Ball State University Athletics
Men?s Hoops Home Again Tuesday versus IUPUI
November 30, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Game 8
Ball State (5-2) vs. IUPUI (2-5)
Tuesday, Dec. 1 (7 p.m.)
Muncie, Ind. (Worthen Arena)
Watch (ESPN3) | Listen (WLBC)
A Look at the Cardinals
• Ball State is coming off a 69-66 victory Saturday over Valparaiso, the team's fourth straight win. The Cardinals led for 36:31 against the preseason Horizon League favorite, which was receiving votes in the Associated Press poll and rated No. 22 nationally in the Pomeroy rankings.
• Ball State welcomes an IUPUI team that is 2-5 but owns a road win over Indiana State and overtime losses at Marquette and Georgia State. The Jaguars defeated the Cardinals 71-69 in overtime last season in Indianapolis.
• The Cardinals are in the midst of a five-game homestand that is the longest for the program since its played five straight at home early in the 1998-99 season. Ball State has not had a longer homestand since it opened the 1992-93 campaign with six straight at Worthen Arena. The team is in the midst of a stretch in which it will play eight of nine at home.
• Senior point guard Jeremiah Davis has come off the bench to record 14 assists to only four turnovers over the past two games, including a career-high eight helpers last Wednesday against IU Kokomo.
• Over the past five games, Ball State has recorded assists on 86 of its 129 made field goals (66.7 percent). For the season, the Cardinals have had more assists than turnovers in five of their seven games after accomplishing that only nine times last year.
• Junior forward Franko House has scored in double figures in 17 of his past 19 games dating back to last season, including each of the past six.
Taking Care of the Ball
• Ball State has made vast improvements in protecting the basketball, ranking 77th in the nation this season in fewest turnovers per game at 11.6.
• In each of the three previous seasons, the Cardinals ranked below No. 300 in the country in that category.
Big-Time Bench Production
• Ball State's bench has outscored the opponents' bench in six of the team's seven games this season with the lone exception being at Eastern Kentucky.
• Bench players have accounted for 41.2 percent of Ball State's minutes played this season, the 14th-highest percentage of any team in the country (source: kenpom.com).
• The Cardinals' bench has outscored the opponents' bench 194-131 for the season, including a 36-8 margin against Eastern Illinois and a 24-4 advantage against Valparaiso.
• The Cardinals have had a total of six double-figure scoring performances by individuals off the bench this season.
Beyond the Arc
• Sophomore guard Francis Kiapway and junior forward Ryan Weber have accounted for 26 of Ball State's 50 3-pointers this season.
• Kiapway has knocked down 14 of 25 attempts (.560), while Weber has connected on 12 of 26 (.462). Combined, they are shooting 50.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Getting to the Line
• During its current four-game winning streak, Ball State has been to the free throw line 100 times, compared to 56 trips for its opponents.
• The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 79-38 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.
