Ball State University Athletics
MBB Gets Second Shot at Western Michigan Tuesday
February 23, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Ball State vs. Western Michigan
Tuesday, Feb. 24; 7 p.m.
Worthen Arena (Muncie, Ind.)
Video: Ball State All-Access
Radio: 104.1 WLBC
In the long history of the series between Ball State and Western Michigan in men's basketball, the past two meetings have had some of the most drama.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they have been on the wrong end of both. But that doesn't mean the games haven't been exciting.
Last year in Muncie, Western Michigan rallied in the second half to force overtime and went on to win in the extra period. Earlier this season in Kalamazoo, Ball State sent the game to overtime with a five-point final possession and then lost in a second overtime on a strange last play.
The final play was so confusing that even Western Michigan's Connar Tava, who scored the winning basket, thought he had done so after time expired. But video replay showed Tava's tip-in beat the game clock even though virtually everyone had stopped playing when the shot clock buzzer sounded a split second earlier.
If the previous two games are any indication, fans are in for an entertaining contest when the long-time rivals get together again Tuesday at Worthen Arena.
The loss earlier this season at Western Michigan was the first conference defeat for Ball State after two straight wins to start league play. The Cardinals have hit a tough stretch since then but are looking to regroup and close the regular season in strong fashion with the Mid-American Conference Tournament just two weeks away.
Ball State's past three games – losses to Bowling Green, Kent State and Central Michigan – have come against teams that would be among the top four seeds if the tournament started today. The most recent defeat was an 83-60 loss Saturday at Central Michigan.
Western Michigan is coming off a 97-87 loss to Toledo. The defending conference champion Broncos feature four double-figure scorers, led by David Brown, who ranks second in the MAC during league play at 18 points per game.
Brown went for 35 in the first meeting between the teams, marking the second-most in a game by any MAC player this season. He drained 7 of 7 attempts from 3-point range in the second half to help the Broncos overcome a 14-point deficit on the way to the double-overtime win.
Western Michigan holds a slim 62-60 lead in the all-time series, but Ball State is 37-21 against the Broncos in Muncie.
