MAC basketball update: Central Michigan women, Toledo men lead West Division
March is right around the corner and both the Central Michigan men's and women's basketball teams are in the thick of the Mid-American Conference West title race.
Both head coaches Keno Davis and Sue Guevara believe anyone can beat anybody on any given day up and down the standings.
"I think the league has already proven that they can play with some of the top teams in this country," Guevara said following the Chippewas' 76-65 victory over Buffalo. "I think the top teams in our league can play with anybody."
Guevara's Chippewas played tough against No. 3 Louisville Dec. 20 at home, before falling 72-68. CMU then traveled to Coral Gables, FL to take on Miami (FL) and left with a 90-80 victory over the 24th ranked Hurricanes.
Buffalo's men's team found a pair of road victories over Power Five teams with a 99-94 victory over West Virginia Nov. 9 and a dominant 71-59 victory over in-state rival Syracuse Dec. 18.
Toledo, Bowling Green men score huge wins to top each division
Following their home win over CMU Jan. 26, the Rockets hit the road on Jan. 29 with a 66-63 win over Miami (OH) and a dominant showing with a 69-55 win over Northern Illinois.
Toledo now holds a 18-4 record and sits at 6-3 in MAC play, which is good enough to lead the MAC West Division.
Mar. 3 is the scheduled rematch between the Chippewas and the Rockets, this time in McGuirk Arena.
In the Eastern Division, Bowling Green defeated Buffalo 92-88 at home in a tightly contested game to take the solo lead. The Falcons, however, dropped their mid-week matchup against Miami (OH) with a 67-53 road loss.
CMU is currently 16-6, 5-4 and are tied for second in the West with NIU. The Chippewas currently hold the tiebreaker with their 78-69 win over the Huskies Jan. 15.
Men's standings
West Division
Toledo: 6-3, 18-4
Central Michigan: 5-4, 16-6
Northern Illinois: 5-4, 12-10
Eastern Michigan: 3-6, 9-13
Ball State: 2-7, 11-11
Western Michigan 0-8, 6-15
East Division
Bowling Green: 7-1, 15-6
Buffalo: 7-2, 19-3
Kent State: 5-3, 16-5
Akron: 5-3, 13-8
Miami (OH): 4-5, 12-10
Ohio: 3-6, 11-10
Central Michigan and Ohio top the women's basketball standings
The Chippewas squared off against Buffalo Feb. 2 and came out with an impressive 76-65 victory at home. The win moved them to 6-2 in the conference and 15-5 overall. They lead the West by a game over Toledo.
In the East, Buffalo's loss and Ohio's dominant 94-62 victory over Ball State puts the Bobcats in the lead of the division. Buffalo falls into a second-place tie with Miami (OH) at 6-2 and the Bulls are 14-5 overall and the Redhawks are 15-4 overall.
The showdown between the Chippewas and Bobcats is Feb. 9 in McGuirk Arena with major MAC Tournament seeding implications on the line.
Women's standings
West Division
Central Michigan: 6-2, 15-5
Toledo: 5-3, 13-6
Northern Illinois: 4-4, 12-8
Eastern Michigan: 3-5, 10-9
Western Michigan: 2-5, 8-10
Ball State: 2-6, 7-13
East Division
Ohio: 7-2, 18-2
Miami (OH): 6-2, 15-4
Buffalo: 6-2, 14-5
Kent State: 4-4, 11-8
Akron: 3-5, 12-7
Bowling Green: 0-8, 7-12
