Ball State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Eastern Michigan Saturday
January 12, 2012 | Men's Basketball
What's On Tap . . .
Ball State returns home to Worthen Arena Saturday afternoon as it hosts Mid-American Conference West Division foe Eastern Michigan ... Game time is set for 2 p.m. ... Saturday's game will be broadcast on 104.1 WLBC FM with Morry Mannies and Jerry Peirson providing the call ... The radio broadcast and the video stream of the game will also be available online at www.ballstatesports.com.
Series History . . .
Saturday's game marks the 90th meeting all-time between Ball State and Eastern Michigan ... The Cardinals own a 53-36 record all-time against the Eagles, including a 23-15 mark in Muncie ... Ball State swept the season series last season for the first time since 2004-05 with a 60-51 victory in Ypsilanti and a 64-49 win in Worthen.
In the first game last season, the Cardinals held Eastern Michigan to just 31.7 percent (19-of-60) shooting from the field and just 15 percent (3-of-20) from three-point land ... Forward Jarrod Jones led the Cardinals with 15 points, 13 in the second half, while grabbing eight rebounds ... Randy Davis added 11 points and six assists for the Cardinals.
Ball State complete the series sweep with a 15-point victory in Muncie ... The Cardinals broke the game open with a 30-8 run in the second half as they out-scored EMU 40-23 in the second half ... Jones again paced the attack as he posted a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds while Chris Bond added 16 points and seven rebounds.
Jones Picks Up Weekly Honor . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week for the fouth time this season Monday ... Jones is the only play in the MAC this season to earn multiple honors and has now garnered weekly accolades 10 times in his career.
Jones led the Cardinals to two victories on the week, including a 78-69 victory over MAC West Division preseason favorite Western Michigan ... Jones averaged 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in the two victories
Jones led the Cardinals to a MAC-opening victory over the Broncos with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds as he was 7-of-15 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line ... It marked the seventh time this season he has scored at least 20 points in a game ... He opened the week with his 25th career double-double against Florida A&M as he scored 15 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
Jones has picked up MAC West Player of the Week honors this season Nov. 14, Dec. 12 and Jan. 2.
Coaching Comparison . . .
Ball State is led by fifth-year head coach Billy Taylor ... Taylor has led the Cardinals to 60 wins over the past four-plus seasons, including a 19-win campaign last year which marked the 11th most wins in program history ... The Cardinals have finished either first or second in the Mid-American Conference West Division the past three years and have advanced to the MAC Tournament semifinals two out of the last three years.
Eastern Michigan is led by first-year head coach Rob Murphy ... Murphy spent the past seven seasons as an assistant coach at Syracuse.
Last Time Out . . .
Ball State picked up its fourth straight victory Tuesday with a 70-68 last-second win over Toledo at Savage Arena ... Ball State out-scored the Rockets 10-4 over the final 1:30 of the game, including the game-winning basket by senior forward Jarrod Jones with 0.6 second left in the game.
Ball State connected on 50 percent (23-of-46) from the field and hit a season high 10-of-19 (52.6) from long range ... Jones led all scorers with 22 points while grabbing eight rebounds, marking his eight game this season with at least 20 points ... Sophomore Jesse Berry chipped in 18 points in 21 minutes off the bench as he hit a career-high five three-pointers while also grabbing a career-high four rebounds.
Behind The Numbers . . .
Ball State is 7-0 this season when it scores at least 70 points and was 14-4 last season when reaching the 70-point barrier ... The Cardinals are 10-1 this season when leading at the half with their only loss coming at No. 16 Arizona ... Last season, the Cardinals were 12-2 when leading at the half ... Ball State is a perfect 8-0 this season when it hands out 15 or more assists ... Last year, the Cardinals were 10-2 when reaching at least 15 assists.
Ball State is 10-1 this season when it hits more free throws in a game than its opponent ... The lone exception was at IUPUI (17-16) ... The Cardinals are also 9-2 this season when senior forward Jarrod Jones leads the team in scoring.
Double Figure Wins . . .
Ball State picked up its 10th win of the season Tuesday at Toledo ... This marks the Cardinals fourth straight season with double-figure wins and their 54th season all-time with at least 10 wins ... The Cardinals are off to a 10-4 start for the second straight season ... Last year, Ball State opened the season with a 13-4 record, its best start to a season since 1997-98 (16-3).
Raining Threes . . .
