MAC Sports Blog by VanDelay Sports

The 2010 MAC Basketball Tournament continues on Saturday with the first game of the night featuring the #3 seed Akron Zips (24-9, #84 RPI) facing the #9 seed Ohio Bobcats (20-14, #104 RPI). Akron needed double overtime to get past #6 Eastern Michigan in the Quarterfinals by a score of 97-89 on Thursday and followed that up with a 66-64 win over #7 Western Michigan in the Semifinals. Ohio won their first round game @ #8 Ball State 85-77 in OT then followed it up with a upset of #1 Kent State on Thursday by a score of 81-64. The Bobcats advanced to the MAC Tournament Championship Game by defeating Miami 54-42 on Friday in the Semifinals.

The live blog of Akron vs Ohio will begin tonight before tipoff which is scheduled for 6 pm ET. In addition, check out the live Twitter updates of the 2010 MAC Tournament provided by VanDelay Sports and all of the MAC Tournament tagged updates on Twitter.

Still about 30 minutes to tipoff. Lots of media members agree, offensive boards and second chance points. If Akron gets a lot of them, they win. If OU can limit the second chances they should have a really good shot in this one.

Watch Jimmy Conyers. Ohio has a lot of trouble containing Conyers and with Steven Coleman out for the season they don’t have anyone who can match up with Conyers really well. Chris McKnight is going to be key, especially as we talk about second chance points and putbacks, but Conyers is the guy who could come up with a fantastic performance like we’ve seen by many players throughout this tournament.

On the flip side Akron has given up huge performances to guards twice in this tournament as Carlos Medlock and David Kool both had their way with the Akron defense. Armon Bassett has been great for the Bobcats this tournament, gotta look for him to have a big game tonight.

Decent crowd… not excellent, but decent.

What the crowd lacks in size they make up for in loudness. Gotta love the Akron and OU fans, they’re great.

16:13 - Devo subs into the game and they immediately find him for a dunk on the break. He’s been doing that all weekend.

15:14 - Lots of action early and Akron is up 11-10 with Chris McKnight going to the line for another when we come back… Hey, we’re at the first time out and there have already been 21 points combined, or the number that OU had going into the half last night. Little different pace in this one.

13:45 - OU’s defense completely loses Brett McKnight and he nails a 3… can’t have that. Devo with a moving pick on the other end and Akron leads 15-13.

12:40 - Van Kempen has knocked down 3 16 footers so far, he’s looked keyed in tonight.

12:18 - B McKnight answers with another 3… and a steal, and Roberts lays it in. 20-15 Akron… Cooper answers with a quick 3. Completely different feel from OU’s game against Miami last night.

11:17 - 20-18 Akron, with Conyers headed back to the line when we get back. Cooper with 2 big 3’s and KVK with the aforementioned 6 points so far for Ohio. For Akron Brett McKnight has nailed two open 3’s, he and Chris McKnight both have 6 points for the Zips.

8:54 - Cooper with a ridiculous fadeaway corner 3, and Freeman blocks a shot. Conyers breaks down the Ohio D and Akron leads 24-23.

7:04 - Cooper pushes off, no call, crowd doesn’t like it. Shoots a 3, gets knocked down, no call, other half of the crowd doesn’t like it… I like that the refs are letting them play. Tied at 26. OU shooting 58% early in this one… Akron “only” shooting 42%. Gotta wonder what happens in this one when the Bobcats start missing some shots, not gonna shoot 60% all night.

6:15 - Conyers gets to the hoop draws the foul and hits the scoop layup. He’s carving OU up so far, he’s gotten to the hoop a couple of times and been unable to finish too.

5:37 - Cooper with another 3, cats tie it back up.

3:58 - Tied at 29 still. This has been a great game so far. Akron leading 6-0 on second chance points.

1:23 - Chris McKnight with a board, kick around to McNees and he nails a 3…. Tied at 32. As of the 4 minute media timeout there had been 4 ties and 13 lead changes.

0:53 - Freeman draws another player control foul. He’s amazing at that.

0:40 - Ivo Baltic follows up a Bassett miss with the putback AND-1! Can’t even come close to converting at the line. Cats up 2.

Halftime - Chris McKnight hits a pair of FTs, OU inbounds the ball with 5.4 seconds left and Cooper goes coast-to-coast laying one in before the buzzer goes off. The Ohio bench and fans go wild. This has been a great-great game so far, I can’t say it enough times. More to come when we get stats…

14 lead changes, 6 ties. Akron leading in second chance points 11-2. Akron with 8 offensive boards. OU shooting 50% (6-11 on 3’s) to Akron’s 38% (4-13) on 3’s.

19:19 - Devo starting the 2nd half after only playing 3 minutes with foul trouble in the first half. He gets fouled on his way to the hoop and is at the line… misses both, that’s a problem.

18:43 - And Devo throws his weight into a defender, picks up an easy player-control foul call, and he’s back on the bench with 3.

17:00 - Keely with some tough defense against Marshall… Then he finds a way to break him down on offense too, nice couple of possessions from Keely there. More Cooper, now getting to the line and hitting both. OU up 42-41.

15:36 - Keely tries to draw a player-control foul (he’s no Tommy Freeman) and now he’s got 3 too. Two Ohio big men in foul trouble now. OU leads 44-41.

13:46 - Conyers trapped on the baseline, great find of a wide open Roberts in the opposite corner, who can’t connect for 3. OU leads 44-43.

12:52 - Conyers with 3 fouls now, that’s big. He’s staying out there.

11:43 - OU with some excellent ball movement between Bassett-Freeman, leading to a Devo leaning layup. The refs are letting a lot of stuff go without blowing their whistles and I like it… Let’s figure this out on the floor, not at the line.

11:02 - 47-46 OU, something tells me this game is going to be one of those “MAC classic” highlights that they show each game on the video screen.

10:19 - Devo with a dumb foul on C McKnight as he pulls up for a 10 footer. Don’t foul a jumpshooter, don’t commit your 4th foul like that either… Akron up 1 after McKnight hits both. Cooper trapped just inside the timeline and OU takes a 30.

9:52 - Bassett hits a 3 in Hitchens’ eye. Chris McKnight tips in a miss, and we’re tied at 50.

