Ball State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Travels To Evansville Tonight
December 06, 2008 | Men's Basketball
What's On Tap . . .
Ball State continues its two-game road swing Saturday night as the Cardinals travel to Evansville for an 8:05 p.m. (ET) tip-off ... The two-game road swing in the Cardinals' longest of the season ... The Cardinals enter the game with a 4-2 record on the year ... Ball State is coming off of a thrilling 54-52 victory at IPFW Monday night ... The Cardinals are led by second-year head coach Billy Taylor (10-26/91-95) ... Evansville enters the game with a 4-1 record on the year ... The Purple Aces are coming off of an 89-58 victory over SIU-Edwardsville ... Evansville is led by second-year head coach Marty Simmons (13-22/111-95).
Series History With Evansville . . .
Tonight's game marks the 52nd meeting all-time between Ball State and Evansville ... The Cardinals trail the all-time series by a 14-37 margin ... The Purple Aces have won seven of the last nine meetings between the two teams, including a 51-50 victory last season at Worthen Arena ... Last season's game marked the first meeting between the two teams since the 1978-79 season ... Saturday's game is the first trip for the Cardinals to Evansville since January 2, 1971 ... Evansville is 21-2 all-time against Ball State at home.
Last year, the Cardinals held a nine-point lead with just under seven minutes left in the game before Evansville closed on a 13-3 run to take home the victory ... The Purple Aces scored the game-winning basket with 10 seconds remaining on a Pieter van Tongeren jumper ... Former Cardinal Peyton Stovall led all scorers with 22 points on eight-of-12 shooting from the field ... Forward Malik Perry added 10 points and grabbed five rebounds in the loss ... The evenly matched game saw the Cardinals shoot 40.4 percent, while Evansville hit 41.5 percent from the field ... Darin Granger led the Purple Aces with 16 points off of the bench.
Looking Back At IPFW . . .
The Cardinals took home a thrilling 54-52 victory at IPFW Monday night ... Senior forward Anthony Newell hit a game-winning 15-foot jumper from the elbow as time expired to give the Cardinals the heart-stopping victory ... Newell finished the game with his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Ball State connected on 39.5 percent (17-of-43) from the field and 73.9 percent (17-of-23) from the free throw line in the victory ... Senior guard Laron Frazier scored a season-high 15 points as he was four-of-six from the field and a perfect five-of-five from the charity stripe ... Freshman guard Randy Davis has his best game to date as he scored a career-high nine points and dished out four assists ... Davis hit two-of-two from the field and was four-of-four from the free throw line off of the bench.
Did You Know . . .
The Cardinals picked up their fourth win of the season Monday at IPFW (12/1/08) ... Last season, the Cardinals did not pick up their fourth win until February 13, 2008 at Buffalo ... The Cardinals are two games over .500 for the second time this season ... Ball State has opened the season with a 4-2 record through the first six games for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
Ball State's victory at Wisconsin-Milwaukee (11/25/08) was its first on the road this season ... Ball State did not register a road victory until February 13, 2008 at Buffalo ... The Cardinals picked up their second road win Monday at IPFW ... Last season, BSU only recorded one road win all season and the Cardinals only picked up two road wins the entire 2006-07 season ... The back-to-back road wins for the Cardinals marks the first time Ball State has won consecutive road games since the 2003-04 season ... That year, the Cardinals picked up wins at Marshall and Bowling Green.
Staying In The Hoosier State . . .
The Cardinals play 10 of their 12 non-conference games this season in the state of Indiana ... Ball State has just five road non-conference games with three of them staying instate ... The Cardinals have already travelled to Butler and IPFW this season ... Tonight's game marks BSU's second straight road game which is the longest road swing of the season for the Cardinals ... Ball State only has one flight trip this non-conference season with its Dec. 29 contest at UC-Santa Barbara.
Scouting The Cardinals . . .
Ball State enters tonight's game with a 4-2 overall record ... The Cardinals are coming off of a 54-52 victory at IPFW ... BSU has also picked up wins against Eastern Illinois, SIU-Edwardsville and Wisconsin-Milwaukee ... The Cardinals have dropped games at Butler and at home to Arkansas State.
The Cardinals are averaging 63.8 points per game while allowing 58.8 points per game ... Ball State has connected on 42.5 percent (131-of-308) from the field and 34.3 percent (23-of-67) from three-point land ... The Cardinals are shooting 69.5 percent (98-of-141) from the free throw line ... The BSU defense is holding opponents to just 39.4 percent (124-of-315) from the field and 32.6 percent (30-of-92) from long range ... The Cardinals are out-rebounding their opponents by a 36.2-34.2 margin.