Tuesday night, the Cardinals tied thier season-high with 10 three-pointers as they shot 52.6 percent (10-of-19) beyond the arc ... Earlier this year, the Cardinals hit 10-of-20 (50 percent) against Tennessee-Martin.
The 10 three-pointers are the most in a single game since Ball State connected for 14 three-pointers March 4, 2006 at Eastern Michigan.
Cardinals On ESPNU . . .
The Mid-American Conference announced last week that the Ball State at Ohio game Saturday, January 28 has been chosen for an ESPNU national telecast ... Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio.
Bond, Chris Bond . . .
Sophomore forward Chris Bond has stepped up his play lately as he is averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game over the past six games ... Bond is shooting 63.4 percent (26-of-41) from the field during the stretch that began Dec. 19 against IUPUI.
Bond scored a season-high 14 points last week against Florida A&M and followed that up with an 11-point, nine-rebound effort against Western Michigan ... In 12 career Mid-American Conference starts, Bond averages 9.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game ... He is shooting 60.8 percent (48-of-79) from the field while averaging 26 minutes per game in league starts.
Home, Sweet Home . . .
Saturday's game marks the 291st game all-time for the Cardinals at Worthen Arena since it opened January 15, 1992 (previously named University Arena) ... Ball State owns a 214-76 record all-time at Worthen Arena as it has won 73.8 percent of its games at home ... The Cardinals are 7-0 so far this season at home with wins over IUPUI, Calumet College, Texas Southern, Butler, Chicago State, Florida A&M and Western Michigan.
Last season, the Cardinals posted an 11-3 record at home, including a 5-1 mark during non-conference play ... During its career, the Cardinals have averaged over 10.35 wins a season at home at Worthen Arena.
In fact, the Cardinals have won 11 straight at home dating back to last season with their last loss coming January 29, 2011 to Ohio (61-60) ... The Cardinals' 11-game home winning streak is the seventh longest such streak in program history ... The program record is 26-straight home victories from February 28, 1996 through February 11, 1998.
Winning Streaks In Home Games
1. 26, (2-28-96 to 2-11-98)
2. 24, (1-31-81 to 12-21-82)
3. 15, (12-13-56 to 12-19-57)
15, (1-25-89 to 1-31-90)
5. 13, (1-23-48 to 12-2-49)
6. 12, (12-11-37 to 1-6-39)
Cashing In The Freebies . . .
Ball State seniors Randy Davis and Jarrod Jones rank in the top four in the Mid-American Conference this season in free throw percentage, the only team with two players in the top five ... Davis leads the MAC from the line, hitting 89.8 percent (44-of-49), while Jones is fourth in the conference at 83.3 percent (70-of-84).
Davis had a stretch of 26 straight free throws made snapped last game against Toledo ... He posted 22 straight on two different occasions last year ... The Ball State record for consecutive free throws made is 41 set by Larry Bullington in 1971-72.
Defensive Prowess . . .
The Cardinals have been one of the top defensive teams in the Mid-American Conference and the country under fifth-year head coach Billy Taylor and this season is no different ... Ball State enters the game leading the MAC and ranking 19th in NCAA Division I in scoring defense holding opponents to a 58.6 point per game average ... Also, the Cardinals lead the MAC in field goal percentage defense at 37.1 percent, which places them sixth in the nation ... Ball State is 13th in the country and leads the MAC in three-point field goal defense, holding opponents to 27.9 percent.
Last season, Ball State led the MAC and was 64th in the nation in scoring defense at 64.0 points per game while placing third in the league in field goal percentage defense at 42.0 ... Two years ago, the Cardinals also led the MAC in scoring defense and were 43rd in the nation at 62.4 points per game.
Scouting The Cardinals . . .
Ball State enters Saturday's game with a 10-4 overall record and a 2-0 mark in Mid-American Conference play ... The Cardinals are 7-0 this season at home at Worthen Arena ... Ball State is averaging 67.1 points per game while holding opponents to a MAC-low 58.6 points per game ... The Cardinals are shooting 43.9 percent (313-of-713) from the field and 33.3 percent (91-of-273) from long range ... Opponents are shooting 37.1 percent (284-of-766) from the field and just 27.9 percent (78-of-280) from long range.
Senior forward Jarrod Jones leads the Cardinals in scoring at 18.3 points per game and on the glass at 8.4 rebounds per game ... Jones is shooting 56.6 percent (90-of-159) from the field and 83.3 percent (70-of-84) from the free throw line ... Sophomore guard Jesse Berry is second on the team in scoring at 10.5 points per game, all off the bench ... Berry is tied for the team lead with Jauwan Scaife for three-pointers with 22.
