Ball State University Athletics
Men?s Basketball Opens MAC Play at Eastern Michigan
January 06, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Ball State at Eastern Michigan
Wednesday, Jan. 7; 7 p.m.
Convocation Center (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Live Video: EMU All-Access
Radio: 104.1 WLBC
Coming off a pair of wins to close out its non-conference slate, the Ball State men's basketball team opens Mid-American Conference play Wednesday night at Eastern Michigan.
The Cardinals will square off with one of the stingiest defensive teams in the country. Eastern Michigan enters conference play with the fifth-best field goal percentage defense in the country, allowing opponents to shoot only 34.2 percent.
Now in their fourth season under head coach Rob Murphy, the Eagles (11-2) own the most wins and the second-best winning percentage of any MAC team this season. EMU has a win over Michigan and has suffered its only losses to Michigan State and Dayton.
Ball State (5-6) is also making strides in its second season under head coach James Whitford. The Cardinals have already matched their win total from last season, reaching win No. 5 two months earlier than they did a year ago.
Ball State is coming off a 51-48 win Saturday over Bethune-Cookman, having overcome a 13-point deficit to hold off the Wildcats down the stretch. The Cardinals weren't at their best in that game, but they found a way to win
Jeremiah Davis made his debut against Bethune-Cookman after missing the first 10 games with a foot injury. Davis, a fourth-year junior, provides experience and leadership to a young Ball State back court. His calming presence was a key factor in the win.
Davis' experience will be needed as the Cardinals enter the grind of the conference season. Ball State will play 18 league games over the next eight weeks, starting with games against the top three teams in the MAC West Division through the non-conference portion of the season.
Wednesday's meeting is the first of two between Ball State and Eastern Michigan. The Eagles have held the upper hand lately with wins in five of the past six meetings, but the Cardinals lead the all-time series by a 54-41 margin.