Senior forward Anthony Newell leads the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game ... Newell also leads the team in rebounding at 10.2 boards per game ... Freshman forward Jarrod Jones is second on the team in scoring at 12.8 points and second on the glass at 6.8 caroms per contest ... Jones has been limited to just 21.3 minutes per game, most recently due to foul trouble.
Senior guard Laron Frazier is third on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game ... Frazier has connected on 50 percent (six-of-12) from long range ... Senior guard Brandon Lampley is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.2 points per game ... Lampley leads the team in assists with 25.
Scouting The Purple Aces . . .
Evansville enters tonight's game with a 4-1 overall record on the season ... The Purple Aces are coming off of an 89-58 victory over SIU-Edwardsville ... Evansville has also picked up wins at home against Austin Peay, Oakland City and Buffalo ... Evansville dropped a 16-point contest at Butler.
The Purple Aces are averaging 71.4 points per game while allowing 59.0 points per game ... Evansville has connected on 43.3 percent (122-of-282) from the field and 28.3 percent (15-of-53) from three-point land ... The Purple Aces are shooting 74.8 percent (98-of-131) from the free throw line ... The UE defense is holding opponents to just 39.1 percent (108-of-276) from the field and 30.4 percent (24-of-79) from long range ... The Purple Aces are out-rebounding their opponents by a 41.4-31.8 margin.
Evansville is led in scoring by Shy Ely who averages 15.2 points per game ... Ely also leads the team on the glass at 7.0 rebounds per contest ... He is coming off of a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double last time out ... Jason Holsinger is second on the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game ... James Haarsma adds 9.6 points per game off of the bench.
Nate Garner chips in 9.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game ... Pieter van Tongeren is fifth on the team in scoring at 8.0 points per game ... He is coming off of a 17-point performance against SIUE.
890 and Counting . . .
Senior forward Anthony Newell is within reach of becoming the 25th player in Ball State history to reach the 1,000-Point Club this season ... Newell enters the game with 890 career points ... He is averaging 15.3 points per game during the first six contests of the season ... He has scored in double figures 51 times in his career (51-of-80), including 19 times last year and all six times this season ... He has reached 20-plus points on 10 different occasions in his career.
Top 20 And Climbing . . .
Senior forward Anthony Newell moved into the top 20 all-time rebounders in Ball State history earlier this season ... Newell is the 19th player all-time in Ball State history to reach 500 career boards .... He grabbed 13 rebounds at IPFW to move his career total to 524 caroms ... He moved past former Cardinal Mack Sawyer (1965-67) for 17th place all-time ... Ed Butler (1961-64) holds the Ball State career record for caroms with 1,231 boards.
13. Paris McCurdy - 547
14. Chandler Thompson - 534
15. Jeermal Sylvester - 529
16. Shafer Suggs - 527
17. Anthony Newell - 524
Taylor's Defensive Prowess . . .
The trademark of a Billy Taylor led team begins on the defensive end of the court and that has been no different during his time here at Ball State ... The Cardinals' defense finished last year fourth in the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense as it held opponents to 63.9 points per game ... The Cardinals held their opponents under 65 points in 19 of 30 games last year.
Through the first six games of the season, the Cardinals are holding opponents to 58.8 points per game ... The scoring defense is ranked second in the MAC ... The Cardinals have only allowed one opponent to score more than 64 points this season.
Double-Dipping . . .
Freshman forward Jarrod Jones and senior forward Anthony Newell both posted double-doubles in the Cardinals' loss at Butler ... They are the first Cardinals to post a double-double in the same game since Robert Owns and Cameron Echols both accomplished the feat February 6, 2003.
Jones also recorded two double-doubles in his first two career collegiate games ... He recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds in his collegiate debut against Eastern Illinois before scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds at Butler ... He is the only player in the Mid-American Conference to open the season with back-to-back double-doubles this year.
Newel had a streak of three straight double-doubles snapped Saturday against Arkansas State ... He has accomplished a double-dip against Butler, SIU-Edwardsville and Wisconsin-Milwaukee ... Newell recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds against Milwaukee ... He scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against the Bulldogs ... He tallied 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds against SIUE ... Newell posted his 16th career double-double against IPFW.
The last two Cardinals to record three straight double-doubles in a season were Newell and Terrance Chapman ... Newell accomplished the feat three straight games in the 2006-07 season from March 1 through March 7 ... Chapman tallied three straight during the 2004-05 season between January 29 and February 3.
Cardinals In MAC Stats . . .
Through the first six games of the season, the Cardinals have a couple of players sprinkled throughout the Mid-American Conference individual statistic rankings.
Senior forward Anthony Newell enters tonight's game tied for 10th in the MAC in scoring at 15.3 points per game ... He is second in the league on the glass at 10.3 rebounds per game ... He is one of just two players in the MAC averaging a double-double on the season (Jerome Tillman - Ohio).