8:32 - Roberts nails an open 3, Zips up 1… Bassett given a lane, takes it to the hoop, draws contact from Marshall… AND-1… short arms the FT 54-53 OU.

7:10 - These teams just keep trading punches. Great, great game. Akron up 57-56, Bassett going to the line for a 1-1 opprotunity when we come back.

He splits ‘em.

5:31 - Cooper and McNees trade missed layups… Bassett is FANTASTIC finishing on the break and he draws Conyers’ 4th… He and Devo playing with 4 right now.

3:59 - 63-59 OU leads. Frenzied pace in this one. Absolutely fantastic game in case I haven’t said that 100 times already.

2:37 - Cvetinovich inches away from getting T’d up, before Steve McNees knocked him away from the ref. KVK with two GIANT pressure packed FTs, OU up 65-61 and the OU crowd explodes. This place is getting loud, fantastic atmosphere right now.

2:04 - 65-61, Bassett gets tied up and Groce calls for a 30. Akron desperately needs a stop here (and if they get one watch for Chris McKnight, he’s a killer in these types of situations.)

1:56 - Bassett pulls up, fouled… He and the Akron section thought it was a clean block. Bassett splits OU up 5.

1:33 - Roberts gets through 3 defenders with a scoop layup.

1:09 - Ohio turnover. Akron wants a timeout down 3 at 66-63.

0:19 - Bassett loses his footing and the ball, Chris McKnight on a runout, blocked by Devo, or is it a foul, or was it called out of bounds? Nobody knows! Akron ball… down 1 66-65 Ohio. 19.4 seconds left.

0:15 - OU defense, deflection down low off an Akron player, they’ve got the ball back here comes the press…… DJ Cooper throws away the inbounds pass and Akron’s going to take it back! !!!!!

0:13 - KVK knocks away the inbounds! Bassett gets it, fouled… HITS BOTH. Up 3. MCNEES HITS A 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0:06 - TIE GAME, OHIO TIMEOUT. PANDEMONIUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OU with a bad possession really, but at least they got it in and Cooper got a 1-handed chance from 18-feet. OU and Akron always play overtime games, and the MAC Championship game won’t be an exception.

3:31 - Both teams trade baskets then Cooper with a giant 3… Marshall going to the line.

3:00 - Washington has come dangerously close to picking up his 5th a couple of times, at the line now… hits them both OU up 3.

2:23 - DJ Cooper with a block, don’t see that one much from the shortest guy on the court.

0:24 - After Bassett banks one in from 12, B McKnight misses an open 3, and Cooper’s going to the line.

Cooper hits them both, OU takes a 30. Ohio up 79-75… Does Akron have another miracle finish in them? They’ve needed them in the quarters, semis, and once already tonight.

Akron misses, Cooper throws it out to Bassett who’s all alone…. DUNK… 2 seconds left, OU fans and bench going crazy. This one’s over! OU wins 81-75!

“There are three constants in life, death, taxed and Ohio vs Miami in the MAC Tournament,” a wise man once said, and while it may not be an exact every year match-up, it sure feels that way. The Ohio Bobcats and Miami RedHawks will meet in the MAC Tournament in Cleveland once again, for the 7th time in 10 years, for the latest chapter in this storied rivalry.

The 2010 MAC Basketball Tournament continues with the second semifinal game on Friday night featuring the #4 seed Miami RedHawks (14-17) facing the #9 seed Ohio Bobcats (19-14). Miami topped Buffalo in the nightcap on Thursday as they fought off the Bulls’ charge for a 73-59 win. The RedHawks went 9-7 in MAC play this season. The Bobcats scored the most surprising, and the most lopsided, win of the Quarterfinals defeating 2010 NCAA Tournament bubble team Kent State by a score of 81-64. Despite a 7-9 MAC record, the young Bobcats have bounced back nicely from their 0-4 start in MAC play.

The live blog of Ohio vs Miami will begin tonight just before tipoff at about 9:30 pm ET. In addition, check out the live Twitter updates of the 2010 MAC Tournament provided by VanDelay Sports and all of the MAC Tournament tagged updates on Twitter.

So what did we learn on these two teams yesterday…

Armon Bassett was the story for OU. He showed up in a big way for the Bobcats with 38 points. Gotta wonder if he has anything close to that in him tonight. Devon Washington was the other major guy for the Bobcats with 19 points and 8 rebounds. The Bobcats were up on Kent by 16 at one point. The Golden Flashes closed it to 3 on a couple of occasions in the 2nd half, but couldn’t get it any closer than that.

Miami came out against Buffalo pretty well, immediately opening a seemingly insurmountable lead. As we saw in all the games yesterday though, the MAC has disparity this season, and once the RedHawks went cold from the field Buffalo was able to cut it to 2, but couldn’t get any closer, letting Miami pull away in the final few minutes.

I’m watching the guards in this one. DJ Cooper has been fantastic all season, but was quiet with foul trouble last night. It’ll be interesting to see if Armon Bassett can have a game even remotely on the same level as he did last night. On the other side I think Kenny Hayes is key for Miami. The RedHawks, per usual have a spread scoring attack, but guards who can dribble-penetrate can give the Bobcats trouble, and I look for Hayes to have a big game.

Like last night, tempo could be key in this one. OU forced Kent to play at an upspeed tempo out of the gates  which isn’t their style. Miami is a classic slow-it-down team, who will try to dictate the pace. Ohio can struggle scoring in the half court and needs to run to give itself good scoring opportunities.

20:00 - After his big game yesterday Devo is starting, he wins the tip and hits a quick uncontested layup. That’ll work.

18:59 - What’d I say? Kenny Hayes right to the hoop for a layup.

17:30 - Tommy Freeman draws back to back charges… beautiful defense.

17:12 - 5-2 OU leads early. A little press from OU, giving Miami trouble… And another MU player control foul. About 4 Bobcats took that one, not sure if Freeman gets credit or not.

14:46 - 8-2 OU, and they’ve had a couple of good looks that they couldn’t get to fall. Miami not executing well on offense early… 3 player control fouls in 3 consecutive possessions will do that to you though.

