Kent State Defeats Western Michigan 86-78 in NCAAB Showdown
Friday, March 6, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · M.A.C. Center
Kent State Golden Flashes 86, Western Michigan Broncos 78, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Western Michigan Broncos vs Kent State Golden Flashes?
Kent State Golden Flashes beat Western Michigan Broncos 86-78 at M.A.C. Center on March 6, 2026.
Who was favored in Western Michigan Broncos vs Kent State Golden Flashes?
Kent State Golden Flashes were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1000 (about 91% implied). The favorite won.
In an exciting matchup at the M.A.C. Center, the Kent State Golden Flashes secured an 86-78 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos. This game highlighted Kent State's strong performance throughout the season, as they finished with a home record of 23-8, while Western Michigan struggled with a 10-21 record. Kent State has been in solid form lately, winning seven of their last ten games, including a recent victory against Northern Illinois where they dominated with a score of 102-76. Their scoring average over the last ten games stood at 76.7 points, with an average of 74.3 points allowed, showcasing their offensive capabilities and defensive resilience.
The Golden Flashes entered the game with a one-game winning streak and an impressive 4-1 record in their last five games, averaging 81.6 points while allowing 77.6. In contrast, the Broncos have faced difficulties, winning only two of their last ten games and currently on a two-game losing streak. Their recent performance has seen them average 72.1 points scored while allowing 80.0 points, indicating struggles on both ends of the court.
When considering home versus away performance, Kent State has maintained a strong home record of 3-1 in their last four games, while Western Michigan has not fared well on the road, with a home record of 0-4 in their last four games. This home advantage was evident in the matchup, as Kent State's fans provided a lively atmosphere that likely contributed to their success.
Historically, the two teams have met three times recently, with Kent State leading the series 2-1. In their previous encounters, Kent State won both games in the 2025 season, including a close 73-66 victory at home and a narrow 77-76 win away. The only loss for Kent State came earlier in the season when they fell 83-94 at home against Western Michigan, adding an extra layer of intensity to this matchup.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details on player availability, but injuries can often impact team performance, especially in high-stakes games like this. Both teams were likely looking to field their strongest lineups to secure a crucial win.
The betting market reflected Kent State's dominance, with DraftKings listing them as 13.5-point favorites. The total points set at 157.5 indicated expectations for a high-scoring affair, aligning with both teams' recent scoring averages. Kent State was given a moneyline of -1000, while Western Michigan was at +650, further illustrating the disparity in confidence from the betting perspective.
The game conditions were favorable for a competitive matchup, with both teams looking to establish their rhythm early. Viewers were treated to a back-and-forth contest, with Kent State ultimately pulling away in the second half. Key moments included free throws from both teams, with Justice Williams and Delrecco Gillespie contributing significantly to Kent State's scoring in the final minutes. The final scoring plays saw Kent State maintain their lead, with the game concluding at 86-78.
