Kent State Golden Flashes vs Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketball preview:

It's Harry Potter night in Mount Pleasant, Michigan where any fan wearing a Harry Potter Costume get's a free general admission ticket. The Chippewas are on a three game winning streak after beating Miami and Bowling Green. Since Braylon Rayson returned the Chippewas are 3-1 with a close five point loss to Northern on the road in the midst of the victories. The three headed attack of Rayson, Chris Fowler and Rayshawn Simmons have been leading the Chippewas throughout the season.

Fowler is coming off a 27 point effort against Bowling Green Falcons and earning MAC West player of the week honors. Fowler the senior guard has had an amazing career at Central Michigan totaling over 1,500 points in his four years averaging over 15 points a game in three of his four seasons. He also has really improved his free throw percentage from the high 60's to the low 80's. He does most of his damage inside the three point line and around the paint as he has only attempted 28 three pointers on the season.

The Flashes have been one of the most consistent teams thus far and sit 6-2 in the MAC East. They lost a tough one at Ohio this past weekend but still sit second in our most up to date power rankings. They were due some tough news as senior guard Xavier Pollard is out for the year indefinitely with a foot injury. They we're on a five game win streak before losing to Ohio on Saturday. Jaylin Walker and Chris Ortiz are going to have to pick up the slack to make up for Pollard's scoring in his absence. Jimmy Hall and Kellon Thomas are going to be counted on in a huge way as well as they are the glue of this team just as Rayson, Fowler and Simmons are of CMU.

My prediction for the game is a 79-71 win for the Chippewas over Kent State in their first game without Pollard.