AKRON, Ohio (Interstat) — A Mid-American Conference men’s basketball showdown with significant postseason implications is set for Tuesday when the Akron Zips host the Buffalo Bulls at James A. Rhodes Arena. The Zips (20-5), firmly in contention for the MAC regular-season title, enter as one of the conference’s hottest teams. They have won eight of their last nine games, including a decisive 78-65 victory at Ball State last Friday. Standout forward Amani Lyles powered that win with 26 points, continuing a strong stretch where he has averaged over 18 points per game in his last five outings. Akron’s balanced attack, which also features guard Tavari Johnson (25 points, 6 assists vs. Ball State), presents a formidable challenge for any opponent. Buffalo (16-10), looking to bolster its conference tournament seeding, arrives with momentum after an 86-82 overtime road win at Massachusetts on Saturday. The Bulls are led by the explosive scoring of guard Angelo Brizzi, who dropped 27 points in that victory. Brizzi has been on a tear, averaging 24.3 points over his last three games and scoring 25 or more in four of his last seven contests. His backcourt play will be critical for a Buffalo team seeking more consistent results after a 4-3 stretch in its last seven games. This matchup is a quick rematch from just over a month ago, when Akron dominated Buffalo 82-63 on Jan. 20. The Zips have used that victory as a springboard, while the Bulls are eager to demonstrate their growth and avenge the lopsided loss. The game pits Akron’s conference-leading pedigree and home-court advantage—where they are 11-1 this season—against a Buffalo squad with a proven road winner in Brizzi. A Zips victory would solidify their position atop the MAC, while a Bulls win would provide a crucial Quadrant 1 résumé boost and shake up the conference standings. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Feb. 24.