Central Michigan @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 9, 2019 ) Central Michigan 76, Buffalo 90

Top-seeded Buffalo is firing on all cylinders heading into Friday's semifinal matchup with fifth-seeded Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The No. 16 Bulls, who have won seven straight games against the Chippewas, had the offense and defense clicking in an 82-46 thrashing of Akron in the quarterfinals.

Buffalo's Jeremy Harris showed no signs of the shooting slump that befuddled him for much of January and February as the senior and All-MAC second-team performer went 10-of-16 from the field and scored 23 points to lead the way against Akron. The 6-7 guard from Greensboro, N.C., who failed to hit double figures in seven of the Bulls' final 12 regular-season games, had seven of his team's first 12 points and finished with eight rebounds and three blocks. "I just hope it's big arenas and big lights," Nate Oats, the MAC Coach of the Year who recently agreed to a five-year contract with Buffalo, told the media of Harris' success against Akron, which brought his averages in four MAC Tournament games in Cleveland to 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds. "Because every game we play from here on out is going to be in big arenas with a lot media coverage and he's a big-time player." Larry Austin, Jr., who joined Harris on the All-MAC second team, was the catalyst in sending the Chippewas to their first semifinal since 2015 - when it fell to Buffalo in the final - as the senior registered 23 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in an 89-81 quarterfinal victory over fourth-seeded Kent State.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN (23-10): Austin has been on a hot streak since the calendar turned to March, averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 3.0 steals in five games for the Chippewas. The 106 points in the last five contests are only 31 fewer than the 6-1 guard from Springfield, Ill. scored in his first three college seasons at Xavier and Vanderbilt. Austin struggled in the only other game with Buffalo this season as he fouled out for the only time this season after producing eight points, four rebounds and seven turnovers in 24 minutes.

ABOUT BUFFALO (29-3): Coming off their second loss of the season, the Bulls found themselves in an early 18-point hole against the Chippewas on Feb. 9 at home. CJ Massinburg, the MAC Player of the Year, was dealing with a shoulder injury and went scoreless in the first half before he and Harris turned it on to propel Buffalo to a 90-76 victory. Massinburg finished with 18 points, Harris had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Dontay Caruthers contributed 16 points and four steals as the Bulls kick-started what has become a 10-game winning streak.

TIP-INS

1. Massinburg and Nick Perkins combined for 21 points and 17 rebounds against Akron as they improved to 9-1 in their MAC Tournament careers.

2. Buffalo, which defeated Central Michigan 89-74 in the quarterfinals last season, has won the seven straight games over the Chippewas by an average margin of 9.7 points while scoring 88 or more points in six of those games.

3. Kevin McKay had 10 points and 11 rebounds against Kent State for his eighth double-double of the season for Central Michigan, which has won this tournament twice with the last time coming in 2003.

PREDICTION: Buffalo 94, Central Michigan 79