13:37 - There’s your 4th player control foul, this time KVK draws it… This can’t be an accident, OU had to see something on film, right?

11:50 - 5th player control foul. OU leads 12-2, though when you can’t shoot because you commit a control foul everytime down the floor I think that’s what happens.

8:35 - OU suddenly looking really flat on offense, 3 straight possessions with bad shots.

7:33 - Miami hammers Bassett on a 3-pt attempt and there’s no call… err, there is about 3 beats later than usual. Strange. Both fanbases are upset. OU leads 12-7. Van Kempen 1-5 for Ohio, his value is not in his shooting, probably shouldn’t be taking anymore three’s this game. Miami’s D has started to look good, really pestering OU in their halfcourt sets and giving them some major issues finding any good shots. This one could be a war.

5:39 - 14-7 OU… Ohio having a lot of trouble figuring out Miami’s defense in the halfcourt. They need to find Freeman some shots, which of course is a little tough when he’s on the bench. Definitely playing a Miami-paced game right now.

4:49 - Miami can’t buy a bucket in close on 2 or 3 chances. Brutal.

3:39 - Miami with 7 turnovers, OU with none… Neither team shooting better than 30%, that’s your difference. OU leads 17-7 and Bassett keeps finding ways to get to the line. He’ll be back there when we return.

3:24 - Ou presses off the made FT, steal, layup, wave it off, OU now with a player control foul.

2:12 - Look at that time, now the score of 21-9… Miami’s fingerprints all over this.

0:30 - Miami 3, Bassett can’t answer. Baltic steal, and OU will hold for the last shot. And a travel by Baltic gives Miami the ball with 7 seconds.

A microcosm of the first half, Miami misses an open 3 and we’ll go to the half 21-12. You read that right… TWENTY-ONE TO TWELVE.

Halftime - The difference here is that OU has gotten to the line, OU has won the turnover battle and neither team has shot worth a lick from the field. Weird game so far, second half should be interesting.

17:37 - 24-14 as Bassett hits a 3. Tommy Freeman got a couple of shots there, but couldn’t get them to fall. Charlie Coles not liking what he’s seeing immediately and takes a quick timeout.

And Nick “Vandelay” with his yearly rant on the size of the sticks that the drummer uses (he thinks they should be bigger, and posits that today’s drummers haven’t watched enough Megadeath.) Nice to have all the yearly rants out of the way.

15:52 - KVK excellent job chasing down a rebound, for my money he wants it more than anyone on the Bobcats team, he’s all about effort. 26-16 OU as Cooper drives into trouble, jumps without anywhere to go, and luckily bounces it out of bounds off a Miami player.

15:14 - Miami offensive rebounding keeping them in it. They have 8 offensive boards to OU’s 15 total. 9 of their 16 points are of the 2nd chance variety.

14:40 - 27-16, Ohio… Neither team shooting really well still, it’s anybody’s ball game, though OU controls.

13:36 - Devo with an 18 footer, Hayes answers with a 3… Most scoring we’ve seen in 1 minute all game.

12:41 - DJ Cooper gets to the hoop, can’t finish, Devo follows. 31-19 OU.

12:11 - Washington blocks a Winbush putback attempt. DJ Cooper with a no look pass, Devo with a reverse dunk… Crowd goes wild.

12:03 - Baltic with pressure on the inbounds and Miami has to take a TO because they can’t inbound it. Miami’s on the ropes here. They need a bucket. And Ballard gets it with a 3. OU leads 33-22.

10:32 - Bassett only shooting 3-9 but he’s getting to the line and has 16 points. Devo coming up big with 13 points on 6-8 shooting with 4 boards and a block.

10:12 - Hayes makes 2 at the line, but now Winbush sends Bassett back to the line which has been his favorite spot in Cleveland the past two days.

9:46 - And Bassett back to the line. 35-24 OU leads… Bassett makes both, 37 for OU now.

8:49 - KVK with an excellent pick, Bassett buries the open 18 footer… that should count as an assist really.

7:06 - 41-26 OU taking control… a couple of pretty offensive sequences from OU, Cooper with a dish to KVK who put in a simple lay-in last time down.

6:30 - Off a Miami miss, Cooper finds Devo, who goes through a defender to finish a 2-handed dunk and a foul! He’s had some ridiculous dunks over the past two days.

5:31 - OU with an offensive board. Sets the offensive back up, finds KVK for an open 18-footer… swich. Up 20, you can sticka fork in Miami at this point.

3:53 - Soderberg with back to back 3’s cuts the OU lead from 20 to 14. OU still leads 46-32, file this in the “too little too late” department.

2:02 - Miami with a couple of good possessions and they’ve cut it to 10 points… did I speak too soon on the too little too late quip? Groce wants a timeout. OU needs to work their offense again and stop worrying about the clock. Once they went up 20 they started running slowdown and it’s cost them.

1:30 - Cooper misses the front end… recipe for disaster continues… Kenny Hayes steps on the sideline, nice D by Bassett, he’s been doing everything the past 2 days.

1:03 - OU 48-38, OU with a timeout, Miami running out of time, it would take something remarkable from here.

Bassett misses the front-end… Poor FT shooting keeping Miami with one last gasp. Fletcher with a quick lay-in and it’s an 8 point game with 43 seconds left.

:43 - Bassett makes both and up 10 the Bobcats should have them here… Fletcher lays one in, back to 8 with 31 seconds left.

:28 - The Ozone just called this one, with the winning team losing team chant.

:22 - Miami not done fouling though.

Nick “VanDelay” predicting an Ohio win over Akron tomorrow… adamantly. I’m less confident, should be a fun game though.

Ohio wins 54-42. See you tomorrow.

The 2010 MAC Basketball Tournament continues on Friday with the first game of the night featuring the #2 seed Akron Zips (23-9) facing the #7 seed Western Michigan Broncos (18-14). Akron needed double overtime to get past #6 Eastern Michigan in the Quarterfinals by a score of 97-89 on Thursday and was 12-4 this season in MAC play. Western Michigan topped arch-rival #2 Central Michigan 69-60 in the quarterfinal opener of the 2010 MAC Tournament on Thursday. These two teams hooked up once this year with Akron scoring a 79-70 victory on WMU’s home court in Kalamazoo.

