
Men's Basketball Opens MAC Play Saturday Versus WMU
January 05, 2012 | Men's Basketball
What's On Tap . . .
Ball State opens Mid-American Conference play Saturday afternoon as it hosts preseason MAC West Division favorite and reigning division champion Western Michigan ... Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Worthen Arena ... Ball State and Western Michigan have finished first or second in the MAC West Division the past three years and the Broncos have ended the year in the top two positions for seven straight seasons.
Saturday's game will be broadcast by the Ball State Sports Network with Jerry Peirson and Vince Welch providing the call ... Affiliates for the BSSN broadcast include WIPB-TV (Muncie), HTSN 6.2 (Indianapolis), Comcast Indianapolis (Ch. 420), Brighthouse Indianapolis (Ch. 164), WANE-TV 15.2 (Fort Wayne), WJTS-TV (Jasper), WNDA-TV (Jeffersonville), WKYI-TV (Louisville, KY) and WHME-TV (South Bend) ... The game will also be video streamed online at www.ballstatesports.com ... The game will also be broadcast by 104.1 WLBC FM with Morry Mannies and David Eha providing the call.
MAC Openers . . .
Saturday's game marks the 39th Mid-American Conference opener in Ball State history, dating back to the 1975-76 season ... The Cardinals are 17-21 all-time in MAC openers, including a 75-70 victory at Northern Illinois (Jan. 8, 2011) last year ... Ball State will be opening league play at home for the 22nd time this afternoon and the Cardinals own a 10-11 mark in such contests.
Saturday's game also marks the fifth time in program history Ball State and Western Michigan have met in a league opener with the Cardinals owning a 3-1 record against the Broncos ... The teams last played in a MAC opener December 5, 1996 with the Cardinals posting a 64-52 victory in Worthen Arena.
Series History . . .
Saturday's game marks the 114th meeting all-time between Ball State and Western Michigan ... The Cardinals narrowly trail the all-time series by a 57-56 margin, including a 34-20 mark in Muncie and a 14-6 record all-time at Worthen Arena ... The two teams have split the season series the past three years, with the home team winning all six games.
Last year, Ball State posted a 72-63 victory over the Broncos Jan. 12 in Worthen Aren ... Western Michigan evened the series with an 87-70 victory in Kalamazoo, March 2 ... In the two games, Ball State was led by guard Jauwan Scaife who averaged 13.0 points against WMU while Jesse Berry added 12.0 points per game ... Jarrod Jones averaged 11.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game against the Broncos ... Western Michigan was led by Mike Douglas who averaged 19.0 points and 5.5 assists per game ... Flenard Whitfield added 14.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while Matt Stainbrook chipped in 10.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
In the Cardinals' victory last season, Berry scored 15 points on the strength of 4-of-5 three-pointers while Scaife added 14 points ... Stainbrook led the Broncos with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss ... In Ball State's loss in Kalamazoo, former Cardinal Malik Perry led the team with 13 points while Scaife added 12 points ... Douglas led the Broncos with 25 points as he was 7-of-7 from the field, 3-of-3 of three-point land and 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
Jones Picks Up Weekly Honor . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones picked up his third Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honor Monday after scoring 17 points and grabbing six rebounds against Chicago State ... Jones is the only player in the MAC this season to win multiple weekly honors as he has three of the first eight awards ... . He connected on 6-of-7 from the field (.857) and 5-of-8 (.625) from the charity stripe to lead the Cardinals to the 28-point victory.
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.
Western Michigan is led by ninth-year head coach Steve Hawkins ... Hawkins owns a 145-112 career record at WMU, including an 83-52 mark in Mid-American Conference play.
Home, Sweet Home . . .
Saturday's game marks the 290th game all-time for the Cardinals at Worthen Arena since it opened January 15, 1992 (previously named University Arena) ... Ball State owns a 213-76 record all-time at Worthen Arena as it has won 73.7 percent of its games at home ... The Cardinals are 6-0 so far this season at home with wins over IUPUI, Calumet College, Texas Southern, Butler, Chicago State and Florida A&M ... In fact, the Cardinals have won 10 straight at home dating back to last season with their last loss coming January 29, 2011 to Ohio (61-60).
