Temple 82, Toledo 49 — Okay, we get the point. UT's pretty much a dismal team. So what was the point of playing Illinois and Temple back-to-back? To show the world just how far away they are from competing? At least in this game they had a minor 4-2 lead thanks to two Zack Leahy field goals. That was a fun 1:17. Leahy finished with 15 points, and Michigan grad Anthony Wright made his debut with 10 points off the bench. But what they could control, they executed: 10-of-12 in free throws. And whenever Temple's ready to also join the MAC in hoops, we're ready for ya. Toledo's next game: Friday, 11/19 vs. Illinois-Chicago
Cleveland State 68, Kent State 65 — Call it a comeback. Call it a collapse. Or either! But when you have a 16-point lead with fewer than 16 minutes to play ... you oughta wrap that one up. The Vikings were just where they wanted to be down 45-29 and used a 21-5 run to tie this mother down. By then the momentum was a foregone conclusion, and Justin Greene couldn't get the tying 3-pointer to fall at the buzzer. Greene had 17 points, seven boards and three blocks, while three other Flashes finished with 10 points. That vaunted World Vision Classic title will not belong to the MAC this year. Kent State's next game: Tomorrow at 8 a.m. vs. Robert Morris (on ESPN)
Montana State 65, Central Michigan 58 (OT) — Hey, can't win 'em all in dramatic fashion. MSU built a lead as high as nine near the end of the second half, so it was good to see the Chippewas rally in a tropical paradise, but for most of the game the Bobcats were in control. Overtime was a little ugly for CMU, since they only nabbed two points in the five-minute frame. And maybe this is where Trey Zeigler starts scoring the bulk, as he did in this game with 21. Jalin Thomas followed up his dynamite first game with a 15-point night. Central Michigan's next game: Tomorrow at 4 a.m. vs. Hawaii (on ESPN)
Ball State 77, Eastern Illinois 46 — Oof. This one was rather noncompetitive. The Cards built an early lead of 8-0. And then it was 24-6. And then it kept getting exponentially merciless. But most of the scoring centered around four men: Jarrod Jones began his promising season with 15 points and 10 rebounds; Jauwan Scaife had 19; Randy Davis got 13 (along with eight assists) and Jesse Berry factored in with 15 off the bench in just 25 minutes. While EIU didn't win many battles in this game, they did have the Best Name on the court. Tyler Laser had 10 points. Ball State's next game: Wednesday, 11/17 vs. Indiana State