COLLEGE HOOPS | Mid-American Tournament

Kent State 76, Buffalo 67
CLEVELAND -- Armon Gates made six 3-pointers, matched a career-high with 19 points and moved top-seeded Kent State into the Mid-American Conference semifinals. The Golden Flashes (23-8), who last won the tourney title in 2002, opened the second half with a 10-0 run to go up by 18 but had to withstand a furious comeback by Buffalo. The Bulls pulled within 69-65 on Calvin Cage's layup with 41.2 seconds left, but Kent State -- now 21-0 this season when leading with five minutes left -- made five of six free throws in the final 31 seconds. Kent State's DeAndre Haynes, named the conference's player of the year earlier in the day, had an off night with just 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting. But the senior guard made four free throws in the final minute, and his steal and layup with 5.2 seconds remaining iced it.
Akron 72, W. Michigan 57
CLEVELAND -- Dru Joyce scored 17 points to help lead Akron over Western Michigan, advancing the Zips to the Mid-American Conference tournament semifinals for the first time. Akron (22-8) had lost all five of its previous quarterfinals appearances, including an overtime loss last year against Western Michigan (14-17). Joyce tied a season high in scoring and tied a career high with eight rebounds. He was 3-for-5 from 3-point range.
Associated Press