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‘Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the MAC. sneakers were squeaking as they went to the rack.  ‘Tis also time for the weekly MAC Basketball Checkup, so here it is …

The Ohio Bobcats and Ball State Cardinals are streaking like Santa’s sleigh. Both are on six-game winning streaks. The Kent State Golden Flashes are almost just as bright, working off a five-game skein. However, the Northern (Illinois) lights are not so bright as they try to continue to seek a first Huskies win that has been on the wish list for a while now.

Here is a look back and a look ahead for all 12 MAC men’s basketball teams as they try to stay on the “nice” lists for both Santa and their coaches.

EASTERN DIVISION

BOWLING GREEN (5-5): The Falcons had just one game this week, and that was in East Lansing, Michigan, losing to the Michigan State Spartans, 79-60. It was their third loss in the last four games. Junior F A’uston Calhoun led BGSU with 12 points and seven rebounds while G Jordan Crawford added 10. Calhoun leads the Falcons in scoring at 12.4 per game  and in rebounds (6.1), with Crawford leading in assists at 3.2. BGSU is 0-2 on this five-game road trip, which continues Thursday night in Miami against the Panthers of Florida International (Sun Belt), who are coached by former NBA star Isiah Thomas

BUFFALO (6-2): The Bulls were idle this past week but get back into action on Tuesday night as they travel to the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah to battle the Brigham Young Cougars in their first season as members of the West Coast Conference. Sophomore F Javon McCrea leads UB in scoring at 16.8 (fifth best in the MAC) and in rebounds at 8.6 (third best), with sophomore G Jarod Oldham leading in assists at 5.4 (third)

KENT STATE (7-1): The Flashes were off this past week but get back into action on Tuesday night, participating in the Athletes in Action Basketball Classic at Utah State University, where they will play the Saint Peter’s Peacocks (MAAC) and the Texas-Arlington Mavericks (Southland). Senior F Justin Greene leads KSU in scoring, averaging 11.3 per game, and in rebounds at 6.9 while fellow senior G Michael Porrini leads in assists at 4.0

MIAMI (3-5): The RedHawks bounced back at Millett Hall on Saturday to defeat the Belmont Bruins (Atlantic Sun), 66-61. The victory ended a four game losing streak as four MU players scored in double digits. Julian Mavunga led the way with 17 points and 10 rebounds -- his fifth double-double of the season and 18th of his career. Mavunga leads the MAC in scoring at 20.6 per game and in rebounds at 10.6 while sophomore G Quinten Rollins leads in assists. The ‘Hawks have two games this week. The first is at home against the Purple Aces of Evansville (Missouri Valley) on Tuesday. After that, they head to Columbus to tangle with the Ohio State Buckeyes Thursday.

OHIO (9-1): The Bobcats winning streak reached five games Wednesday with an 88-54 rout of Division III Marietta College in OU’s first home game since December 3. The win improved Ohio’s mark to 8-1, their best start to a season since 1954-55. Five Bobcats scored in double figures, with junior guard D.J. Cooper leading the way with 15 points and seven assists while Reggie Keely added 13 and seven rebounds. Saturday the Cats traveled to the Nutter Center in suburban Dayton and defeated the Wright State Raiders (Horizon), 82-54, to extend the winning streak to six games and improve to 9-1 on the season their best start since 1940-41. Cooper again led Ohio with 20 points while Ivo Baltic scored a season-high 15 as the Cats defeated WSU for the fourth consecutive time. Cooper leads in scoring at 14.8 (eighth in the MAC) and in assists at 6.6 (second) while Keely leads in rebounds at 5.8. Ohio has two games before the holiday, beginning on Tuesday night as OU faces the Northern Iowa Panthers (Missouri Valley) in Cedar Rapids. Ohio returns to the Convo on Friday night to open a three-game home stand against the Aggies of North Carolina A&T (MEAC)