The live blog of Akron vs WMU will begin tonight just before tipoff at 7 pm ET. In addition, check out the live Twitter updates of the 2010 MAC Tournament provided by VanDelay Sports and all of the MAC Tournament tagged updates on Twitter.

With about 10 minutes until tipoff let’s take a quick look back at what we saw yesterday with these two teams… Akron had a 14 point lead in the 2nd half that they let slip away before closing things out against EMU in Double OT. Alternatively, Western Michigan closed a 14-point second half defecit to beat #2 seed Central Michigan and move on.

Akron had trouble containing Eastern Michigan point guard Carlos Medlock, who went off to the tune of 42 points. In the Western Michigan comeback, WMU guard and MAC POTY David Kool carried his team in the 2nd half with 26 points. While both guys got to the line a lot, Medlock did his damage with jumpers while Kool continuously beat his man to the hoop. Hitchens, Roberts, and McNees will all be charged with slowing him down tonight.

Speaking of McNees, talking about exercising the ghosts of Pennos past. With 6 seconds left yesterday in the first OT, down 3, McNees drove the length of the court, zig-zagged, stepped back, and nailed a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left to tie the game back up and save the Akron season. Remember, Akron had a lot of trouble last season with Toledo in their opener, and pulled out a similar miracle win before winning their first MAC tournament. Should be interesting to see if they can put on a similar display this year. With favorite Kent now sitting at home, and after surviving yesterday’s scare, you’ve gotta feel like the Zips think this is now their tournament to lose.

15:54 - Akron up 8-2 early behind some sloppy WMU offense. The Broncos have been attempting to make the extra pass inside, but have been having trouble handling that extra pass cleanly. 3 turnovers later WMU has only gotten up 3 shots so far.

15:28 - Akron trying to work the mismatch, working it to Zeke a lot early. He has a bucket, but also 2 turnovers.

12:03 - 15-10 Akron, the Broncos are finally getting some shots up, but they haven’t been able to slow the Zips on offense yet. Look up spread scoring attack in the dictionary and there’s a picture of Akron. 7 guys have scored, nobody more than 3. Can’t key on one guy that way. No surprise on the other end, Kool is who makes the Broncos go. He has 6 of their 10. We’re only 8 minutes in, but it looks like WMU will need a superhuman effort from Kool tonight. WMU 3-9 shooting, Akron 6-12 shooting so far. 5 of Akron’s misses are on 3 balls.

10:47 - And there’s an intentional foul on WMU’s David Brown, who knocks Humpty Hitchens to the floor. Didn’t look super-malicious, but you never like to see that.

9:40 - Don’t make Hitchens made, he knocks down a 3, and Hawkins has to use a TO, Akron up 24-10.

9:20 - WMU with the and-1? No… wave it off, player control. The Broncos just look overmatched so far in this one.

7:39 - 28-14, WMU finally ends the run, but they’re going to need to do more to get back into this. WMU only shooting 39% to Akron’s 61%, but the big problem is turnovers, 8 already for the Broncos, leading to 13 Akron points.

6:55 - You cannot give a team shooting 60+% 2nd and 3rd chances. Western finally gets a board, takes it to the other end and score. Western fans sense momentum and get loud.

5:14 - Hey, some defense on Akron’s shooters and then someone not named Kool doing something on offense for WMU. Suddenly we’ve got a 5 point game and Dambrot needs a timeout.

4:20 - Dorky media row moment… We notice that Akron once led by 14 and all get excited since that was the large lead that got erased in both team’s games last night.

3:13 - Western absolutely has to play better defense. Way too many clean looks for Akron in this one. 35-26.

1:10 - Western fans not thrilled with the 8-3 foul differential. Though I will say fans never, ever, ever like player-control/blocking calls.

Halftime - Heckuva play by Jimmy Conyers. With time running out, Hitchens pulls up for 30 footer, airballs it, WMU doesn’t close out on the boards, Conyers slips behind everyone, catches the ball and in an up-and-under move lays it up and in for two a split second before the buzzer sounds. Excellent awareness by Conyers, laziness by Western Michigan defenders. Akron is up 40-31 at the half. Western made a game of it, but they can’t make it so easy for the Zips to score. Akron shooting 47% on 15-32 shooting. Western is only shooting 46%, but worse has only gotten up 24 shots.

18:44 - 43-34 - Lawson splits a pair… must capitalize from the line.

18:10 - Broncos hanging in 43-36. Kool already has 18 points.

17:16 - Ugly no call… Whitfield backs his man down, gets to about 5 feet in gets hacked on the elbow so bad that he airballs and there’s no call. WMU fans are incensed, but to be fair, it’s the first time that I’ve agreed with them that he refs are jobbing them.

15:30 - WMU giving up more 2nd and 3rd chances. Kool answers with another 3. Still a 9 point game, 49-41. If I’m Dambrot I’m getting someone other than McNees on Kool.

14:29 - Here comes the David Kool show on offense, he gets to the line and cuts it to 7… WMU getting out played, but hanging around… This is where teams are dangerous. Especially when Akron struggles from the line as they tend to do in tight games.

12:52 - Kool with a 3, cuts it to 5. He’s got 26.

12:15 - Cvetinovic travels, Hutchenson 3! 2 point game. Akron looking tense, WMU with momentum.

11:45 - Lawson fouled in the post… not sure if they called that shooting or if it’s 1-and-1, but regardless Lawson at the line with a chance to tie it here.

Misses the front-end. Ouch.

Chris McKnight doesn’t miss when he’s wide open from 3, and he proves it there. Could have been tied, instead WMU down 5.

WMU’s offense reminds me of the Cavs 4th Quarter offense, sub Kool for LeBron and there you have it.

9:48 - Zips still by 5.

9:30 - Akron turnover, Kool hits another 3. He’s been amazing this game.

7:45 - Kool, stepback off the dribble 3 from the corner… Nylon… Tied game. Just an amazing shot. Ridiculous. 54-54.

You know what I love about Steve Hawkins, he knows that Kool is his best player and he finds a million ways to get him the ball. Too often you see the best player on a team wasted and not getting his touches, not on this team.

Akron goes to the line, up 2. Conyers working really hard to deny Kool the ball.

