GAME NOTES: The second semifinal matchup of the Mid-American Conference Tournament Friday will pit the seventh-seeded Akron Zips against the second- seeded Buffalo Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena.

The winner will move on to Saturday's championship bout, where a league winner will be crowned and the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament handed out.

Akron narrowly edged out the third-seeded Kent State Golden Flashes on Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the tournament, 53-51. The Zips head into Friday's semifinal match on a three-game win streak

Buffalo defied expectations this season after many thought the Bulls would take several steps back following an offseason in which the team lost several key pieces. But the Bulls finished with a 12-6 MAC record, and won their last six games to earn the second seed in the tournament.

Akron and Buffalo split the regular-season series, with each team winning on its home court. The Zips took down the Bulls early in February, 75-72, and Buffalo earned a 67-62 victory late the same month.

Pat Forsythe netted 12 points to pace Akron in the win over Kent State Thursday, while Antino Jackson scored 11 points and Isaiah Johnson added 10 for the Zips. Akron used a 50-percent shooting touch in the second half to phase out the Golden Flashes, who just beat the Zips six days prior to their quarterfinal meeting.

The Zips' season could have been a lot different if they had their star forward Demetrius Treadwell on the floor. Treadwell missed all but one game this season (legal/disciplinary). Only Deji Ibitayo and Forsythe averaged 10.0 ppg this season, as the Zips collected 68.8 ppg as a unit. In the team's loss to Buffalo just a few weeks ago, Forsythe led the Zips with 19 points and eight rebounds, but Akron allowed Buffalo to go to the free-throw line 32 times in the five-point loss.

Buffalo edged out Bowling Green in its most recent contest back on March 6, 77-75, to extend the team's win streak to six consecutive games. Justin Moss netted 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds to pace the team, while Will Regan added 17 with eight boards, and Shannon Evans tallied 14 points with nine assists. Freshman Lamonte Bearden chipped in with 10 points and five assists off the bench.

Moss has replaced last season's MAC Player of the Year Javon McCrea nicely, finishing the regular season with a team-leading 18.4 ppg and 9.4 rpg, connecting on 52.8 percent of his shots from the floor. Evans (15.3 ppg) was the only other Buffalo player in double figures to end the season. The Bulls are 11-15 all-time in MAC Tournament games, and are seeking their first conference title. The Bulls and Zips split the season series, but Buffalo came away with the most recent win back on Feb. 24. Buffalo was led by a huge 25- point, 13-rebound double-double from Moss, while Evans chipped in 13 points in the five-point Bulls victory.

Buffalo is a vastly improved team, so it's fitting the Bulls meet a well- established one in the semifinal matchup. The Zips will need huge play from their frontcourt as they get set to take on one of the best big men in the entire conference Friday.