WESTERN DIVISION

BALL STATE (6-2): The Cardinals were off this past week but got back into action Monday night with a loss to IUPUI (Summit League) at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Senior F Jerrod Jones leads the Cards in scoring at 20 per game (second in the MAC to Miami’s Julian Mavunga) and leads in rebounds at 9.1 (second in the conference to Mavunga) while senior G Randy Davis leads the conference in assists, averaging 7.8  per game

CENTRAL MICHIGAN (5-6): Tuesday night, the Chips traveled to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, losing to the Minnesota Golden Gophers at venerable Williams Arena, 76-56, as a 19-0 Gopher run early in the second half spelled doom for CMU. The Chippewas were led by Trey Ziegler, who scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half. Friday night in their lone home game in December, CMU snapped its three-game losing skid, defeating the Illinois-Chicago Flames (Horizon), 70-67, as Andre Columba scored 22 points while leading four players in double-figures. Sunday, CMU traveled to Ames, Iowa, where it lost to the Iowa State Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum, 62-49. Central Michigan squandered an early 16-point first half lead. Ziegler, who paced the Chips with 19 points in the loss, leads the team in scoring at 17.3 (third in the MAC) and in rebounds at 6.7 while freshman G Austin McBroom leads in assists at 2.8. The road trip through December continues for CMU as the Chips head to the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Nebraska Tuesday night to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers. After that, it’s on to suburban Dayton on Thursday to battle the Wright State Raiders (Horizon)

EASTERN MICHIGAN (4-6): The Eagles were off last week but this week begin a two-game trip in the state of Virginia. It starts Tuesday night against the Radford Highlanders (Big South) and continues in Blacksburg versus the ACC’s Virginia Tech Hokies. Senior Darnell Lampley leads EMU in scoring at 15.9 per game (seventh in the MAC) and in assists at 2.8 while Junior F Jamell Harris leads in rebounds at 6.5

NORTHERN ILLINOIS (0-10): The Huskies losing streak reached nine Wednesday night as they returned home to the Convocation Center, dropping a 75-52 decision to the DePaul Blue Demons as a 17-0 run early in the second half was the deciding factor. Senior F Tim Toler led NIU with 18 points and 13 rebounds. It was the third double-double of his career. Toler leads NIU in scoring at 11.3 per game and in rebounds at 5.9. The Huskies look for that elusive first win on Tuesday night when they battle the Valparaiso Crusaders (Horizon) at the Convocation Center.

TOLEDO (7-3): The Rockets ended their two-game losing streak on Saturday as they defeated the Youngstown State Penguins (Horizon) 86-77. Sophomore G Dominique Buckley scored a career high 21 points. Sophomore Rian Pearson leads the Rockets in scoring at 17 per game (fourth in the MAC) and in rebounds at 7.9  (fourth). Freshman G Julius Brown leads in assists at 5.3. UT finishes its four-game home stand Tuesday night when it entertains the Trojans of Norfolk State (MEAC) before heading down to face one of the newest members of Division I,  Florida-Gulf Coast 
 
WESTERN MICHIGAN (3-7): The Broncos won consecutive games for the first time this season on Saturday when they defeated the Duquesne Dukes (Atlantic-10), 85-71. WMU picked up their third win in the last four games thanks to Nate Hutchinson, who scored a career-high 24 points, and F Brandon Pokley, who added 16. Hutchinson was named MAC West Player of the Week for his performance against the Dukes and became the fourth Bronco this season to score 20 points in a game (Flenard Whitefield, Mike Douglas, and Matt Stanbrook are the others). Ward leads WMU in scoring at 13.,4 per game, with fellow senior Flenard Whitfield leading in rebounds at 7.9 and Douglas in assists at 4.3. The Broncos will finish this three-game home stand on Tuesday night when the Winthrop Eagles (Big South) comes to University Arena before heading to the suburbs of Detroit on Saturday to battle the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (Summit League)

There you have it, your weekly MAC Mens Basketball Checkup. Best wishes for the holidays.