Freshman forward Jarrod Jones enters tonight's game seventh in rebounding at 6.8 boards per game ... Jones is also 20th in scoring at 12.8 points and is seventh in field goal percentage at 54.9 percent ... Jones leads the conference in blocked shots at 1.67 rejections per game.
Senior guard Brandon Lampley enters the game first in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio at 3.13 ... He is second in the MAC in assists at 3.77 per game and is tied for 11th in free throw percentage (.778) ... Senior guard Laron Frazier is 14th in the MAC in free throw percentage (.750) and tied for fifth from three-point land (.500).
Hitting The Glass . . .
The Cardinals enter Saturday's game ranked tied third in the Mid-American Conference in rebounding margin at +2.0 ... Ball State has out-rebounded its opponents four out of the first six games this season ... BSU leads the MAC on the defensive glass as it averages 27.17 defensive boards per game ... The Cardinals only out-rebounded their opponent 13 times last season ... Prior to the first four games of this season, the last time Ball State out-rebounded four straight opponents was from January 24, 2007 through February 3, 2007 (Akron, Bowling Green, Kent State & Ohio).
Home Sweet Home . . .
Last Saturday's game marked the 241st game for the Cardinals in Worthen Arena (previously University Arena) since its opening January 15, 1992 ... Ball State owns a 177-64 record all-time in Worthen Arena, which is good for .734 winning percentage ... The Cardinals opened the 2008-09 season with their 175th career victory in Worthen Arena as they downed Eastern Illinois 72-59 ... BSU picked up its second home win of the season last Saturday against SIU-Edwardsville ... Ball State has averaged just over 10 wins per season at home since Worthen Arena opened its doors.
Offensive Show . . .
The Cardinals' scored a season-high 82 points against Wisconsin-Milwaukee ... The 82 points are the most for the Cardinals in a game since an 82-point effort at Central Michigan last season ... The 49 points in the second half is the most in a half for the Cardinals since they scored 49 points in the first half against Western Michigan March 5, 2005.
The 57.7 percent shooting from the field for Ball State is the highest in a game since the Cardinals shot 60.3 percent against Akron January 4, 2003.
Newell Honored By MAC . . .
Senior forward Anthony Newell was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Co-Player of the Week (11/24) ... This is the third MAC weekly honor for Newell in his career and the first for the Cardinals this season.
He posted back-to-back double-doubles on the week against Butler and SIU-Edwardsville ... Newell averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds per game on the week ... He scored a game-high 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds at Butler ... He followed with a 15-point, 13-rebound effort in the Cardinals' win against SIUE ... Newell has posted 14 double-doubles on his career ... He is averaging 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds on the season.
Fast Starts . . .
The Cardinals came out of the gate quickly against Eastern Illinois as they scored 43 first half points ... The 43 points are the most for a BSU team in a single half since a 43-point effort in the second half versus Central Michigan on Jan. 13, 2008 ... In addition, the 43 points are the most in a first half for the Cardinals since the team collected 49 in the opening frame versus Western Michigan on March 5, 2005 ... The 13-point margin of victory over Eastern Illinois is the largest since a 21-point, 61-40, win over Valparaiso on Dec. 16, 2006.
Ball State also came out of the gate quickly against SIU-Edwardsville as it ran out to a 24-4 lead ... The 20-point lead against SIUE is the largest for the Cardinals this season and the largest since a 24-point lead against Valparaiso December 16, 2006 ... The Cardinals also held SIUE to just 16 first half points ... The 16 first half points is the fewest for an opponent in a half in the Billy Taylor era and the lowest since BSU held Central Michigan to 16 in the second half January 24, 2006 ... It is the lowest first half total for an opponent since a 16-point first half effort by Eastern Michigan March 3, 2004.
Freshman Starts . . .
Head coach Billy Taylor had two true freshmen in the starting lineup in the 2008-09 season opener as forwards Jarrod Jones and Mo Hubbard got their first career starts against Eastern Illinois ... This is the second straight year that Taylor has started two true freshmen to open the season ... Last year, forward Malik Perry and guard Melvin Goins started in the season opener against Butler.
Cardinals Sign Two Recruits . . .
Head coach Billy Taylor and his staff announced the signings of Huzie Hambrite and Jauwan Scaife to national letters of intent during the early signing period.
Hambrite, a 6-0 guard from Indianapolis, is entering his second year at Lake Land College after playing at Indianapolis Northwest High School ... He led the Lakers in scoring last season as a freshman as he averaged 16 points per game, while also leading the team in assists (101) and steals (29) ... He opened his sophomore season Wednesday with 12 points and six assists as he led Lake Land to a 93-76 victory over Parkland College.
