Kent State wins to set up rematch with rival Akron

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Justin Greene scored 23 points and Randal Holt added 13 as Kent State advanced to the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament by beating Western Michigan 76-72 on Thursday night.

The fourth-seeded Golden Flashes (21-10) will play heated rival and top-seeded Akron in today’s semifinals. The Zips won both meetings between the schools during the regular season.

With Kent State leading 58-49, WMU’s Matt Stainbrook missed an easy layup and then compounded his mistake by elbowing Kent State’s Michael Porrini in the face after a bucket at the other end. The officials reviewed TV replays before ejecting Stainbrook for the flagrant foul.

The Golden Flashes scored six straight to open a 66-49 lead and were able to hang on after Western Michigan closed within three in the final seconds.

Demetrius Ward led Western Michigan with 16 points.

OHIO 65, TOLEDO 57

CLEVELAND

D.J. Cooper scored 18 points, Reggie Keely added 13 and Ohio overcame a shaky start for a win over Toledo in the Mid-American Conference quarterfinals.

The third-seeded Bobcats (25-7) will play second-seeded Buffalo in tonight’s second semifinal. Ohio won both meetings in the regular season.

In the other semifinal, top-seeded Akron will face rival Kent State, the No. 4 seed.

Leading by just two after an awful shooting performance in the first half, Ohio opened the second half with an 11-0 run to take control. The Bobcats, who made just 1 of 14 shots to open the game, pushed their lead to 16 and ended a turnaround season for the seventh-seeded Rockets (18-16).

Rian Pearson, the MAC’s leading scorer, had just eight points — eight below his average — for Toledo, which won just four games last season. Curtis Dennis scored 17 to lead the Rockets.