The Mid-American Conference Champion Kent State men’s basketball team (22-8, 15-3 MAC) clinched a first-round bye for the MAC Tournament and will now face No. 8-seed Buffalo (19-12, 9-10 MAC) at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

Other than winning the MAC Championship, the Flashes earned more MAC honors yesterday. Senior forward Kevin Warzynski was named the MAC Sixth Man of the Year. The award was voted on by MAC coaches. Warzynski became the first Kent State player to earn the award.

Ball State at Buffalo

Buffalo hosted No. 9-seed Ball State (10-18, 6-13 MAC) and posted an 80-72 win.

The Bulls were coming off a 74-65 loss at Miami, which ended the regular season.

Despite the loss, Ball State’s Maurice Acker was named MAC Freshman of the Year yesterday. Acker started all MAC games and led the Cardinals in assists with an average of 4.5 per game and steals with an average of 1.5 per game.

Bowling Green at Toledo

No. 7-seed Toledo knocked No. 10-seed Bowling Green (9-21, 5-14 MAC) out of the MAC Tournament with a 77-52 win at home last night.

The Rockets (18-10, 11-8 MAC) didn’t take the lead until eight minutes into the first half and went on a 20-7 run, but allowed the Falcons to come close and end the half at 34-21.

The Rockets led by as much as 28 points with only 0:31 left.

Toledo will face No. 2-seed Northern Illinois (17-10, 12-6 MAC) at noon Thursday at The Q.

The Huskies garnered MAC honors yesterday as junior James Hughes was announced MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Hughes led the Huskies to the team’s first MAC West Division title.

Central Michigan at Ohio

No. 5-seed Ohio (18-10, 11-8 MAC) dominated No. 12-seed Central Michigan (4-24, 1-18 MAC) in an 82-53 win in Athens last night.

Ohio advances to the second round and faces No. 4-seed Miami (18-9, 14-4 MAC) at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Quicken Loans Arena.

The Bobcats took an early lead and never gave it up, starting the game off on a 28-5 run. The Bobcats closed the first half with the score at 50-32.

The Bobcats led by as much as 31 with 5:36 left to play.

Ohio senior guard Mychal Green led his team to an easy win with a game-high 25 points, including sinking 7-of-11 3-point attempts.

The Bobcats outshot the Chippewas 52 percent to 44 percent from the field and 43 percent to 26 percent from behind the arc.

Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan

No. 6-seed Western Michigan narrowly defeated No. 11-seed Eastern Michigan (7-21, 3-16 MAC) 60-55 last night. Host Western Michigan (14-16, 11-8 MAC) outshot Eastern Michigan 43 percent to 38 percent from the field and 60 percent to 31 percent from behind the 3-point line.

The Broncos came from behind in the second half and took the lead for good with 9:10 left in the contest.

Western Michigan faces No. 3-seed Akron (21-8, 14-4 MAC) at 2 p.m. Thursday at The Q.

Contact sports editor Kali Price at [email protected].