Senior guard Randy Davis leads the team with 90 assists while also chipping in 8.3 points per game ... Sophomore Chris Bond is second on the team on the glass with 4.8 rebounds per game.
Scouting The Eagles . . .
Eastern Michigan enters Saturday's game with a 6-10 overall record and a 1-1 mark in Mid-American Conference play ... The Eagles opened MAC play with a 47-40 victory over Northern Illinois before falling 60-56 to Central Michigan at home ... Eastern Michigan is averaging 53.2 points per game while allowing 60.9 points per game ... The Eagles are shooting 37.2 percent (293-of-787) from the field and 27.0 percent (71-of-263) ... Opponents are shooting 41.5 percent (334-of-805) from the field and 32.1 percent (106-of-330) from long range.
Darrell Lampley leads the Eagles in scoring at 14.1 points per game and has hit a team-high 27 three-pointers ... Antonio Green is second on the team in scoring at 6.9 points per game and from beyond the arc with 15 three-pointers ... Jamell Harris leads Eastern Michigan in rebounding at 6.4 boards per game.
Jones' Scoring Numbers . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones leads the Cardinals and is second in the Mid-American Conference in scoring at 18.3 points per game ... Jones ranks 51st in NCAA Division I in scoring this season ... He ranks 32nd in the country in field goal percentage at 56.6 percent (90-of-159).
Jones has scored at least 20 points in eight of the 14 games this season, including three straight games for the first time in his career ... He scored 25 points against No. 16 Arizona in the season opener, scored a career-high 26 points against IUPUI and added 23 points against Calumet College ... He notched three-straight games of 20-plus points with 22 points against UT Martin , 22 at SIU Edwardsville and 21 against Butler ... He has notched 18 games of 20-plus points in his career.
Running The Point . . .
Senior guard Randy Davis leads the Cardinals and the Mid-American Conference at 6.4 assists per game ... Davis currently ranks 11th in NCAA Division I in assists per game ... Additionally, Davis leads the MAC in assist/turnover ratio at 3.9, which ranks fourth in the nation.
Ball State as a team is second in the MAC with 14.7 assists per game ... The Cardinals are second in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio at 1.11, which 59th in the country.
Climbing The Charts . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones moved into ninth place in Ball State history with 1,438 career points and is sixth all-time with 837 rebounds ... Jones needs three points to surpass Steve Payne for eighth all-time in scoring ... Additionally, Jones fourth all-time with 105 career starts ... Senior guard Randy Davis moved up to fifth all-time in assists with 393, surpassing Bonzi Wells.
Scoring
6. Theron Smith, 1999-02 1,599
7. Duane Clemens, 1996-00 1,585
8. Steve Payne, 1992-95 1,440
9. Jarrod Jones, 2008-11 1,438
10. Peyton Stovall, 2003-08 1,383
11. Dan Palombizio, 1984-86 1,369
Rebounding
3. Steve Payne, 1992-95 885
4. Theron Smith, 1999-2002 882
5. Bonzi Wells, 1994-98 843
6. Jarrod Jones, 2008-11 837
Game Started
3. Duane Clemens, 1996-2000 109
4. Jarrod Jones, 2008-11 105
5. Randy Zachary, 1993-97 100
6. Malik Perry, 2007-11 99
7. Scott Nichols, 1986-90 98
Assists
2. Chris Shelton (1982-86) 481
3. Mike Spicer (1988-92) 430
4. Scott Nichols (1986-90) 406
5. Randy Davis, 2008-11 393
6. Bonzi Wells, 1994-98 386
Leading The MAC . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones is the Mid-American Conference career active leading scorer with 1,438 points and is the career active rebound leader at 837 boards ... Jones leads the active scoring leaders by 150 points as Kent State's Justin Greene is second at 1,288 points and Ohio's D.J. Cooper is third on the list at 1,276 points ... He also owns a 142-rebound lead as Greene is second on the active list at 695 rebounds ... Miami's Julian Mavunga is third on the list at 674 caroms.
Double-Dipping . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones has posted four double-doubles to raise his career total to a Mid-American Conference best 25 double-doubles ... Jones has accomplished the feat this season against Calumet College, Texas Southern, SIU Edwardsville and most recently against Florida A&M.
Jones Earns Pre-MAC Honor . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones was named one of five All-Mid-American Conference selections by CollegeHoops.net for his play in the pre-conference schedule ... Jones ranks second in the MAC in scoring at 18.1 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game ... He has earned MAC West Player of the Week honors three times this season, the only player in the league to win multiple honors.
