2021 Mid-American Conference Men’s Basketball Game Recaps: March 5

Here we are at the final game of the regular season of the Mid American Conference Men’s Basketball. It was like so many nights of the season, a couple barn burners and a couple not so much. COVID also reared it’s ugly head as the Bowling Green-Ohio and Miami-Akron games were cancelled. That could have implications for tournament if the two teams that caused the cancellations can’t get cleared. More on that after I go over the scores.

• Buffalo was able to cruise past Kent State as they beat them 81-67. The Bulls were led by Jeenathan Williams with 21 points. The Golden Flashes were led by Tervell Buck with 19 points.
• In what could be a preview for the first game of the tournament, Toledo was able to leap past Ball State as they defeated them 89-70. The Cardinals were led by Ishmael El-Amin with 22 points. The Rockets were led by Marreon Jackson who also scored 22 points.
• Despite a comeback attempt by the Chippewas, Northern Illinois was able to squeak past Central Michigan by a score of 79-74. The Huskies were led by Trendon Hankerson with 27 points. Not to be outdone, Meikkel Murray of the Chippewas was able to score 30 points.
• Eastern Michigan was able to slip past Western Michigan by a score of 64-63. The Eagles were led by Yeikson Montero with 20 points. The Broncos were led by Josiah Freeman with 17 points. Also of note was Ty Groce of the Eagles who scored 13 points and had 11 rebounds to record a double-double.

It’s easy to see the impact that COVID had on this season. None of the teams played what would be a full schedule. I was planning on going to at least one of the Eastern Michigan games but the two games I was going to go to were cancelled.

COVID could even have an impact on the tournament. All four of the teams that canceled tonight are scheduled to play in the tournament. If the two teams that were the cause of the cancellations can’t get cleared within 48 hours of tournament time, there’s the potential the bracket could be scrambled once again, as depending on the seed, a series of changes could emerge, including, but not limited to the granting of the high seed a first-round BYE.