By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor

Western Michigan junior guard Ben Reed is the early frontrunner for Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.

Reed, the conference Freshman of the Year two years ago, won his third West Division Player of the Week award Monday as he continues his comeback from knee problems that plagued him last season. He averaged 29.7 points a game for the week, including a career-high 36 in the championship game of the azcentral.com Hoops Classic at Arizona State.

Reed, the tournament MVP, was leading the MAC in 3-point shooting percentage and 3-point field goals per game. He averaged just 7.4 points last season after scoring 14.2 as a freshman.

• Marshall's win at Central Michigan last Saturday snapped the Thundering Herd's seven-game MAC road losing streak and gave it back-to-back road wins for the first time since December 2001.

The win helped Marshall grab a share of the East Division lead that it gave up with a home loss to co-leader Kent State on Tuesday.

• Akron senior Derrick Tarver was leading the MAC in scoring. No Zips player has won the conference scoring championship. ... Ohio's trip to Kent State tonight wraps up a three-game road stretch for the Bobcats.