But fouls him in a scrum for the ball and Kool hits 2 freebies. Tied at 56.

5:53 - Conyers cutting right through the WMU D and getting to the hoop, can’t finish twice though. 56-56 still. WMU ball and they take a 30.

5:05 - Kool barrels to the hoop, somehow gets the ball in from under the 7-footer. 58-56 WMU. Conyers going to the line at the other end.

4:51 - Props to Nick “VanDelay” who called the WMU comeback when they were down 9 with about 16 minutes left in the second half. He didn’t like the way that Akron looked, and thought WMU would close in and could win it.Tied again at 58.

3:38 - 2 straight possessions that Zeke has been on Kool. Kool having some trouble with it… I like the “try anything on him” mentality from Dambrot here. Still tied at 58. McKnight hits 1 as we come back and that’s the lead… but WMU knocks it out and AK getting it back, not good. And on the free posession WMU holds tough… Kool scores on a dealyed shot. Steal. Kool spinning to the hoop… fouled, going to the line up 1.

2:38 - Kool’s not missing from the line. WMU up 62-59

2:33 - Dambrot wants to talk it over. I’ve been saying it all half, Akron looks tight. They need some ball movement and an open shooter here. I’d be drawing something up for Chris McKnight here…

1:56 - B McKnight a terrible brick, Hitchens airballs the putback and Western gets it, but Kool turns it over and B McKnight jams it at the other end. 62-61 WMU.

1:24 - McLemore almost gets tied up, regains control and lays it in, excellent move from someone not named Kool for WMU. WMU up 3, AK with ball.

1:02 - Chris McKnight open 3… BUCKETS… Tied at 64. He’s the most dangerous player on the court for Akron in my opinion and doesn’t see the ball nearly enough.

:30 - Kool turns it over… uh oh. Zips take a time out with a 7 second game/shot clock differential. Broncos need to D up like they’ve never D’d up before here.

Akron wins.

McNees looks like he’s going to pull up, beats his man, gets all the way to the hoop… can’t finish. Chris McKnight, rebound… putback. WMU has 6 seconds, inbound to Kool (obvioulsy) who dribbles down court, steps on the 3 point line and misses the final shot. Wow, that was exciting. Total bummer for Kool, who had an amazing game with 39 points.

Hilariously, the PA announcer tells us that Chris McKnight is the player of the game… Must the player of the game come from the winning team in all circumstances? At this point I’m considering voting Kool for Player of the Tournament…

The 2010 MAC Basketball Tournament wraps up and exciting day of games with #4 Miami facing #5 Buffalo. Buffalo crushed #12 Toledo on Sunday to advance to the Quarterfinals while Miami had the 1st round bye. The two teams split the regular season with the home teams winning both games making this a true rubber match.

16:59 - Not a lot going on early… 3-0 Buffalo. Will be interesting to see who’s pace wins out as UB likes to play fast and Miami likes to play slow.

15:40 - Miami’s pace winning out early. 4-3 Redhawks lead. It feels like the air (and the fans) have been sucked out of this building to an extent… not to say this won’t be a good game, it’s just a bit of an adjustment after the frantic pace in the second half of OU/Kent.

14:03 - Miami up 13-3 early. 2 terrible FT attempts from Alston for Buffalo… barely drew iron both times.

13:24 - Haddix hits a 3 AND 1! Miami killing it early on, up 17-5.

10:33 - Miami up 20-9, with the scoring spread among just Haddix, Hayes and Winbush.

9:28 - 22-9, more of the same… UB looking really, really rusty from the field.

6:29 - Miami is up 27-11. Buffalo isn’t just missing, but missing badly. Very badly. I’m bored. 29-11.

3:53 - 29-14… UB shooting so poorly that they just banked one of the glass from the wing for 3, and it banked in.

1:37 - Buffalo coming alive, they’re only down 9 now… 30-21.

0:55 - And now UB forces a turnover, clanks a 3, but gets the board and calls a timeout.

Halftime - Miami’s up 11 points at the half. Buffalo only shooting 31% while Miami is shooting 56%, including 5-7 from 3. Rodney Pierce shooting only 2-8, Bulls need that stat to improve.

16:51 - Miami up 14… 39-25.

15:44 - Miami up 41-29. It’s T-shirt time for the hundreds of fans who stuck around for this one (ok, there are more people than that, but it really has cleared out after most of the OU/Kent fans hit the road.)

14:21 - Here comes the UB run - they cut it to 41-34 and trap Kenny Hayes into a 5 second call.

13:08 - Kenny Hayes with a 3, back to 10… Pierce answers with a scoop shot that somehow falls. 8 point Miami lead.

11:34 - 46-38 Miami leads. Buffalo looking like they might make this a game… Also I think Julian Mavunga wins the award for most awesome name that I’ve heard today.

9:36 - Buffalo with a 3, and it’s suddenly 48-43 Miami. If UB played a little defense here (Miami shooting well over 60% this half) this could be a game.

8:05 - Smiley another 3, 52-48… Kenny Hayes forces a shot, Winbush with the board and putback from about 10 feet out. 54-48 and we’re at the media timeout.

6:43 - Buffalo with another 3, 54-51 Miami… RedHawks still over 60%.

5:43 - Boyer misses a 3, but UB rebounds… Smiley with another 3. 2 point game, Charlie wants a TO. UB 9 offensive boards to Miami’s 1. 11-2 difference in 2nd chance points.

3:49 - Miami up 4, UB getting the ball back after drawing a player control foul.

3:02 - 61-54 Miami looks lost on offense, regathers and gets an AND-1. It’s still in reach, but Buffalo not doing themselves any favors…

2:38 - Calvin Betts lays it in and the foul… could cut it to 4 again here.

Swish. 4 point game. Timeout UB.

2:12 - Never foul a jumpshooter… Hayes took an off balanced jumper but Pierce fouled him. Hayes hits both, 6 point lead… Hayes with a huge steal, now he’s back at the line.

1:18 - After Hayes hits two, Buffalo misses and Hayes gets the rebound… and is fouled. RedHawks putting this one away. Up 67-57.

