Mid-American Conference Notebook
by Adam Trumble
Exhibition, exhibition and more exhibition.
The Mid-American Conference men’s basketball season
officially kicks off Friday night when Northern
Illinois takes on Winthrop at the NARC Classic in
Madison, Wisconsin.
All the other teams wind up their exhibition games
this weekend before MAC West favorite Ball State opens
its season at the Top of the World Classic in
Fairbanks, Alaska, on Thursday.
East Division:
Akron Zips (1-0): The Zips opened their season with a
convincing 95-64 win over the Czech Republic Select
team at the JAR Arena. Transfer Johnny Hollingsworth
scored a game-high 22 points while Andy Hipsher scored
20. Hollingsworth, a transfer from Wabash Valley
Junior College, helped the Zips shoot 66.7 percent
from the floor. Akron opens the seasons at Wright
State Saturday.
Buffalo Bulls: The Bulls open their season hosting
Cornell Friday, but didn’t schedule any exhibition
games.
Kent State Golden Flashes (2-0): The defending MAC
regular season and tournament champions opened with an
87-83 exhibition victory over Team Nike. Nov. 7. Five
players scored in double figures for the Flashes with
senior guard Anthony Wilkins, junior center John
Edwards and sophomore forward Nate Gerwig leading the
way with 14 apiece. The Golden Flashes
followed it up with a 82-52 victory over the Czech
Republic Select team.
Marshall Thundering Herd (1-0): Ronald Blackshear
scored 30 points in only 20 minutes and led the
Thundering Herd to a convincing 121-77 win over the
Unibanka of Latvia team. The Thundering Herd will play
its final exhibition game of the season against Branch
West Basketball Saturday before beginning the regular
season Nov. 22 at Niagara
Miami RedHawks (1-0): TheRedHawks opened with a 91-76
victory over Branch West Basketball Academy. Junior
Chet Mason scored 37 points on 14-of-18 (.778) from
the field. Saturday, Miami ends the exhibition season
against Findlay, before opening the regular season at
Purdue Nov. 22.
Ohio Bobcats: The East-favored Bobcats open their
exhibition schedule Saturday with the International
Select team before taking on HP Minnesota in the final
game Nov. 27. The Bobcats open at Providence on Nov.
30.
West Division:
Ball State (1-0): The Cardinals failed to play defense in a 112-105 victory over
Team Nike. Chris Williams scored 30 points and three
other Cardinals added double figures in the win. The
Cardinals end the exhibition season with the dangerous
video game team of EA Sports Saturday.
Bowling Green (1-0): Senior Cory Ryan had 27 points as
Falcons defeated Czech Republic Select squad, 84-67.
Germain Fitch had a double-double, with 11 points and
10 rebounds in the win, while freshman Ronald Lewis
added 11 points. BGSU opens the season at Detroit Nov. 23.
Central Michigan (1-0): J.R. Wallace’s three-pointer
as time expired boosted the Chippewas past Lake
Superior State (86-84). Wallace led CMU with 25
points. CMU hosts Northwood Saturday before opening
with George Mason next Friday.
Eastern Michigan: EMU opens the regular season
at the Marist Pepsi Challenge next weekend.
N. Illinois (1-1): Opening their brand new Convocation
Center the NIU Huskies lost to the Nike Team 93-84.
They rebounded with a 98-66 victory over the NBC
Thunder.
Toledo (2-0): The Rockets opened with a 75-68
exhibition victory over the Czech Republic Select
team. Senior guard Nick Moore led the Rockets’ offense
with 21 points, including five-of-seven from
three-point range. Toledo then finished the exhibition
season with a 60-50 win over Ashland. Moore led the
Rockets with 29 points. Toledo opens the season in the
sunny Virgin Islands Friday against Brigham Young.
Western Michigan (1-0): After a couple of scrimmages
the Broncos defeated NBC Thunder 109-76. Seven
Broncos, including all five starters, finished with
double figures in points. Junior transfer Mike
Williams led the way with 21 points and senior forward
Terrance Slater scored 18 off the bench. The Broncos
play GT Express Sunday before opening their season at
the Sooner Invitational Nov. 22.