Joining Jones on the pre-conference team is Miami's Julian Mavunga, Ohio's D. J. Cooper, Buffalo's Javon McCrea and Toledo's Rian Pearson.
Davis - Cousy Award Candidate . . .
For the second year in a row, Ball State senior point guard Randy Davis has been named one of 59 candidates for the 2012 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award ... The annual honor, named for Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy, recognizes the top point guards in college basketball ... Davis is one of just two players from the Mid-American Conference (D.J. Cooper, Ohio) among the 2012 nominees and is just one of 12 players in the country that has made the exclusive list for two straight years
Lowe's Senior CLASS Award . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones has been selected as one of 30 candidates for the 2011-12 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award given to basketball student-athletes who excel on and off the court ... Jones is the first Cardinal to be selected as a candidate since Peyton Stovall was a finalist for the 2007-08 award.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as a NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition ... The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot ... Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, Division I men's coaches and fans who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
Cardinals Sign Four . . .
Ball State head coach Billy Taylor announced the signings of Michael Ramey (Indianapolis, Ind./Southport), Bo Calhoun (South Bend, Ind./Washington), Marcus Posley (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Auburn) and Mading Thok (Boyden, Iowa/Western Christian) to national letters of intent Friday morning during the early signing period.
Ramey, a 6-5 shooting guard, was recently ranked as a Top 25 Shooter in the country for the class of 2012 by ESPN.com after leading the state in three-point shooting as a junior, connecting on 52.4 percent (66-of-126) ... He averaged 19.5 points per game as a junior to earn First Team All-Conference honors.
Calhoun, a 6-6 forward, earned First Team All-Northern Indiana Conference honors last season after averaging 18.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game ... He has led the Panthers to a 46-22 record during his first three seasons, including a 12-7 mark last season.
Posley, a 6-1 guard Illinois High School Association All-State honors as a junior as he averaged 19.4 points per game and 4.5 assists per contest ... He also picked up All-Northern Illinois Conference and All-Area accolades last season.
Thok, a 7-0 center, is a native of Bor, Sudan ... He averaged 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game as a junior while shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 67.6 percent from the free throw line.
Cardinals Tabbed Second . . .
Ball State has been picked to finish second in the Mid-American Conference West Division preseason poll as selected by the MAC News Media Association ... The Cardinals were picked to finish second in the MAC West Division with 111 points, including nine first place votes, behind Western Michigan (128/14) ... The Cardinals finished last season with a 19-13 overall record and a 10-6 mark in MAC play, finishing second in the West Division ... The Cardinals returns nine letterwinners, including its top five scorers, from last season's team which posted the 11th most wins in program history.
Rounding out the MAC West Division are Central Michigan (92/1), Toledo (76), Northern Illinois (59) and Eastern Michigan (38) ... Reigning MAC regular season champion Kent State was selected to win the East Division with 132 total points, including 16 first place votes ... Akron was tabbed second with 104 points and eight first place votes followed by Ohio (94), Miami (80), Buffalo (62) and Bowling Green (32).
Kent State was also selected to win the 2012 MAC Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio as it received 12 of the 24 votes ... Akron was second with six votes followed by the Cardinals (3), Western Michigan (2) and Central Michigan (1).
Captains Earn MAC Honors . . .
Ball State senior captains Jarrod Jones and Randy Davis were named to the preseason All-Mid-American Conference West Division teams last week ... The two Cardinals were joined by Western Michigan's Flenard Whitfield and Demetrius Ward along with Central Michigan's Trey Zeigler on the West Division squad.
Jones highlights the MAC West Division preseason team, earning preseason accolades for the third time in his career ... He earned First Team All-MAC and MAC All-Tournament honors last season as a junior when leading the team in scoring at 14.7 points per game and rebounding at 8.4 caroms per game ...He scored double figures in 27 of BSU's 32 games, including five games of 20-plus points last season while posting 11 double-doubles.
Davis earns preseason All-MAC honors for the first time in his career after starting all 32 games last season as the Cardinals' point guard ... He averaged 9.8 points per game while leading the team with 160 assists and 48 steals ... He led the MAC from the free throw line connecting on 87.3 percent (117-of-134) while placing second in assists per game (5.0).
Looking Ahead . . .
The Cardinals hit the road for two straight Mid-American Conference games next week as they travel to Central Michigan Wednesday and Northern Illinois Saturday.
