Preview Capsules for Today's Men's and Women's College Basketball Games

Preview capsules for today’s men’s and women’s college basketball... http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/college_impact/print.html?entry=...

Preview capsules for today's men's and women's college basketball games

Published: Saturday, February 18, 2012, 12:13 AM Updated: Saturday, February 18, 2012, 3:22 AM

Plain Dealer staff By

Men

No. 6 Ohio State at No. 17 Michigan

Tipoff: 9 p.m. at Crisler Center, Ann Arbor, Mich.

TV/radio: ESPN; WKNR AM/850.

Notable: The Wolverines (19-7, 9-4) are 26th in the nation, and first in the Big Ten, in 3-pointers attempted, but just fifth in the conference in 3-point percentage, making 35.2 percent of their treys. Even at home, where the Wolverines are 14-0, it will be difficult for Michigan to win without making lots of 3s. "As long as we guard the 3-point line, I think we have a good shot at winning," Ohio State's Jared Sullinger said. Michigan hasn't played since Sunday, giving the Wolverines six days to prepare for avenging a View full size Scott Shaw, Plain Dealer file photo 64-49 win by the Buckeyes (22-4, 10-3) in Cleveland State men's basketball coach hopes to be in better spirits today after the Vikings play Drexel at the Wolstein Center in downtown Columbus on Jan. 29. Cleveland.

Next for OSU: Tuesday, vs. Illinois, 7 p.m.

Doug Lesmerises' prediction: Ohio State 69, Michigan 62

-- Doug Lesmerises

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BracketBusters

Cleveland State vs. Drexel

Tipoff: 11 a.m. at Wolstein Center.

TV/radio: ESPNU; WHKW AM/1220.

Notable: Cleveland State (20-7) looks to regain its swagger against defensive-minded Drexel (22-5), which has won 14 straight and holds opponents to 55.2 ppg. No team has scored more than 67 points on the Dragons since Dec. 28, and no team has scored more than 71 this season. CSU is on a three-game losing streak and for the third straight game will be without 6-4 swingman D'Aundray Brown (groin), who is not expected back for at least five more days.

Next for CSU: Tuesday, at Green Bay, 8 p.m.

Akron at Oral Roberts

Tipoff: 2 p.m. at Mabee Center, Tulsa, Okla.

TV/radio: ESPN2; WARF AM/1350.

Notable: Akron (19-7) is on an eight-game winning streak and has an average margin of victory of 14.6 ppg in that run while holding every team to 66 points or less. Oral Roberts, out of the Summit Conference, has won four straight and 17 of 18 games overall. Seven times in that streak, ORU has scored 80 points or more, including three games of 90 or better and two others with 89. So expect a shootout as the Zips average 73.4 ppg overall to the Golden Eagles' 73.9 ppg.

Next for Akron: Wednesday, vs. Bowling Green, 7 p.m.

Kent State vs. College of Charleston

Tipoff: 6 p.m. at M.A.C. Center, Kent.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WNIR FM/100.1.

Notable: Kent State (19-6) hosts a potent College of Charleston (16-11) team that has defeated Clemson, Tennessee and league-leading Davidson. College of Charleston coach Bobby Cremins is sidelined due to health, and KSU center Justin Greene is a game-time decision due to a badly sprained ankle. KSU is looking to notch its

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20th win of the season for the 13th time in the past 14 seasons. Kent also will welcome back San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and his 2002 NCAA Elite Eight teammates for halftime ceremonies.

Next for KSU: Tuesday, at Miami of Ohio, 7 p.m.

-- Elton Alexander

Division III

Lake Erie vs. Michigan Tech

Tipoff: 3 p.m. at Osborne Family Athletic and Wellness Center, Painesville.

Notable: LEC is 9-14, 4-12 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Michigan Tech is 12-11, 10-6 and fighting for GLIAC tournament position. Storm sixth man Jamil Dudley (Massillon) has scored 24 points in each of the past two home games.

Next for LEC: Thursday, at Tiffin, 8 p.m.

Baldwin-Wallace vs. Ohio Northern

Tipoff: 4 p.m. at Lou Higgins Center, Berea.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, delayed (today at 9 p.m.; Monday at 7 a.m.); WBWC FM/88.3.

