Mid-American Conference Commissioner Rick Chryst concluded after much review that Wednesday night's contest between Miami and Ball State should have gone into overtime instead of ending as a 54-52 Miami victory in regulation.
Chryst said the replay confirmed that the shot had not been released when the clock struck zero. However, the officials in charge of the game were unable to obtain a replay of the shot after consulting with the scorers' table.
Chryst will push for courtside monitors and video replay in every conference game in order to avoid this situation occurring again, he said. The result of the game will stand.
Once, twice, three times an honor for Battle, Rost
The MAC handed down its men's basketball Player of the Week awards yesterday, and for the third time this season and fourth time in their careers, Buffalo's Turner Battle and Western Michigan's Levi Rost were the recipients.
Battle, the East Division winner, averaged 16 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in the Bulls' victories against Rost's Broncos and Ball State. His game-high 18 points against Western Michigan allowed Buffalo to earn its first-ever win in Kalamazoo.
Rost, the West Division winner and the second Bronco in as many weeks to win the honor, averaged 28.5 points and eight rebounds in a week that included a win against Marshall. Rost was shooting the lights out last week, hitting on 60.7 percent of his field goals (including 52.9 percent behind the 3-point arc) and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Baseball's preseason division champions picked
After tabulating the votes of the conference's head coaches, the MAC office named Miami and Central Michigan as the favorites to win their respective divisions this season. Miami was also picked to win the conference tournament.
Kent State, last season's MAC Tournament champion, was picked to finish second in the East behind Miami, and Ohio was picked to finish third.
In the West, Central Michigan is followed by Ball State and Northern Illinois.
While the season started Feb. 11, the conference slate will kick off Friday, March 25 and will culminate with the MAC Tournament to be held at the No. 1 seed's home park May 25-28.
-Jason Fazzone
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Jason Fazzone
