MAC basketball update: Men's basketball within a game of MAC West lead
Central Michigan head coach, Sue Guevara, talks with her team following a timeout during a game against Ball State on Feb. 6 at McGuirk Arena.
Three weeks remain in the regular season in the Mid-American Conference and there is plenty left to decide on both the men's and women's standings.
The Central Michigan men's and women's basketball teams each picked up wins over MAC East and West Division foes.
The Chippewa women used a triad of 20-point scorers to defeat the Bulls and earn a two-game lead over Toledo and Northern Illinois in the MAC West Division. CMU's men drew two games closer to the top spot with a pair of wins and Toledo losses.
Women's basketball
In the East, Miami (Ohio) has won its last nine games with its latest a close road win over Akron. The Redhawks are currently 19-4 overall and 10-2 in conference and have a half-game lead over Ohio, who are 21-3 and 10-3.
The Redhawks and Bobcats square off March 6 in Oxford, Ohio and the winner more than likely will secure one of the top two spots in the MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio.
Buffalo lost its second-straight game as it was dealt a regular season sweep against CMU and fell to 8-4, which puts the Bulls in third place.
The MAC West Division is more wide open than the East Division, but far from decided. CMU boasts an 18-6 overall and 9-3 conference record while Toledo is at 15-8, 7-5 and NIU is 15-9, 7-5. The Chippewas will have both teams at home before the season is over. NIU comes to McGuirk Arena Feb. 23 and Toledo comes on March 9 in the regular season finale.
CMU's final six games are split in terms of location. Meaning, they have three on the road and three at home.
Men's basketball
UB has worked a four-game winning streak since losing to Bowling Green two weeks ago. Its latest is a 114-67 drubbing of Ohio at home.
The Bulls are tied with Bowling Green at 11-2 in the conference, but the Falcons hold the tiebreaker with their Feb. 1 victory.
Bowling Green and Buffalo square off in the regular season finale on March 8 in Buffalo, New York.
Kent State is three games behind Buffalo and Bowling Green at 8-5 following their Feb. 19 loss to on the road to CMU.
The West Division on the men's side is a log jam behind Toledo.
After defeating Kent State, CMU sits just one game behind the Rockets. Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois are within a game-and-a-half of the Chippewas.
The Rockets have lost their last two games to cut their lead in the division. Their latest loss was a 76-69 road loss to Eastern Michigan.
These teams all play each other within the final three weeks of the season. CMU travels to Ball State and EMU Feb. 23 and 26, before playing Toledo and NIU at home March 2 and 5.
If it can push through that tough stretch to close the season, CMU can put themselves on a fast-track to a high-seed and potentially a first round bye in the MAC Tournament.
WOMEN'S STANDINGS
West Division
Central Michigan: 9-3, 18-6
Toledo: 7-5, 15-8
Northern Illinois: 7-5, 15-9
Eastern Michigan: 3-8, 10-12
Western Michigan: 2-9, 8-14
Ball State: 2-9, 7-16
East Division
Miami (OH): 10-2, 19-4
Ohio: 10-3, 21-3
Buffalo: 8-4, 16-7
Kent State: 7-5, 14-9
Akron: 5-7, 14-9
Bowling Green: 1-11, 8-15
MEN'S STANDINGS
West Division
Toledo: 8-5, 20-6
Central Michigan: 7-6, 18-8
Eastern Michigan: 6-7, 12-14
Ball State: 5-8, 14-12
Northern Illinois: 5-8, 12-14
Western Michigan: 2-11, 8-18
East Division
Buffalo: 11-2, 23-3
Bowling Green: 11-2, 19-7
Kent State: 8-5, 19-7
Miami (OH): 6-7, 14-12
Akron: 6-7, 14-12
Ohio: 3-10, 11-14
