Buffalo vs. Kent State: College Basketball Showdown Set for Friday

The University at Buffalo men’s basketball team (5-9, 0-2 MAC) will host the Kent State Golden Flashes (10-4, 1-1 MAC) in a Mid-American Conference (MAC) showdown on Friday evening. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. ET at Alumni Arena and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Buffalo enters the game on a five-game losing streak, including an 88-79 loss to Ohio on Tuesday. Despite the loss, senior guard Tyson Dunn delivered a standout performance, scoring 21 points, dishing out eight assists, and grabbing five rebounds. Dunn, who shot 5-of-9 from three-point range, is averaging 13.1 points per game this season.

Kent State, meanwhile, is coming off a dominant 68-50 victory over Northern Illinois on Tuesday. Senior forward Chris Payton led the Golden Flashes with a double-double, scoring 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Senior center Cli’Ron Hornbeak also contributed with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while senior guard Malique Jacobs added seven points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

The Golden Flashes have been strong against the spread this season, covering in 10 of their last 14 games. Buffalo, however, has struggled in that regard, going 5-14 against the spread in its last 19 home games. Kent State swept the season series against Buffalo last year, winning both matchups by nine or more points.

According to SportsLine consensus, Kent State is favored by 10.5 points, with the over/under set at 142 points. A proven predictive model, which simulates every Division 1 college basketball game 10,000 times, is leaning toward the Over and has identified a point-spread pick that hits nearly 60% of the time.

Fans can catch the game on CBS Sports Network, with Alex Del Barrio and BJ Taylor providing commentary. Radio coverage will be available on the Varsity Network and local stations Buffalo 1520 and Rochester 1280, featuring Josh Whetzel and Bob Gaughan.