For the fifth time in men’s Mid-American Conference Tournament basketball history, the Akron Zips and Kent State Golden Flashes will bring their rivalry to the hardwood in the conference championship game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday night.
Coming into Cleveland as the lowest seed in the tourney, the Flashes have downed top-seed Toledo and fifth-seed Bowling Green to get to the title game for the third straight season.
Kent State’s Jalen Sullinger at the 2024 MAC Tournament (Photo Credit: Wesley Seyfang/HSLD Sports Media)
The Kent State backcourt of Jalen Sullinger and Giovanni Santiago combined for 42 points and 11 assists in that game, drilling 11 threes in a scorching performance.
Strong guard play guided the Kent State Golden Flashes to their third straight MAC title game. Jalen Sullinger & Gio Santiago combined for 42 points & 11 assists.
KSU talked about the win over BG & coming all this way from an 8-seed to defend its crown. #MACtion @HoopIndustry pic.twitter.com/T3FnIZ7pTQ
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) March 16, 2024
Meanwhile, Akron has heated back up after dropping four of its last six games, defeating seven-seed Miami and edging third-seed Ohio in a close contest on Friday.
Akron’s Enrique Freeman grabs a rebound at the 2024 MAC Tournament (Photo Credit: Wesley Seyfang/HSLD Sports Media)
Enrique Freeman flat-out dominated the glass and brought his nose for the ball, putting up a 24-point, 21-rebound, seven-block stat line, setting a MAC Tournament single-game record for boards.
After a rough offensive first half, the Akron Zips used “mental toughness” to put on a terrific performance to beat the Ohio Bobcats in the men’s MAC Tournament semifinals.
Sammy Hunter, Enrique Freeman & Ali Ali talk about the win & value of leadership. #MACtion @HoopIndustry pic.twitter.com/JOdmWJ4khg
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) March 16, 2024
In MAC Tournament title game history, Kent State has a 3-1 record in these head-to-head scenarios; the Flashes knocked Akron off in last year’s tourney as well. This season, the Zips have beaten KSU twice, but as we know during this time of the year, it’s a clean slate.
Saturday night’s meeting between the Zips and Flashes should be one to remember.
Men’s MAC Tourney Day 2 ✅
Akron Zips 🦘 vs. Kent State Golden Flashes ⚡️ in the conference finals! #MACtion @HoopIndustry pic.twitter.com/Hl1pYBCXCL
— Spencer Davies (@SpinDavies) March 16, 2024
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