South Dakota State 82, Western Michigan 76 — Powers of two were wholly visible in this game. Matt Stainbrook finished with 32 points, as did SDSU leading scorer Nate Wolters. The next highest scorers? Demetrius Ward had 16 for the Broncos, as did the Jackrabbits' Tony Fiegen. I have no idea what this means, but it's something.
But what a game for Stainbrook. He was 14-of-16 from the field, had a tremendous post game, and made his free throws (4-for-5). His teammates ... didn't (12-for-23). Not sure what could've been so distracting in South Dakota. But WMU also clanked it from the 3-point line (2-for-15) so this all added up to a narrow defeat. Still, it looks like Stainbrook has a very nice Napoleon Dynamite fashion sense going this year.
Akron 95, Hiram College 65 — What's the difference, honestly, between an exhibition game against a lower-division team and one during the season? The Hiram Terriers, apart from having an adorably ferocious logo, were picked seventh in their Division III conference. As part of our longstanding policy, blowouts of lesser-division games deserve little, if any, analysis ...
Central Michigan 65, Ferris State 60 — ...unless, of course, they barely win. Up as much as 16 points, the Chippewas' let their fair neighbors of the Division II variety back into the game, clawing within two points at different junctures in the second half, including the final minute. The Bulldogs also have a nice canine mascot, but much tougher if not cartoonish. I feel like it'd make a great antagonist to Garfield the Cat. Star guard Trey Zeigler did not start this game (per team rule violation) but did play substantially. What kept FSU into this game, as is commonplace against anybody, was poor shooting and turnovers. Naturally with more talent and stamina — coupled with Ferris State being bewildered by Andre Coimbra's hair — CMU was able to avoid the embarassing opening loss. But if they keep doing this, their year is going to be just as painful.
Today's men's basketball:
2 p.m. — Tennesee-Martin at OHIO (MAC Sports Livestream)
6 p.m. — Ball State at Arizona (Fox Sports Arizona)
6 p.m. — BGSU at Georgia (ESPNU) (ESPN3)
Today's women's basketball:
1 p.m. — Ball State at Wright State
1 p.m. — NIU at Loyola-Chicago
2 p.m. — Dayton at Toledo (BCSN)
2 p.m. — OHIO at Morehead State
3 p.m. – WMU at Kansas
Upcoming men's games:
Monday, 8 p.m. — Milwaukee at NIU
Tuesday, 10 a.m. — Kent State at West Virginia (ESPN)
Tuesday, 7 p.m. — Dayton at Miami
Tuesday, 7 p.m. — Lamar at OHIO
Tuesday, 7 p.m. — Charlotte at CMU
Tuesday, 7 p.m. — EMU at Texas Southern
Wednesday, 7 p.m. — Cornell at Buffalo
Thursday, 11:30 a.m. — Temple vs. WMU in Puerto Rico (ESPNU)
Thursday, 8 p.m. — NIU at Iowa