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.
Last Time Out. . .
Ball State picked up its second straight victory and improved to 6-0 at home with a 70-55 victory over Florida A&M Wednesday ... The Cardinals out-scored the Rattlers 40-26 in the second half as they connected on 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from the floor in the second stanza.
Three different Cardinals scored in double figures in the victory with senior forward Jarrod Jones posting his fourth double-double of the season and 25th of his career with 15 points and 11 rebounds ... Senior guard Randy Davis scored a season-high 25 points as he hit 3-of-3 from three-point land and 4-of-4 from the free throw line ... Sophomore forward Chris Bond added 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field as the Cardinals out-scored FAMU 36-18 in the paint.
Robinson's Welcome Back . . .
Sophomore Tyrae Robinson sat out the first nine games of the season due to academic reasons but has returned the past three games with strong results, including two straight starts ... Robinson saw his first action of the season against Morehead State and a scored a career-high 14 points in 22 minutes off the bench ... He hit a career-high three three-pointers in the loss ... His previous career-high was 12 points posted at Bowling Green (2/9/11) ... Prior to that game, Robinson had only hit three three-pointers in his first 30 career games (3-of-13).
He followed that effort up with 13 points against Chicago State along with five assists.
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 15th in NCAA Division I in scoring defense holding opponents to a 56.9 point per game average ... Also, the Cardinals lead the MAC in field goal percentage defense at 36.1 percent, which places them seventh in the nation ... Ball State is 19th in the country and second in 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 an 8-4 overall record and have won two straight games ... The Cardinals own a 6-0 record at home at Worthen Arena this season ... Ball State averages 66.0 points per game and is holding opponents to a Mid-American Conference best 56.9 points per game ... The Cardinals are shooting 43.3 percent (265-of-612) from the field and 32.1 percent (76-of-237) from three-point land ... Opponents are shooting 36.1 percent (234-of-648) from the field and 27.9 percent (67-of-240) from long range.
Senior forward Jarrod Jones leads the team in scoring at 17.8 point per game and on the glass at 8.4 rebounds per game ... Jones is shooting 57.1 percent (76-of-133) from the field and 80.3 percent (57-of-71) from the charity stripe ... Sophomore Tyrae Robinson is averaging 10.7 points per game in his first three games back with the team.
Sophomore Jesse Berry is third on the team in scoring at 9.8 points per game and third with 15 three-pointers ... Senior guard Randy Davis leads the team with 80 assists while chipping in 7.8 points per game ... Sophomores Chris Bond and Matt Kamieniecki are second and third on the team in rebounding at 4.5 and 4.3 rebounds per game, respectively.
Scouting The Broncos . . .
Western Michigan enters Saturday's game with a 6-8 record on the year ... The Broncos have won five out of their last six games, including a 72-61 victory over Milwaukee last time out ... Western Michigan is averaging 70.2 points per game while allowing 75.0 points per game ... The Broncos are shooting 42.3 percent (333-of-788) from the field and 32.7 percent (80-of-245) from three-point land ... Opponents are shooting 43.4 percent (376-of-866) from the field and 33.4 percent (108-of-323) from long range.
Sophomore center Matt Stainbrook leads the team in scoring at 13.4 points per game and is second on the team at 6.8 rebounds per game ... Demetrius Ward, a preseason All-Mid-American Conference West Division selection, is second on the team in scoring at 13.0 points per game and leads the team with 22 three-pointers ... Guard Mike Douglas chips in 12.5 points per game and has dished out a team-high 52 assists.
Forward Flenard Whitfield, also a preseason All-MAC West selection, has missed the past six games due to an injury ... Whitfield was averaging 10.4 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game before suffering the ankle injury.
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.
