The Mid-American Conference is still wide open, as four teams are in competition for the top spot.
Week six will be crucial in the Mid-American Conference, as teams try to improve their standings for the MAC basketball tournament, which starts in less than a month.
In the MAC East, Akron has a hold on the top spot in the division with a record of 8-2 within conference play. The Zips are in first place due in large part to their current six-game win streak.
During their current win streak, the Zips have averaged 77 points per game, while their opponents, on average, have scored 67.
Junior center Isaiah Johnson has played a critical role in the Zips' rise to the top of the MAC East. Johnson averaged 13 points and eight rebounds in Akron’s last six games.
Just a game behind Akron sits Buffalo, a team that has won its last four and holds a 7-3 record in conference play. The Bulls’ win streak puts them just one game behind the Zips. Lamonte Bearden has led the way for Buffalo during the win streak, averaging 14 points and four assists.
With four of their next five games at home, the Bulls will look to extend their winning streak and possibly overtake the Zips for first in the division when the two teams meet Feb. 16 at Rhodes Arena in Akron.
Kent State, a team that previously was atop of the division but is now on a three-game losing streak, sits in third place in the MAC East with a 6-4 record in conference play.
Kent has been held to just 63 points per game in that span, surrendering nearly 81 points per game. Kent State can try and regain momentum in the next couple weeks because it will have three home games in that span.
Finally, Ohio has a 6-5 record in MAC play and finds itself in fourth place in the MAC East. Ohio has won three of its last four games, with the Bobcats only defeat coming at home against Akron.
Though the Bobcats seem to be gaining momentum and to be making a late-season run in the MAC East, they will face a tough road contest this week as they travel to Buffalo on Friday.
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Bowling Green (4-6 in the MAC) and Miami (2-8 in the MAC) find themselves at the bottom of the MAC East, 10 games into conference play.
The Falcons and the Redhawks are trending in opposite directions at the moment. Bowling Green lost five of its last six games, and Miami won two of its last three MAC games.
There are still four teams in the MAC with a realistic chance at obtaining the top spot in the East, and the upcoming games will be a factor as to who will be on top of the division at the end of the regular season.
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