Ball State University
Toledo
Men's Hoops Opens MAC Play versus Toledo
January 05, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Game 14
Ball State (9-4) vs. Toledo (9-4)
Wednesday, Jan. 6 (7 p.m.)
Muncie, Ind. (Worthen Arena)
Watch (ESPN3) | Listen (WLBC)
A Look at the Cardinals  Â
• Ball State will open Mid-American Conference play Wednesday against Toledo. The Cardinals are looking to snap a four-game Rocket winning streak in the series.
• The Cardinals posted their ninth victory the last time out against Chicago State. The nine wins prior to MAC play are the most for the program since the 1992-93 team won nine. The 1988-89 team won 10 games before MAC play, the most in program history.
• At 9-4 so far this season, the Cardinals are off to their best start through 13 games since the 2011-12 team started 9-4. That team went on to start 10-4.
• With a win over Toledo, Ball State would reach the 10-win mark earlier on the calendar than it has in any year since 1999-2000. That year's team picked up its 10th win on Jan. 5. The 1988-89 team was the earliest to achieve 10 wins, reaching the mark on Dec. 28.
• Wednesday's game marks the eighth home game in a nine-game stretch for Ball State, which has played on the road only once since Nov. 22. The Cardinals are 7-1 at home this season. They will go on the road for two straight following the Toledo game.
• Ball State checks in at No. 179 in the latest Ken Pomeroy rankings. The Cardinals have been as high as No. 156 this season, marking their best ranking since January 2012.
• Ball State ranks second in the MAC and 22nd nationally in scoring defense, allowing 62.4 points per game. The Cardinals have surrendered 70 points in a game only three times all year.
A Deeper TeamÂ
• Ball State features a balanced lineup with nine players averaging between 17 and 27 minutes per game.
• Ryan Weber leads the Cardinals at just 26.8 minutes per game.
• A season ago, a much shorter Ball State rotation featured five players averaging more minutes than Weber is this season -- Jeremie Tyler (30.2), Zavier Turner (29.7), Sean Sellers (29.6), Matt Kamieniecki (28.8) and Franko House (28.7).
Smith Running the OffenseÂ
• Junior point guard Naiel Smith owns a 2.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio over the past six games.
• During that stretch, Smith has handed out 27 assists and given the ball away 11 times.
• He has been especially effective over the past two games, recording six assists in both to only three combined turnovers.
Home Court AdvantageÂ
• Ball State is 7-1 at home this season, and the Cardinals are outscoring their opponents 69.8-58.5 on average inside Worthen Arena.
• Ball State is 775-351 (.689) all-time on its home floor and 243-108 (.692) inside Worthen Arena.
• In 23 full seasons in Worthen, the Cardinals have posted at least 10 home wins 15 times. They have not reached the 10-win mark at home since 2011-12.
