CLEVELAND (AP) Jalen Avery hit a driving layup with 24 seconds left and Jaylin Walker scored 19 points as defending champion Kent State, the fifth-seed moved into the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament with a 76-73 win over fourth-seeded Ball State on Thursday.

Adonis De La Rosa scored 13 of his 17 points on free throws for the Golden Flashes (17-16), who will play top-seeded Buffalo in Friday's first semifinal. The Bulls advanced with an 89-74 win over Central Michigan.

Walker was the tourney's MVP last year when the Golden Flashes knocked off the top three seeds.