Scaife, a 6-2 guard from Muncie, is entering his senior season at Muncie Central High School ... He averaged 14.5 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per contest as a junior ... He made 46.9 percent of his field goals, including a 46.8 percent clip from three-point land ... He was tabbed as the “Top Sleeper” in the 2008-09 Indiana senior class by the Rick Bolus High Potential Report.
Cardinals Name Captains . . .
Second-year head coach Billy Taylor has announced his 2008-09 team captains in seniors Anthony Newell, Brandon Lampley, Laron Frazier and Rob Giles ... The four players combined to play in 103 games last year, including 47 starts ... This marks the second straight season that Newell has been one of the team's captains.
Newell Preseason All-MAC . . .
Senior forward Anthony Newell was named to the preseason All-Mid-American Conference West Division team by the league head coaches and the MAC media members ... Newell, a team captain, earned Honorable Mention All-MAC honors last season despite missing nine games due to an injury ... He led the team in scoring at 16.9 points per game and in rebounding at 8.0 caroms per contest last season ... He would have finished the season tied for the MAC lead in scoring and second in rebounding if he had appeared in enough games to qualify.
Newell scored in double figures in 19 of his 21 games last season, including six games of 20-plus points ... He played in all 16 conference games for the Cardinals, averaging 16.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, to rank second and third in the league, respectively. ... He enters the season as the Cardinals' most experienced player have seen action in 73 career games with 42 career starts ... He enters his senior season having scored 798 career points and notching 463 career rebounds.
Walking The Stage . . .
The Cardinals have a unique situation this season as two of their four seniors, Anthony Newell and Brandon Lampley, received their bachelor sdegrees this summer ... Newell became the first member of his family to earn a degree as he received a bachelor of science in criminal justice ... He is working on a second bachelor degree this season ... Lampley also graduated this summer as he earned his degree in english studies ... He is working on his master's degree in secondary education this season.
Eight New Faces . . .
The Cardinals welcome in eight newcomers this season in the form of three transfers and five freshmen ... Forward Terrence Watson joins the Cardinals as a senior and will sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules after coming to BSU from Ole Miss ... Also transferring into Ball State is junior college guard Brawley Chisholm and JUCO forward Eric Wormely.
The Cardinals' five freshmen include guard Randy Davis, guard Pierre Sneed, forward Maurice Hubbard, forward Jarrod Jones and center Zach Fields ... This five-member freshman class marks the largest class of true freshmen for the Cardinals since the 1994-95 season when Ball State also welcomed in five freshmen ... The five freshmen that season were Antwaan Jones, Ryan Reed, Charles Smith, Steve Smith and Bonzi Wells.
Brought To New Heights . . .
Last season, the Cardinals' tallest player on the team was 6-foot 5-inch forward Anthony Newell ...This season, Ball State brings a markedly taller version of the Cardinals to the court ... Ball State has four players this season that are taller than 6-5 including forward Maurice Hubbard (6-6), forward Eric Wormely (6-8), forward Jarrod Jones (6-9) and center Zach Fields (6-10) ... Newell is the fifth tallest player on the team this year.
New Faces On The Sidelines . . .
Second-year head coach Billy Taylor has a new look with him on the sidelines this season as Jay Newberry has moved from director of basketball operations to assistant coach this year ... Newberry takes over the assistant coach spot that was vacated when Jim Molinari was hired as the head coach of Western Illinois this off season.
Also, former Missouri Southern assistant coach Matt Laur has been added to the BSU staff as the director of basketball operations this season ... Both Laur and Newberry join Bob Simmons and Joseph Price on Taylor's staff.
88th Season Underway . . .
Ball State is in its 88th season in program history ... The Cardinals have posted a 1069-965-1 record all-time, which is good for a .525 winning percentage ... Ball State is 708-304 all-time at home in Muncie as the Cardinals have won 69.9 percent of games at home.
BSU Picked Fifth In MAC West . . .
The Cardinals were tabbed to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the preseason poll conducted by league coaches and members of the MAC News Media Association ... Western Michigan was selected to capture the league's West Division title, picking up 122 points ... Eastern Michigan (122 points) was chosen second, followed by Central Michigan (79 points), Toledo (71 points), Ball State (55 points) and Northern Illinois (39 points).
Voting for the East Division saw Kent State come out on top, earning 122 points ... Miami was second with 109 points, followed by Bowling Green (70 points), Akron (67 points), Ohio (66 points) and Buffalo (35 points).
The Golden Flashes were also the favorite to win the 2009 MAC Tournament title, earning 11 votes, followed by Miami (7), Bowling Green (2) and Eastern Michigan (2).
Looking Ahead . . .
The Cardinals return home to Worthen Arena for the first of three straight home games Tuesday night when Ball State welcomes in 10th ranked Purdue at 7 p.m.
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