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Kent State, which now leads Miami (15-15; 10-5) by a full game in the East Division, becomes the first team in league history to claim at least a share of back-to-back MAC regular season titles since the RedHawks accomplished the feat in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. 

Miami won the league outright in 1991-92 and shared the championship with Ball State in 1992-93.  The Cardinals are the last MAC program win consecutive titles outright when they reached the milestone with championships in 1988-89 under Head Coach Rick Majerus and 1989-90 under Head Coach Dick Hunsaker.  That could all change on Friday night with a win by the Golden Flashes. 

In addition a victory would also make Kent State Head Coach Geno Ford the first coach to lead his team to back-to-back outright MAC titles since Harold Anderson led his Bowling Green Falcons to championships in the 1961-62 and 1962-63 seasons. 

Along with Miami, West Division leader Western Michigan (18-11; 10-5) also looms a single game back of the Golden Flashes.  Should the league end in a three-way tie, Kent State would win the tiebreaker scenario and be designated the No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament (March 10-12 in Cleveland, Ohio). 

A two-way tie-breaker with Miami would go to the RedHawks due to their better overall record against the East Division, thus earning them the No. 1 seed and Kent State the No. 3 seed.  The West Division winner would be the No. 2 seed. The Golden Flashes have already secured one of the four first round byes in the MAC Tournament after posting a 63-57 win at Bowling Green on Tuesday night. 

Kent State has now won four MAC titles in the past six seasons.  Going back to the 2000 season, Central Michigan (2000-01 & 2002-03) is the only other school in the league to win more than one championship.  The Golden Flashes meanwhile have claimed five conference titles during the span.

Courtesy of Kent State Athletics