Under the Radar Game of the Day – Monday, February 10, 2015: Kent State at Akron

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Kent State at Akron, 7:00 PM Eastern, Time Warner SportsChannel-Ohio/espn3

While perhaps not the utter chaos of the Big South, the Mid-American Conference has certainly been wild so far this season with six teams sitting within one game of each other for the best record in the conference.  This includes a three-way tie at the top of the East Division between Bowling Green, Kent State and Akron, all at 7-3 in league play.  Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day heads to Akron, Ohio for the first of two meetings this season between the hometown Zips and the visiting Golden Flashes, as each team attempts to earn a half point in the two schools’ all sports rivalry, known as the Wagon Wheel Challenge.

Both teams enter tonight’s game with identical 16-7 overall records.  Kent State is looking to bounce back after an earlier six game conference winning streak turned into losing 2 out of 3 the past week and a half.  The Golden Flashes should still be without their leading corer, Jimmy Hall, who has been sidelined for the past week as he battles with mononucleosis.  Kent State will need guards Devareaux Manley, Kris Brewer and Derek Jackson to step up if they are going to get the road victory.

Akron has won 4 of their last 5 games entering tonight’s contest and also scored wins over both USCs during the Charleston Classic this year (Southern Cal and South Carolina).  Pat Forsythe will look to lead the way for the Zips, as he has been in double-digits the last four games including a season-best 20 points back on January 31 against Bowling Green.  If the Zips can hold on against a short-handed Kent State team at home tonight, they have a chance to be in sole possession of first place in the East tomorrow morning, depending on what happens in Bowling Green’s game against Western Michigan.