Five MAC Men's Hoops Games Set To Tip Today
Central Michgian, Bowling Green and Toledo will host non-conference foes, while Kent State will look to start the season with two straight victories. Eastern Michigan will open the season on the road against Oakland.
Nov 14, 2009
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Princeton (0-0, 0-0 Ivy) at Central Michigan (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Noon • Central Michigan leads series 1-0
• After claiming a share of its third MAC West Division title in the past nine seasons, the Central Michigan men's basketball program turns its focus to defending that crown under fourth year head coach Ernie Zeigler. Central brings back three senior starters in guards Robbie Harman, Jordan Bitzer and forward Chris Kellermann. Of Ernie Zeigler's 39 career wins at CMU, the Chippewas have held the opponent under 70 points in 31 of them. CMU is 31-17 (.646) when holding the opposition under 70 points under Zeigler... Princeton returns its top nine scorers from last season, including Douglas Davis (12.3 ppg) and Dan Mavraides (10.3 ppg). Davis became the first true freshman in program history to lead the team in scoring for a season.
Wayne State (0-0, 0-0 Division II) at Bowling Green (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
1 p.m. • Bowling Green leads series 2-0
• Bowling Green returns seven players, but just two starters, from last year's squad. The Falcons graduated their top three scorers from a year ago. Bowling Green's defense was crucial to the team's success in 2008-09 as the Falcons held 26 of their 33 opponents below 45 percent shooting, allowing less than 70 points on 26 occasions. Bowling Green won last year's season opener in dramatic fashion, pulling out a 77-76 overtime win over Georgia State in the NABC Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. In fact, the Falcons are 68-26 all-time in season openers despite losing four of their last seven. Wayne State returns three starters and seven letterwinners from last year's 12-15 club. The Warriors return three of their top four scorers, including Bryan Wright, who averaged 14.1 points and shot 42 percent from three-point range.
UAB (1-0, 0-0 Conference USA) at Kent State (1-0, 0-0 MAC)
Hispanic College Fund Classic
7 p.m. • Kent State leads series 1-0
• After trailing for almost the entire first half, Kent State used a 20-1 run to start the second half as the Golden Flashes outlasted Samford, 69-66, at the MAC Center as part of the opening night of the Hispanic College Fund Classic.Three players finished in double figures for KSU with senior Chris Singletary leading the way. He poured in 19 points including 9-10 from the charity stripe to pace the offense. After shooting only 35 percent in the first half, Kent State shot 45 percent from the floor in the second half...UAB's Elijah Millsap scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Blazers to a 68-56 win over Wisconsin-Green Bay in the season opener for both teams on Friday. Howard Crawford added 15 points for the Blazers, who went on a 14-2 run to claim a 55-43 lead with 4:50 left the second half against the Phoenix in the Hispanic College Fund Classic.
Eastern Illinois (0-0, 0-0 Ohio Valley) at Toledo (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
7 p.m. • First Meeting
• Toledo opens its 2009-10 campaign when it hosts Ohio Valley Conferencefoe Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m.The Rockets have posted an all-time record of 51-43 in season openers during its 94-year history. In addition, UT has won its last 16 home openers with its last loss in its first game at Savage Arena being a 66-55 setback to Alaska-Fairbanks on Dec. 12, 1992. Toledo will be looking to rebound from Tuesday's 56-49 exhibition defeat to NCAA Division II opponent Central State... Eastern Illinois features six seniors and has been picked to finish fourth in the OVC preseason coaches poll. Saturday's contest will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Senior guard Romain Martin is the Panthers' leading returning scorer with 15.4 ppg and has led EIU offensively in each of his three seasons in the program.
Eastern Michigan (0-0, 0-0 MAC) at Oakland (0-0, 0-0 Summit)
7 p.m. • Eastern Michigan leads series 7-4
• Eastern Michigan will open its 2009-10 regular season with a non-conference road trip to Rochester, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 14, where they will take on the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland University. Oakland has won the last three games, however, including a 66-53 victory, Dec. 22, 2008, in Ypsilanti. Eastern has an 0-2 record against Oakland in games played in Rochester. The EMU trio of Carlos Medlock, Justin Dobbins and Brandon Bowdry are all making major moves up the EMU career rankings in scoring, rebounding and three-point shooting...Oakland University, received 34 of 35 votes to be the champion of the Summit League in 2009-10. Senior guard Johnathon Jones was also selected as the preseason choice to be the Player of the Year in that league. The Golden Grizzlies are coming off a 23-13 2008-09 campaign.
