Rockets Launch into MAC Tourney Against Golden Flashes

The madness of March is heating up in the Mid-American Conference, with the Toledo Rockets set to face off against the Kent State Golden Flashes in the conference tournament quarterfinals on Thursday. This matchup pits two of the MAC’s most explosive offenses against each other, promising an action-packed showdown in Cleveland.

Toledo comes into the game riding a three-game winning streak, improving their record to an impressive 20-11 on the season. The Rockets have been firing on all cylinders lately, averaging a blistering 80.7 points per game. Their high-powered offense is led by senior guard Ryan Rollins, who has been a scoring machine all year long. Rollins is averaging 19.4 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per contest, making him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

However, the Golden Flashes won’t back down easily. Despite a 15-16 overall record, Kent State boasts one of the MAC’s top scorers in senior guard Sincere Carry. The dynamic playmaker is pouring in 18.5 points per game while dishing out 5.1 assists. Carry will need to be at his best to keep pace with Toledo’s potent attack.

These two teams have developed quite a rivalry in recent years, splitting their regular season series with each team defending their home court. In their most recent meeting just last week, the Rockets emerged victorious with an 86-71 triumph in Kent. VonCameron Davis was unstoppable in that contest, racking up 20 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds.

The stakes will be even higher on Thursday, with the winner advancing to the MAC semifinals on Friday night. Toledo is favored by 6 points according to the latest odds, but Kent State has covered the spread in 6 of their last 8 meetings against the Rockets. This neutral site matchup has all the makings of an instant classic.

Both teams feature elite-level scoring outputs, so fans can expect an up-and-down, high-scoring affair. The key will likely come down to defense and rebounding. Whichever squad can get timely stops and control the glass will have a great chance to punch their ticket to the next round.

Tune in on ESPN+ at 11am ET on Thursday to catch every electrifying moment of this MAC tournament quarterfinal clash between the Toledo Rockets and Kent State Golden Flashes. With a trip to the semifinals on the line, it’s sure to be must-see March madness.