Central Michigan defeated Northern Illinois 87-75 Saturday afternoon, taking sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division and extending its winning streak to six games.
With center Chris Kaman in foul trouble, guard J.R. Wallace led Central Michigan (18-5 overall, 10-3 MAC), scoring a career-high 27 points and hitting seven three-pointers.
Backup forward Adam Dentlinger, who had been averaging one point per game, filled in for Kaman and scored a career-high 14 points and had three rebounds.
Northern Illinois (14-10, 10-4 MAC) led at halftime 38-35 before letting the Chippewas pull away in the second half.
Despite Northern Illinois being the top rebounding team in the MAC, Central Michigan beat the Huskies 28-26 in rebounds. The Chippewas also had impressive passing, recording 26 assists on 28 field goals.
MAC gets bracket busted
The MAC went 0-4 in the inaugural ESPN Bracket Buster last week - an event designed to allow mid-major schools to impress the NCAA selection committee and gain national exposure.
Kent State lost to Hawaii, Bowling Green lost to Illinois-Chicago, Marshall lost to Illinois State and Ball State lost to Western Kentucky
Kent State (18-6,11-4 MAC), which jumped out to a 17-2 start, continued its struggles, losing for the fourth time in five games. The 79-78 loss to Hawaii Saturday at Kent State, however, was the closest game for the MAC in the Bracket Buster.
Hawaii (15-8) had five different players score in double figures: guard Carl English led the way with 22 points; guard Michael Kuebler helped English down the stretch, scoring nine of his 12 points in the final five minutes and 10 seconds of the game; forward Antonio Gates led Kent State with 30 points and seven rebounds; The Golden Flashes almost pulled off an improbable comeback when guards Eric Haut and Matt Jakeway combined for three three-pointers in the last 19 seconds of the game.
Hawaii's win was its first regular season victory in the Eastern Time Zone since defeating Connecticut in 1972.
Preseason golf poll announced
The Toledo men's golf team and the Kent State women's golf team have been pegged as the preseason favorites in the MAC coaches' poll announced last week.
The Toledo men's team received all 10 first-place votes, and the Kent State women's team got nine of the possible 10 first-place votes.
Golfers Brad Heaven, Sean McTeman and David Jones-all of whom finished in top ten last season in the MAC Championship Tournament-will lead defending MAC Champion Toledo.
The Golden Flashes women's team-also the defending conference champs-will return MAC Women's Golfer of the Year Marina Gillen and MAC Freshman of the Year Gabby Wedding.
The Ohio men's team was predicted to finish fifth in the MAC, while the Ohio women's team was picked to finish tied for fourth with Eastern Michigan.
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Joe Barrett
