Ball State University
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Western Michigan
Men's Hoops Visits Western Michigan for Tuesday Tilt
January 11, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Ball State (10-5, 1-1 MAC)
at Western Michigan (6-9, 0-0 MAC)
Tuesday, Jan. 12 (7 p.m.)
Kalamazoo, Mich. (University Arena)
Watch (ESPN3) | Listen (WLBC)
A Look at the Cardinals  Â
• Ball State visits Western Michigan for its second straight road game Tuesday. It is the first time this season the Cardinals have played consecutive road contests. BSU is coming off a 79-73 loss at Ohio that snapped the team's three-game winning streak.
• Despite the loss at Ohio, Ball State moved up one spot to No. 158 in the Ken Pomeroy rankings. The Cardinals have been as high as No. 156 this season, marking their best ranking since January 2012. BSU has won nine of its past 12 games after starting the year 1-2.
• The Cardinals have played Western Michigan more often than all but one opponent in school history. Tuesday marks the 124th meeting, with WMU holding a 63-60 edge. Indiana State (130 meetings) is the only team Ball State has played more often.
• At 10-5 so far this season, the Cardinals are off to their best start through 15 games since the 2011-12 team started 10-5.
• Ball State reached the 10-win mark this season on Jan. 6, marking the earliest on the calendar the Cardinals have posted 10 wins since the 1999-2000 season. The 1988-89 team was the earliest BSU squad to achieve 10 wins, reaching the mark on Dec. 28 ... The team's nine wins prior to Mid-American Conference play were the most for the program since the 1992-93 season and one shy of the school record (10 in 1988-89).
• Ball State ranks third in the MAC and 28th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 63.9 points per game. The Cardinals have surrendered 70 points in a game only four times all year.
Kiapway's Hot MAC StartÂ
• Francis Kiapway has come out of the gates quickly in conference play, averaging 18.5 points per game through two contests.
• Kiapway averaged 7.8 points per game through the non-conference schedule.
• In Ball State's two league games, the sophomore guard is shooting 63.2 percent (9 for 14) from 3-point range.
• He connected on a career-high six treys Saturday at Ohio.
Stealing the ShowÂ
• Junior guard Naiel Smith ranks second in the MAC and among the top 100 nationally with 1.7 steals per game.
• Smith has nearly surpassed the total of Ball State's steals leader from a year ago. Jeremiah Davis led the Cardinals with 29 steals in 2014-15.
Taking Care of the BallÂ
• Ball State has made improvements in protecting the basketball, ranking 95th in the nation this season in fewest turnovers per game at 12.2.
• In each of the three previous seasons, the Cardinals ranked below No. 300 in the country in that category.
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Players Mentioned