:45 - Miami up 68 - 59, Kenny Hayes got in trouble and had to take a TO. Charlie Coles NOT happy at the refs for about 5 spots where he thought UB was trying to foul and it wasn’t called there.

Thazzit. Miami wins 73-59. OU vs Miami for the 7th time in the past 10 years tomorrow.

The 2010 Mid-American Conference Tournament continues with #1 seed Kent State facing #9 seed Ohio. Kent State has one of the most impressive bubble resumes out there at 23-8 overall and 13-3 in MAC play while Ohio is 18-14 and went 7-9 in the MAC. Kent State took both meetings over the Bobcats in 2010.

1st thought… Thank God, OU brought their band this year.

Ok, real thoughts. OU needs to turn the pace up to have a good chance in this one. Kent plays good defense and OU should have trouble executing in the half court. If I’m Groce, I play a lot of press in this one to try to get Kent out of their tempo. Kent’s the 1 seed, Kent won the regular season, Vegas has Kent favored by 5 points… Kent should win.

16:53 - 3-2 OU with lots of missed shots early. Tommy Freeman hit a 3, OU has to look to get him the ball more, he’s been unconcious lately.

14:28 - Tied at 8. DJ Cooper in early foul trouble with 2 already for the cats. He’s been averaging in the high 30 minutes late this season. OU already with 5 TO’s Kent with none, when the Flashes start hitting shots, it’s trouble.

13:57 - Still tied at 8. OU turning up the defensive pressure a little like I theorized pregame.

12:05 - Freeman for 3, Bassett for 3. OU’s pressure gets to Kent who turns it over. Bobcats up 14-10.

11:45 - Bassett with a nice 14 footer, OU’s up 16-10 and as the crowd turns up the noise Kent takes a timeout… Looking like Bassett’s really trying to take control of the offense with DJ Cooper on the bench with 2 fouls.

11:35 - Kent now 0-5 at the line.

10:18 - Armon Bassett playing great OU up 23-12 as KVK makes one from just inside the 3pt line. Everything’s falling for the Cats right now.

9:00 - Ohio up 23-14, but not doing themselves any favors with a 6-1 foul differential.

6:59 - Ohio up 25-15… OU fans with a giant mock cheer as Kent is called for a foul on the floor. Now a 7-2 foul differential… Kent better hope the refs don’t close that up. It’s been the Armon Bassett show here so far, he’s 5-7 shooting with 13 points and a couple of assists while Cooper’s been on the bench with two fouls most of the half. For Kent, Singletary has 10 points, but he’s only 2-7 at the line.

5:26 - Devon Washington with a SportsCenter highlight of a dunk. OU fans are going crazy behind us as the Bobcats lead 32-15.

5:15 - Geno takes a TO, and OU commits yet another foul on the other end. 2 problems I can see for the Bobcats on the horizon, 1 if they get into much more foul trouble, they don’t have a deep bench. 2, eventually they’re going to start missing some shots.

4:37 - Singletary with his second foul after Freeman misses an open 3… OU 32-17.

3:59 - OU just looks faster and like they want it more at this point. Kent needs to get to the locker room and try to cut this to 10…. and as we come back from Groce’s TO Devo lays one in. OU by 14.

2:13 - We finally get the last media timeout of the half as Aswon Sayles commits a foul on the floor. OU’s up 36-22, as some Kent fan doesn’t know that Trevor Huffman won player of the tournament in 2001 and 2002.

2:02 - Story of the half, OU shooting 56% Kent only shooting 28%.

:42 - Tommy Freeman ties up the player in the post twice in a row on consecutive possessions… Good D. OU 38-24.

Halftime - OU up 40-24. Bobcats look really good and Kent looks really not so far in this one. Excitement as Freeman heaves one from three-quarters court and juuuust misses as the half runs out. Kent has to hope the half cools off the Cats and that they can collect themselves in the locker room.

Stats have arrived… Kent shot 25% on the half, 1-10 from 3, 7-13 at the line. You’ve gotta think those stats improve. We’ll see if the Bobcats can weather the first 5 minutes of this half, that should tell us a lot.

DJ Cooper played 3 minutes with foul trouble. Bassett 6-9 shooting, 18 points, 2 boards, 5 assists. He’s been the story in this one.

17:59 - The Kent parade to the foul line continues, they’re still missing though, 2-4 this half.

17:03 - Kent cutting into the 16 pt deficit… as I say that Devo with a steal, runout, windmill jam. Sportscenter. He’s had 2 tonight that could be on there. OU could have put it back to 16 on a Freeman missed 3, Kent gets to the hoop and it’s an 11 point game.

15:54 - 46-35 OU leads. Kent’s cutting into it, their shooting has been much improved this half (much improved on 25% so take that for what it’s worth). OU will have ball when we get back from break.

14:42 - Kent cuts it to 9, OU getting sloopy and looking confused on offense. Kent had an open 14-footer to cut it to 7 but missed.

14:09 - Bassett can’t finish a pretty take. Greene nails 2 at the line, he’s killing the Cats on the boards with 9 of Kent’s 21.

13:17 - Chris Singletary commits his 4th foul, 48-39 OU leads with the ball.

12:32 - Holt with a 3, 6 point game. Bassett tries to answer, not good. Kent gets it inside, but can’t finish. Bodies on the floor at the OU end, no call.

11:46 - Kent puts it in on a runout, 4 point game. Now the Kent fans (finally) are getting into it and Groce needs a timeout. After scoring 40 points in the first half, the Bobcats have only managed 8 in the first 8 minutes of this one, looking more like the normal Kent defense out there now.

11:15 - Keely draws a foul on his move to the hoop and we get our media TO. Still a 4 point game. Bobcats need a score on this possession, they’re reeling. So much for my Tommy Freeman needs to shoot more rant… 2-8 so far.

10:20 - Kent putting Keely on the line, it’s a good strategy as he’s split 2 sets in about the last minute. Bobcats still by 4.

9:16 - Bassett hits a pair at the line, gets a steal and is now back at the line… Hits another pair, 54-46 OU.

