First-Place Showdown

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- A matchup of the top two teams in the Mid-American Conference men's basketball race is set for Tuesday, Feb. 4 (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena.

Central Michigan is 12-8 and leads the MAC West at 5-2. East-leading Bowling Green is 17-5, 8-1 and riding an eight-game win streak. The Falcons are ranked 15^th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. They were picked to win the East and the MAC Tournament in the preseason poll.

It is the only regular-season meeting between the two teams. After Tuesday's game, the Chippewas will have reached the mid-point of the MAC season. Bowling Green has the overall lead in the MAC, while the Chippewas are second.

"We're excited about the opportunity," CMU coach Keno Davis said. "We know we have to play well to come out with a victory.

"They do a lot of things well. They're a good offensive team, a good defensive team, and can dominate you on the boards. There's not many weaknesses (they have) and they've been able to win close games. That's how you end up with an 8-1 (league) record and they're very deserving of the preseason accolades."

Home Court Advantage
CMU is 10-1 at home, tied for the best in the conference.

Team Stats
The Chippewas are averaging 82.4 points per game, which is third in the nation behind Gonzaga (88.4) and Duke (83.4).

The Chippewas are allowing 76.1 points per game. They are forcing 17.0 turnovers per game, which is second in the MAC, and No. 19 in the country. Of those 17 turnovers, 9.5 come from steals, which is second in the MAC and ninth in the country.

CMU's turnover margin of plus 4.4 is the best in the MAC and is No. 14 in the country.

Individual Stats
Kevin McKay is CMU's leading scorer and rebounder at 15.4 points per game, ninth in the MAC, and 6.7 rebounds per game, No. 12 in the MAC.

McKay scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds in leading the Chippewas to an 85-78 victory at Western Michigan on Saturday. It was his third double-double of the season and 16^th of his career.

McKay is making 67.1 percent of his field goal attempts. He is tied for fifth in the country and is No. 1 among guards. The next closest guard is South Alabama's Chad Lott at 55.1 percent. Lott is 49^th nationally.

Three other Chippewas are scoring in double figures. They are David DiLeo (13.9), Dallas Morgan (13.5) and Rob Montgomery (11.2).

Devontae Lane leads CMU in assists with 3.6 per game, good for seventh in the MAC. His 2.1 steals per game is the best in the MAC.

Record Watch
DiLeo had 300 career 3-pointers and needs seven to pass Josh Kozinski as the program's career leader. Kozinski had 306 triples from 2013-18.

Scouting
Bowling Green's 4-1 road record is the best, percentage wise, in the MAC. Every team in the MAC has at least two losses.

During its eight-game win streak, Bowling Green's largest margin of victory has been nine points. Bowling Green is scoring 75.4 points per game and allowing 71.5 points per game.

The Falcons are averaging 40.5 rebounds per game, good for second in the MAC behind Buffalo. They are committing 10.5 turnovers per game, best in the MAC, and No. 9 in the country.

Justin Turner is Bowling Green's leading scorer at 18.1 points per game. The mark would be good for fourth in the conference, however, Turner missed six game because of an injury.

Dylan Frye (14.1) and Daeqwon Plowden (13.0) also are averaging in double figures. Frey leads the Falcons in assists at 4.1 per game, fifth in the MAC. Plowden leads in rebounds with 8.3 per game, sixth in the MAC.

Next
The Bowling Green game begins a big week for the Chippewas. They are scheduled to play at Buffalo on Friday, Feb. 7 (7 p.m.). The Bulls, who are the two-time defending MAC Tournament champions, are 14-8 and fourth (5-4) in the MAC East.

Buffalo, which is scheduled to play at Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, defeated the Chippewas, 86-67, two weeks ago in Mount Pleasant.

Bowling Green defeated Buffalo, 78-77, last Friday.

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Players Mentioned

David DiLeo

Devontae Lane

Kevin McKay

Rob Montgomery

Dallas Morgan