Previous Evening MAC Review: This Is How You Freely Throw

Northern Illinois 80, Illinois-Chicago 78 — Xavier Silas, guys. How did they pull off this win against UIC? It was all Silas. He scored half of the team's points (40) and made an unthinkable 22-of-23 free throws. That's a 95.6%. That's the type of grade you only got in third grade on a history quiz wherein the teacher gave you a copy of the test the day before for you to practice.

Silas tied the MAC record for most free throws made in a game, matched by BG's Ron Lewis in 2003 and Toledo's Rick Rightnowar in 1992, and set by Toledo's Jim Ray in 1956. XS is suddenly 64 out of 70 on the year (91%). Thanks to his 22-of-23 attempts (five fewer than UIC took, and five more than UIC made), four Flames fouled out including the inimitable Robo Kreps. You saw a special free throw shooting performance if you saw this one live, and you likely just took in the most dominating game by a MAC player this year. Hey, it's early, but the bar has to be initially set somewhere. Northern Illinois' next game: Saturday, 12/18, at Temple

Wright State 53, Central Michigan 49 — Do you enjoy long stretches of time where points aren't scored? Then were you in luck with this one! When the Raiders held a 49-48 lead with 5:59 to play, it looked like the game was very much anyone's. But little did they know that a one-point lead was INSURMOUNTABLE. So that means five more points were accumulated in the final nearly-six minutes of hoops to close out an ugly game.

But there were some exciting moments in the second. Jalin Thomas had a total of 17 points, including 13 straight for the Chippewas in a freaking 3:19-minute span. While scoring nary a point, William McClure snagged 10 rebounds, had two steals, and blocked four shots, going for hustle plays instead of these stylish "point-based portfolios" you read about so much on e-readers. Central Michigan's next game: Saturday, 12/18 vs. Detroit

Today's games:
7:00 p.m. — St. Francis (PA) at OHIO
8:30 p.m. — Akron at Minnesota