8:58 - Cooper pokes it free, Bassett to Cooper, back to Bassett on the break… Layup… AND 1. OU crowd loves it, Bobcats with 10 and Bassett going to the line where he’s currently 7-7 (I think those stats are old)

SWISH

8:24 - Kent makes a layup and Bassett’s about to go to the line again after a foul. Singletary accidentally knocks Bassett down after the foul, the OU section doesn’t like it, but it was an obvious accident.

6:55 - 62-50 OU’s offense has come back as we head to a timeout on the floor. Armon Bassett still coming up absolutely huge in this one… 8-14 from the field, 12-12 at the line for 32 points… he has 5 assists too.

In the second half OU shooting 39% to Kent’s 50%, the difference is at the line where OU has gotten 11 free points to Kent’s 4.

5:46 - Kent shooting terribly from the FT stripe. OU up 11.

4:41 - KVK takes a charge…nope, refs call it a block… and 1. That’s the 3rd charge in a row that they’ve called a block. Not good. 6 point game again.

4:17 - Bassett with a take to the hoop, can’t finish, Devo fouled on the follow. Cats up 8 after he hits both.

3:59 - OU up 68-60 and getting the ball back after a Kent travel. If OU holds on, you’ve gotta hope Miami wins at 9… OU and Miami playing in Cleveland is right up there with death and taxes.

Kent likely has one more run left in them. OU needs to close out on the shooters, and avoid dry spells at the offensive end.

3:31 - If I were Kent I wouldn’t put Armon Bassett at the line any more… he’s 14 of 14.

2:49 - Singletary fouls out and the OU fans LOVE it… They have some history… Bassett going back to the line up 10. Makes ‘em both.

1:49 - Not seeing the imminent Kent run. OU up 12 with the ball. It’s looking like they’ve put this one away.

OU 81 - Kent 64. Great effort from the Bobcats tonight. Kent tested them and cut it to 4 a couple of times in the 2nd half, but Ohio stayed tough and closed this one out. Armon Bassett with a ridiculous game. 38 points, 7 assists, perfect on 16 from the FT line. I said it on Twitter, but Ohio vs Miami in Cleveland is a little like death, taxes. Gotta pull for Miami over Buffallo tonight just for tradition’s sake.

After an entertaining game that went into double OT the Akron Zips defeated the Eastern Michigan Eagles in the quarterfinals of the 2010 MAC Tournament. EMU head coach Charles Ramsey was ejected in the 2nd OT after picking up his 2nd technical foul as the game featured 56 fouls in 50 minutes of play. A total of 6 player fouled out of the game with 4 others finishing with 4 fouls.

Akron is up first in the postgame press conference - McNeese (18 pts, 4-4 3pters) and Marshall (13 pts, 9 reb) join Dambrot at the press conference. McNeese “I knew I had to get it up as quick as I could” in regards to the game-tying 3-ball to force double OT. Both Dambrot and McNeese said the game reminded them of last year’s Toledo game in the MAC Tournament.

Marshall tells Dambrot “good luck” for the remainder of the press conference. “We didn’t play very smart” said Dambrot in regards to his team’s play. “We’ll play better,” stated Dambrot about playing again tomorrow after a double OT game after a question from Nick Gerogosian of VanDelay Sports. Elton Alexander, in an attempt to create drama, asks about a Humpty Hitchens issue with Dambrot during the game. Dambrot said there was nothing to it and he did not remember anything of the sort. “We’re out there just playing at the park almost” said Dambrot in regards to having 4 guys fouled out and a limited roster available.

Eastern Michigan is second in the postgame press conference - Medlock on carrying his team “I just tried to do what I could to help the team.” Ramsey remains after the players leave. On his technical fouls “Which one?” On his two technicals “The officials, that was their subjective call and I’m still trying to figure that out.” He later stated that he “deserved” the second technical. “I couldn’t be prouder” stated Ramsey in regards to his team battling back from down 14 in the second half. On the McNeese 3-ball to force double OT, “the kid hit a terrific shot…what can you say?” A question tries to imply that Ramsy “took a jab” at MAC officiating, Ramsey is quick to straighten him out.

The 2010 MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament is about to get underway as press row is filling up and the fans are trickling in. Unfortunately for those who follow attendance numbers at this event, we have two Michigan teams without much hype around either in the afternoon session with is classic for being sparsely attended.

#2 seed Central Michigan comes in at 9-7 in MAC play as the West Division winners and 15-14 overall while their opponent in this 12 noon MAC Tournament Quarterfinal game is #7 seed Western Michigan. The Broncos finished the season 8-8 in MAC play and 17-14 overall. These two teams split their regular season games with the home teams winning both times making this a true rubber match.

Action will begin in about 40 minutes when we will return for complete coverage. Also be sure to follow VanDelay Sports on Twitter for additional updates and comments on the 2010 MAC Tournament.

Game Time - Central Michigan vs Western Michigan

Our officials for the first quarterfinal match-up are Terry Wymer, D.J. Carstensen, and Lamar Simpson. The teams are huddled up and we’re about to tip off.

WMU controls the tip off. David Kool is cold shooting early missing two shots in the first minute and a half.

We have a break in the action thanks to another foul call with CMU up 7-5. In 4:14 of play we have 7 fouls called already… It’s gonna be a long day if this keeps up.

WMU cuts it to 11-7 then forces a CMU turnover @ 13:16 left. CMU foul late on the shot clock - first foul in over 2 minutes (thank goodness) followed by two more WMU bricks and a CMU foul on the rebound.

11:16 remaining - David Brown about to head to the line to complete a 3-point play with WMU down 15-9. 11 fould called in less than 9 minutes thus far…

David Brown 3-ball makes it 15-13 and CMU answers with a bucket. WMU scores again and we have 17-15 at the TV time out.

WMU ties the game at 17-17 before a 6-0 run by CMU. Traveling on WMU gives CMU the ball back up 23-17 with 5:42 remaining. Traveling on CMU’s Spica followed by another WMU brick. Spica passes out to the corner to Rashid who drills the 3-ball and it’s 26-17 CMU on a 9-0 run with 4:24 til halftime.

Just as I thought - the key so far is shooting and rebounding. WMU shooting 31.8% from the field while CMU is 5-9 on 3-point shooting. WMU has a 14-11 rebounding edge but 8 of those on the offensive glass.

