In the final week of the regular season, Eastern clinched the Mid-American Conference title in a dominant, 65-46 win at Kent State. The following Saturday afternoon, Eastern celebrated the program's second MAC regular season title in four years, defeating Ball State at a sold-out Bowen Field House.
The championship trophy was awarded, and the nets were cut down, yet Head Coach Ben Braun was worried.
"We didn't have a great strength of schedule," Braun said, "so a loss in the MAC tournament meant no NCAA or NIT bid. We had everything to lose.