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We're creeping eerily closer to the MAC Tournament in Cleveland. With just seven games to go we're officially under one month away from the start of post-season play. From here on out every game not only matters for the bottom line, but for the ever important MAC Tournament seeding. One ill-timed loss can be the difference between a first-round bye, or a road trip.
With that in mind let's look at today's action.
| AWAY | HOME | TIME | HOW TO WATCH |
| Toledo | EMU | 2 p.m. | MACDN |
| Ohio | Buffalo | 2:30 p.m. | MACDN |
| Bowling Green | Ball State | 4 p.m. | MACDN |
| Miami | Western Michigan | 4:30 p.m. | MACDN |
| Central Michigan | Kent State | 6 p.m. | TWCSC / MACDN |
| Northern Illinois | Akron | 7 p.m. | MACDN |
Toledo - EMU gets things started today, and this should be an interesting one. We've seen before (albeit rarely) that if you can make things incredibly difficult for the Rockets offense you can expose them. The Eagles are pretty good in that department thanks tot heir relentless zone defense. Toledo is rolling and has shown it is clearly the best team in the MAC. It shouldn't lose again from here on out. But if there's one thing we've learned about MAC basketball it's that parity is king.
Ohio vs. Buffalo at 2:30 p.m. is an interesting one as well. The 'Cats are struggling somewhat, and having just lost to Toledo need a win to climb out of third place in the MAC East. Buffalo is having a fantastic season, thanks largely to the incredible play of Javon McCrea. But UB hasn't played anyone in the East yet (Akron or Ohio), so this game will tell us a lot about both squads.
Bowling Green at Ball State at 4 p.m. is a match up between a pair of last place teams, albeit vastly different ones. BG is last in the East, but not without some impressive wins. Ball State is last in the West, with its only MAC win coming against Buffalo. Richaun Holmes/Cam Black vs. Majok Majok will be something to watch though.
Miami vs. WMU at 4:30 features the MAC West's second best team vs. an Miami squad that's showed some dangerous skill set. David Brown is red hot for WMU right now though, so the 'Hawks have their hands full in this one. We get another match up between last place teams at 6 when CMU & Kent State face off on Time Warner Sports Channel. Yes, I too am sad that this is our lone televised game today. It all wraps up with NIU at Akron at 7 p.m. At the beginning of the year if I would have told you this would be a fun match up you would have likely bought yourself a hearing aid and some reading glasses, but alas, it's the truth. The Huskies are hot. They're feisty. They're dangerous. Akron, though in first in the East, has been playing down to the level of its competition lately, which has led to several close calls. If the Zips do it again tonight they could lose to a team that has been the worst in the conference for years now.
All the games are available to stream online, 100 percent free via the MAC Digital Network on MAC-Sports.com. We'll be recapping all the action throughout the day, covering it on Twitter (@HustleBelt), sharing photos on Instagram (@HustleBelt) and of course live chatting right here. There's no excuse to miss out on the MACtion today.