Notable: B-W (15-9, 10-7 Ohio Athletic Conference) has won eight of its past 11 games and ends its regular season against ONU (12-12, 8-9). The Yellow Jackets will be the No. 5 seed in next week's OAC Tournament and host a first-round game on Monday at 8 p.m. Before this game, B-W will honor its lone senior, four-year starting point guard Promis Cabbil, who played in 97 games, including 90 starts, and had 719 points, 314 assists, 202 rebounds, 134 steals and 15 3-pointers. Sophomore All-OAC forward Kyle Payne leads the team with 14.0 ppg. ONU is led by sophomore guard Brandon Rushton's 13.8 pg. B-W won the first meeting, 70-65, on Jan. 17 in Ada.

Next for B-W: Monday, OAC Tournament first round vs. TBA, 8 p.m. Women

Cleveland State vs. Milwaukee

Tipoff: 1:30 p.m. at Wolstein Center.

Notable: The Cleveland State women (9-16, 4-10 Horizon League) look to get only their second conference

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home win of the season and a series sweep vs. Milwaukee (7-17, 3-10).

Next for CSU: Thursday, at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Kent State at Ohio University

Tipoff: 2 p.m. at Convocation Center, Athens, Ohio.

Notable: Kent State women (5-17, 4-8 Mid-American Conference), coming off an overtime loss to Miami of Ohio, look to recover by getting a sweep over the Bobcats (11-15, 4-8) on the road.

Next for KSU: Tuesday, at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Akron vs. Bowling Green

Tipoff: 2 p.m. at Rhodes Arena.

Radio: WHLO AM/640

Notable: Akron (12-14, 6-6 MAC) plays the last in a four-game homestand looking for an upset against the best in the MAC East Division in Bowling Green (21-4, 11-1).

Next for Akron: Wednesday, at Miami of Ohio, 7 p.m.

-- Elton Alexander

Division III

Lake Erie vs. Michigan Tech

Tipoff: 1 p.m. at Osborne Family Athletic and Wellness Center, Painesville.

Notable: Two teams vying for a home game in the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinals square off in a crucial contest. Both the Storm (16-7, 10-6 GLIAC) and Huskies (16-6,11-5) have clinched a spot in the tournament, but are in a dogfight for the fourth seed. Lake Erie currently sits in fifth place in the conference standings, one game behind the Huskies. The top four seeds host opening round games on Feb. 29. Lake Erie could finish anywhere between third and eighth in the conference standings. Michigan Tech won the only previous meeting between the two teams, rolling to an 89-49 win in Houghton, Mich., last season.

Next for LEC: Thursday, at Tiffin, 6 p.m.

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Notre Dame vs. Ursuline

Tipoff: 2 p.m. at Murphy Gymnasium, South Euclid.

Notable: Notre Dame has won three straight games and six of its past seven. Notre Dame (13-11) has gone 8-3 since Jan. 1 with an increasingly pesky defense allowing 54.6 points per game in the past five contests. Senior forward Alex Dackin had a season-high 21-point performance in NDC's last game, an 88-49 win over Salem International (W.Va.). Notre Dame downed the Arrows, 72-63, in Pepper Pike on Jan. 28. NDC has never lost to Ursuline.

Next for NDC: Feb. 25 at Walsh, 2 p.m.

Baldwin-Wallace vs. Ohio Northern

Tipoff: 2 p.m. at Lou Higgins Center, Berea.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio, delayed (today at 11 p.m., Sunday at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m.); WBWC FM/88.3.

Notable: B-W (15-9, 10-7 OAC) plays its final regular-season game and will be the No. 5 seed in next week's OAC Tournament and host a first-round game on Monday at 6 p.m. Forward Catherine Spisak will be honored before the game. She is ninth all-time with 592 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jessica Lairson tops the team in scoring at 11.6 ppg. Ohio Northern (20-4, 14-3 OAC) has clinched the No. 2 seed. Junior guard Morgan Dumbaugh leads the Bears with 12.9 ppg. ONU won the first meeting, 67-55, in Ada on Jan. 14.

Next for B-W: Monday, OAC Tournament first round vs. TBA, 6 p.m.

John Carroll vs. Marietta

Tipoff: 3 p.m. at the DeCarlo Varsity Center, University Heights.

Notable: John Carroll (8-15, 5-12 OAC) snapped a three-game skid with a 73-71 road win over Muskingum on Wednesday night. More importantly, the Blue Streaks played their way into the upcoming OAC Tournament with the victory. Sophomore Missy Spahar leads the squad with 15.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Allie Lustig tops the league with 4.91 assists per game and has made 33 3-pointers. Aleisha Guiler, who puts up 15.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest, pilots Marietta (10-14, 5-12 OAC). The Pioneers defeated JCU, 84-59, earlier this season.

Next for JCU: OAC Tournament, time and date TBA.

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-- Compiled using information from the colleges.

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