Ball State University Athletics
Men?s Hoops Welcomes Valpo for Saturday Matinee
November 27, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Game 7
Ball State (4-2) vs. Valparaiso (6-1)
Saturday, Nov. 28 (2 p.m.)
Muncie, Ind. (Worthen Arena)
Watch (ESPN) | Listen (WLBC)
A Look at the Cardinals
• Ball State has won three straight games, including a 90-54 victory Wednesday over IU Kokomo. The team is averaging 80.0 points per game while shooting 46.4 percent from the floor and 81.8 percent from the free throw line during the three-game winning streak.
• The Cardinals welcome a Valparaiso team that is receiving votes in the latest Associated Press Top 25 rankings. The Crusaders split two games out West earlier in the week with a loss Sunday at No. 21 Oregon (73-67) and a win at Oregon State (63-57). Last year's Horizon League champion, Valpo was the preseason pick to win the league again.
• Saturday's game against Valparaiso is the second of five straight at home for Ball State. It's part of a stretch in which the Cardinals will play eight of nine at Worthen Arena.
• Junior forward Franko House has scored double figures in 16 of his past 18 games dating back to last season, including the last five in a row. Junior wing Ryan Weber has scored double figures in all four of his games this season, his first with the Cardinals. Weber (14.8 ppg), House (13.7) and senior forward Bo Calhoun (11.2) are all averaging double figures.
• Calhoun owns two double-doubles in the early going to lead the MAC in that category. His 4.5 offensive rebounds per game lead the MAC and rank 15th in the country.
• Over the past four games, Ball State has recorded assists on 73 of its 106 made field goals (69.9 percent. The Cardinals had 23 assists on 30 field goals Wednesday against IU Kokomo.
Getting to the Line
• During its current three-game winning streak, Ball State has been to the free throw line 77 times, compared to 35 trips for its opponents.
• The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 63-25 at the stripe during that stretch.
• In the first three games of the season, Ball state was 39 of 62 from the foul line, while its opponents were 64 of 89.
Weber Debuts
• Junior forward Ryan Weber has scored double figures in all four games since making his Ball State debut.
• The Youngstown State transfer hit four 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 19 points in his first game Nov. 20 against Eastern Kentucky.
• He is leading the Cardinals in scoring at 14.8 points per game.
House is Money
• Franko House shot 74.1 percent from the floor over Ball State's three games at last weekend's @EKUHoops Classic.
• House was 8 for 9 against Eastern Kentucky, 6 for 7 against Longwood and 6 for 11 against South Carolina State.
• For the season, he leads the Cardinals and ranks fourth in the MAC at 62.0 percent from the floor.
Finishing Games
• Ball State's free throw shooting down the stretch played a big role in its wins in the final two games of last weekend's @EKUHoops Classic.
• Ball State went 10 for 10 at the stripe in the final four minutes Saturday against Longwood and 12 for 15 over the last four minutes Sunday against South Carolina State.
• Over the past three games, the Cardinals have shot 88.9 percent at the stripe (24 for 27) in the final four minutes.
Hitting the Glass
• Since being beaten on the boards in the season opener at Bradley, Ball State has outrebounded five straight opponents, including three by double digits -- Eastern Illinois (11), Longwood (10) and South Carolina State (10).
• The Cardinals are +41 on the boards during that four-game stretch and +38 for the season.