Back to the game, CMU hits 1 of 2 FTs for a 27-17 lead. On the other end David Brown drives to the hoop and gets fouled where he misses the first and makes the second - now 27-18.

Kool called for a charge as we are under 2 minutes left in the half. Nice fade-away by Harman puts CMU up 11 at 29-18 before a foul on Bitzer sends Kool to the line for WMU. Kool, the MAC’s leading scorer this season at 20.9 ppg, looking for his first points of the game, nails both FTs. But CMU’s Spica nails a jump hook to make it 31-20.

Two more WMU free throws before a decent press confuses CMU for a moment before they pass out of it. We have a 31-22 score with 45.2 seconds left in the half and CMU has the ball up 9.

CMU brick and they cannot control the rebound. Kool slows things down with 20 seconds left and gives it up, but follows by not handling a passes that hits his left hand and trickles out of bounds. CMU air ball by Bitzer and a half court attempt by WMU ends the half 31-22 #2 Central Michigan leading #7 Western Michigan.

Halftime Stats - WMU shooting 30.4% (7-23) from the field but has a 19-12 rebounding edge with 9 offensive boards. CMU shooting 44% from the field but 5-12 on 3-point shooting.

5-0 start by CMU but WMU 7-1 run since then and it’s 37-29 with 17:14 to play. David Kool has 3 points in the game, all at the line.

Dan Whitmyer of VanDelay Sports is here now and between talking to him on one side and Russ Eisenstein from OU on the other I slowed down. Back to action now!

42-31 CMU leads with 15:07 remaining and CMU adds a FT and WMU gets a bucket. Two more buckets by CMU opens it up at 47-33 with 13:40 remaining.

Kool turning it on with 10 points in the half, 12 for the game. WMU on a 8-1 run down just 48-41 with 11:44 remaining.

Western 8-10 from the field in the 2nd half. Kool fouled on the floor and hits the driving shot and gets fouled to cut the CMU lead to 48-45 with a FT to come. FT good, 48-46. WMU gets ball back and knocked out of bounds by CMU (according to the ref at least).

Bitzer hits 2 FT to extend the CMU lead to 4 but Brown gets a offensive board and put back to cut it back to 2 points. 8:50 remaining and CMU calls a 30-second TO with a 50-48 lead.

Nice feed to Lawson under the hoop where he gets fould. TO on the floor, CMU up 52-48, 7:24 to play.

3-ball by Douglas cuts the CMU lead to 54-52. WMU has been putting in a lot of energy to come back, but cannot seem to get the lead…

2 fouls on CMU in 15 seconds, Kool hits 2 FT to tie the game at 54-54. WMU gets a turnover and has the ball with under 5 min to play. Kool catches it in the lane and fades away…good. 56-54 WMU takes the lead. Kool with 17 of his 19 in the half.

Jump ball call favors WMU - official makes call from behind the action and blows it. Time Out on the floor, 3:44 remaining with WMU up 56-54.

Kool scores off the inbound pass, 58-54 WMU. Foul on CMU on the other end gives WMU the ball with a 4-point lead. Whitfield @ the line hits the first, hits the second, 60-54 WMU.

3:08 left, WMU up 60-56 with FTs becoming more and more important. WMU shooting 83.3% from the line, CMU 57.9% from the line. CMU foul sends Kool to the line.

Down 6 at 64-58 and just 58 seconds left, CMU now fouling. Ward misses both FTs, CMU bricks a 3-ball and Bitzer fouls out with 47 seconds left.

Kool hits 2 FT, CMU fouls on the rebound, WMU heads to the line up 66-60 with 24.2 seconds left.

Final Score - Western Michigan 69 - Central Michigan 60

The 2010 MAC Tournament is underway as the four first round games were played today on campus sites. In the #5 vs #12 seed game the Buffalo Bulls dominated Toledo en route to a 72-54 win. #6 Eastern Michigan survived a fast start from #11 Northern Illinois for a 65-59 win and #7 Western Michigan earned a hard-fought win over #10 Bowling Green, 75-73. Meanwhile the #9 Ohio Bobcats became the lone low seed and visitor to score a victory as they needed overtime to dispatch of #8 Ball State by a score of 85-77.

On Thursday the MAC Tournament games will tip off from Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio with for games. #2 Central Michigan will face rival #7 Western Michigan at 12 noon with #3 Akron facing #6 Eastern Michigan at 2 pm. In the second session #1 Kent State will face #9 Ohio at 7 pm with #4 Miami facing #5 Buffalo at 9 pm ET.

It’s hard to believe it but the 2010 college basketball season is already in the home stretch and conference tournaments are just a few short weeks away. With the 2010 MAC Tournament schedule set to begin the seond week of March, let’s take a look at the MAC and the possible postseason teams in the MAC this season.

It has been another year of mediocrity in the MAC with just 3 teams in the RPI Top 100 and one team, Kent State, in the RPI Top 50 (#50). Thus, the MAC Tournament winner will be the lone MAC team in the 2010 NCAA Tournament as the conference has continued to sink lower to a perennial 1-bid league since the early 2000s. While the winner will see the NCAA Tournament, multiple other MAC teams should see postseason action including Akron and Buffalo.

In the 2010 MAC Tournament race, Kent State and Akron will battle it out for the #1 seed in a race that could come down to the final regular season game on March 5th. Ball State has a 1-game lead on EMU, CMU and WMU in the race for the Western Division title and #2 seed with the Kent/Akron loser taking the #3 seed. For the highly-coveted #4 seed and 1st round MAC Tournament bye that comes with it, 8 MAC teams are within 2 games of each other with Buffalo and Miami controlling their own destiny towards the #4 seed.

After shocking the world of women’s college basketball on Sunday night, the #12 seed Ball State Lady Cardinals are back in action tonight as they face the #4 seed Iowa State Cyclones. After an impressive 71-55 win over #5 Tennessee, Ball State looks to continue the magic and advance to the 2009 Women’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 round. #12 Ball State (26-8) and #4 Iowa State (25-8) will tip-off around 9:30 pm ET tonight in Bowling Green, Kentucky. As always, fans can look to VanDelay Sports for a great selection of Ball State clothing & merchandise and to DFN Sports partner sites for Ball State hats, gear and more!