Davis, a preseason All-MAC West selection, leads the MAC and ranks fifth in NCAA Division I in assists per game at 7.1 as he has handed out 78 through the first 11 games this year ... He ranks fourth in the nation in assist/turnover ratio at 4.11, which is also tops in the MAC ... He tied his career-high with 11 assists in the season-opener against No. 16 Arizona ... He ranks fifth on the team in scoring at 7.2 points per game and has scored in double figures on three occasions this season.
Jones' Scoring Numbers . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones leads the Cardinals and is second in the Mid-American Conference in scoring at 17.8 points per game ... Jones ranks 55th in NCAA Division I in scoring this season ... He ranks 21st in the country in field goal percentage at 57.1 percent (76-of-133).
Jones has scored at least 20 points in six of the 11 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 ... Currently, has 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 16 games of 20-plus points in his career.
Running The Point . . .
Senior guard Randy Davis leads the Cardinals and the Mid-American Conference at 6.7 assists per game ... Davis currently ranks fifth in NCAA Division I in assists per game ... Additionally, Davis leads the MAC in assist/turnover ratio at 3.81, which ranks fourth in the nation.
Ball State as a team third in the MAC with 14.7 assists per game ... The Cardinals are second in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio at 1.1, which 86th is 42nd best in the country.
Climbing The Charts . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones moved into ninth place in Ball State history with 1,381 career points and is sixth all-time with 810 rebounds ... Jones just passed Peyton Stovall (1,383) to move into the top 10 ... Additionally, Jones fourth all-time with 103 career starts ... Senior guard Randy Davis moved up to sixth all-time in assists with 382.
Scoring
7. Duane Clemens, 1996-00 1,585
8. Steve Payne, 1992-95 1,440
9. Jarrod Jones, 2008-11 1,396
10. Peyton Stovall, 2003-08 1,383
11. Dan Palombizio, 1984-86 1,369
12. Skip Mills, 2003-07 1,360
Rebounding
3. Steve Payne, 1992-95 885
4. Theron Smith, 1999-2002 882
5. Bonzi Wells, 1994-98 843
6. Jarrod Jones, 2008-11 821
Game Started
3. Duane Clemens, 1996-2000 109
4. Jarrod Jones, 2008-11 104
5. Randy Zachary, 1993-97 100
6. Malik Perry, 2007-11 99
7. Scott Nichols, 1986-90 98
Assists
4. Scott Nichols (1986-90) 406
5. Bonzi Wells, 1994-98 386
6. Randy Davis, 2008-11 382
7. Patrick Jackson, 1998-02 349
Peyton Stovall, 2003-08 349
Leading The MAC . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones is the Mid-American Conference career active leading scorer with 1,396 points and is the career active rebound leader at 821 boards ... Jones leads the active scoring leaders by 132 points as Kent State's Justin Greene is second at 1,249 points and Ohio's D.J. Cooper is third on the list at 1,246 points ... He also owns a 126-rebound lead as Greene is second on the active list at 684 rebounds ... Miami's Julian Mavunga is third on the list at 654 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.
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.
Jones Collects MAC Honor . . .
Senior forward Jarrod Jones has been named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week two times this season ... Jones picked up his first honor Nov. 14 after he tied his career-high with 25 points against No. 16 Arizona while also grabbing nine rebounds ... He connected on 11-of-15 (73.3%) against the nationally ranked Wildcats, including hitting 3-of-3 from three-point land.
Jones picked up his second honor Dec. 12 after leading the Cardinals to wins over SIU Edwardsville and two-time NCAA Tournament finalist Butler to run their winning streak to six straight games ... He averaged 21.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in the two victories while shooting 54.2 percent (13-of-24) from the field and 88.9 percent (16-of-18) from the free throw line ... He scored a team-high 21 points against Butler, including the game-winning basket with 47.2 seconds left to give the Cardinals their first win over Butler since 2003 ... He opened the week by recording his third double-double of the season with 22 points and a season-high 13 rebounds at SIUE.
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 the first time in Mid-American Conference play Tuesday evening as they travel to Toledo to take on the Rockets ... The game will be televised by SportsTime Ohio (STO) and will also be carried on ESPN3 and ESPN Full Court.