Overall, this matchup showcased Kent State's strength as they prepare for the postseason, while Western Michigan will need to regroup and address their challenges moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | KENT -13.5 | 157.5 o -110 / u -110 | Western Michigan Broncos +650 · Kent State Golden Flashes -1000 |
Leaders
- PointsJahari Williamson16Kent State Golden Flashes
- AssistsCian Medley5Kent State Golden Flashes
- ReboundsDelrecco Gillespie8Kent State Golden Flashes
- PointsJayden Brewer20Western Michigan Broncos
- AssistsJalen Griffith6Western Michigan Broncos
- ReboundsJustice Williams8Western Michigan Broncos
Recent form
Kent State Golden Flashes
Last 10: 7-3Streak W176.7 scored · 74.3 allowed per game3-1 at home
- W102-76at Northern Illinois HuskiesMar 4
- L70-92vs Akron ZipsFeb 28
- W83-81vs Central Michigan ChippewasFeb 25
- W78-71at Bowling Green FalconsFeb 18
- W75-68at Ball State CardinalsFeb 14
- W95-91vs Eastern Michigan EaglesFeb 12
- L65-66at Southern Miss Golden EaglesFeb 7
- W75-72at Toledo RocketsFeb 4
- L52-69at Akron ZipsJan 30
- W72-57vs Ohio BobcatsJan 28
Western Michigan Broncos
Last 10: 2-8Streak L272.1 scored · 80 allowed per game2-4 away
- L71-74vs Ball State CardinalsMar 4
- L67-69vs Miami (OH) RedHawksFeb 27
- W88-79at Bowling Green FalconsFeb 25
- L70-83at Central Michigan ChippewasFeb 21
- L73-90vs Akron ZipsFeb 18
- W76-62at Eastern Michigan EaglesFeb 14
- L79-90vs Toledo RocketsFeb 12
- L61-77at Texas State BobcatsFeb 7
- L71-91at Ohio BobcatsFeb 4
- L65-85at Northern Illinois HuskiesJan 28
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (OH) | 32-2 | - | 18-0 |
| Akron | 29-6 | 1 | 17-1 |
| Kent State | 24-10 | 4 | 14-4 |
| Toledo | 19-15 | 7 | 11-7 |
| Bowling Green | 18-14 | 9 | 9-9 |
| Ohio | 15-17 | 9 | 9-9 |
| Buffalo | 17-15 | 11 | 7-11 |
| Massachusetts | 17-16 | 11 | 7-11 |
| Ball State | 12-19 | 11 | 7-11 |
| Central Michigan | 10-21 | 12 | 6-12 |
| Western Michigan | 10-21 | 14 | 4-14 |
| Eastern Michigan | 10-21 | 14 | 4-14 |
| Northern Illinois | 9-21 | 10 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Western Michigan Broncos | Kent State Golden Flashes |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-60 | 29-62 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 47 |
| Three-pointers | 13-34 | 14-34 |
| Three-point % | 38 | 41 |
| Free throws | 17-23 | 14-22 |
| Free throw % | 74 | 64 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 13 | 14 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 22 |
| Assists | 14 | 15 |
| Steals | 4 | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 16 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 5 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 14 | 18 |
| Fouls | 14 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 12 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 99 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half44-54Morgan Safford makes layup
- 2nd Half46-54Jayden Brewer makes layup
- 2nd Half46-57Quinn Woidke makes 26-foot three point jumper (Delrecco Gillespie assists)
- 2nd Half49-57Jalen Griffith makes 23-foot three point jumper (Justice Williams assists)
- 2nd Half49-58Morgan Safford makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-59Morgan Safford makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-59Trey Lewis makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jalen Griffith assists)
- 2nd Half52-61Rob Whaley Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half52-63Cian Medley makes 11-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half54-63Jalen Griffith makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-65Morgan Safford makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half55-65Jayden Brewer makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-65Jayden Brewer makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-65Carson Vis makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jalen Griffith assists)
- 2nd Half60-65Carson Vis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-65Carson Vis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-66Rob Whaley Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-68Rob Whaley Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half61-69Rob Whaley Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-69Sharod Barnes makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half63-71Cian Medley makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half66-71Trey Lewis makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jalen Griffith assists)
- 2nd Half68-71Jayden Brewer makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half68-72Jahari Williamson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-73Jahari Williamson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-73Sharod Barnes makes layup (Junior Sileu assists)
- 2nd Half70-76Jahari Williamson makes 26-foot three point jumper (Cian Medley assists)
- 2nd Half70-79Magnus Entenmann makes 28-foot three point jumper (Morgan Safford assists)
- 2nd Half71-79Jayden Brewer makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-79Jayden Brewer makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-80Delrecco Gillespie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-80Junior Sileu makes 11-foot jumper
- 2nd Half74-81Jahari Williamson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-81Justice Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-84Cian Medley makes 28-foot three point jumper (Jahari Williamson assists)
- 2nd Half76-84Jayden Brewer makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-85Delrecco Gillespie makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-86Delrecco Gillespie makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-86Justice Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-86Justice Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Kent State Golden Flashes, below favours Western Michigan Broncos.
Venue
- M.A.C. CenterKent, OH
- Attendance2421
- OfficialsJeff Spedoske, Brad Clauss, Tariq Lucas
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