last place in the MAC East Division, Akron junior guard Jimond Ivey came up clutch by scoring 11 of his 17 points in the final six minutes to edge Ohio. The win didn't just pull the Zips out of last place, but it also meant something off the court. Dan Peters, Akron’s former Director of Basketball Operations, died of pancreatic cancer in 2014 and the players all wore purple jerseys with the last name Peters on the back.

Tuesday, Jan. 23 - Toledo 85, Western Michigan 81

Broncos senior guard Thomas Wilder dropped 40 points on the Rockets, but it still wasn't enough to top senior guard Tre’Shaun Fletcher’s 22 points and Toledo’s 13 3-pointers. The win helped move the Rockets into a three-game lead of the MAC West.

Tuesday, Jan. 23 - Kent State 88, Ball State 80

Kent State sophomore forward Danny Pippen provided a double-double (11 points, 16 rebounds) off the bench, and senior guard Kevin Zabo scored seven of his 21 points in overtime to guide the Golden Flashes to a win. Both teams are currently in second place of the MAC East and West.

Saturday, Jan. 27 - Ball State 111, Akron 106

BSU got back on the winning track by outlasting the Zips in double overtime. Ivey continued his hot week with a MAC season-high 48 points for Akron, but his turnover with four seconds left in the second overtime essentially cost the Zips a victory. There were 17 ties and 12 lead changes in the game, while neither team led by more than eight points throughout the contest.

Complete MAC standings:

MAC East

1. Buffalo (16-5, 8-0)

2. Kent State (11-10, 5-3)

3. Miami (Ohio) (11-10, 4-4)

4. Akron (10-10, 3-5)

    Bowling Green (12-9, 3-5)

6. Ohio (9-11, 2-6)

MAC West

1. Toledo (15-6, 7-1)

2. Ball State (13-8, 4-4)

    Western Michigan (12-9, 4-4)

4. Eastern Michigan (12-9, 3-5)

    Northern Illinois (10-11, 3-5)

6. Central Michigan (13-8, 2-6)

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