Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Northern Illinois
MBB Welcomes NIU Friday at 6:30 for #MuncieOut
February 18, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Game 27
Ball State (17-9, 8-5 MAC)
vs. Northern Illinois (18-8, 7-6 MAC)
Friday, Feb. 19 (6:30 p.m.)
Muncie, Ind. (Worthen Arena)
TV: CBS Sports Network | Listen (WLBC) | Live Stats
#MuncieOut Promotions: $6 general admission tickets ($10 reserved), free parking, $1 hot dogs and much more.
A Look at the Cardinals
• Ball State enters Friday's contest with a one-game lead in the Mid-American Conference West Division at 8-5 in league play. Friday's opponent, Northern Illinois, one game back at 7-6, along with Toledo and Central Michigan.
• In addition to the division race, Ball State is playing for MAC Tournament seeding. The top four teams, regardless of division, earn first-round byes. The Cardinals would be the No. 4 seed if the tournament started today, behind Akron (10-3), Ohio (8-5) and Kent State (8-5).
• Ball State moved up to No. 136 out of 351 Division I teams in the Ken Pomeroy rankings after Tuesday's 73-56 win at Miami. BSU has not finished a season better than its current Pomeroy ranking since 2005 (No. 105).
• Friday's meeting is the first of two between Ball State and Northern Illinois in the final 15 days of the regular season. The Huskies are the only remaining league team the Cardinals have not played yet. Ball State is 5-0 against MAC West Division opponents this season. Each of the team's final five games will be played against a West Division foe.
• Ball State's 17-9 record is its best through 26 games since the 2001-02 season (also 17-9). The Cardinals' 8-5 league mark is its best through 13 games since 2010-11 (also 8-5). This is the latest in a season BSU has led the MAC West Division since the 2009-10 campaign.
• As of Feb. 18, BSU is tied for the second-biggest improvement in the country in terms of its record from last year to this year. The Cardinals are 17-9 this season after going 7-23 a year ago. Only Tennessee State (5-26 to 18-7) has made a bigger turnaround (source: NCAA).
With a Win ...
• With a win Friday versus NIU, BSU would ...
-- Maintain sole possession of first place in the MAC West Division.
-- Improve to 9-5 in MAC play for the first time since the 2010-11 season and 18-9 overall for the first time since 2001-02.
-- Improve to 6-0 this season against the MAC West Division.
BSU-NIU Picked for TV ... Again
• Friday's game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was moved when it was selected for television on the CBS Sports Network.
• The network announced this week it will also carry the March 4 Ball State game at Northern Illinois. The tipoff for that game has been moved up one hour to 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET).
Franko's Free Throws
• Junior forward Franko House was a perfect 13 for 13 from the free throw line, all in the second half, Tuesday at Miami.
• Only one Ball State player in the past decade has shot 100 percent from the stripe with more attempts than House.
• Randy Davis went 14 for 14 at the line Jan. 22, 2011 at Toledo.
Raining 3's
• The Cardinals' 220 3-pointers this season already rank as the third most in program history.
• The Cardinals rank 30th nationally at 38.5 percent from 3-point range.
Locking It Down
• Even with the increased offense in college basketball this season, Ball State is holding opponents to 65.7 points per game. That number ranks first in the MAC and 43rd in the country.
• The Cardinals have held 16 opponents to fewer than 70 points, and they have won 15 of those games.
• Ball State ranks 54th nationally in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 40.5 percent from the floor.
• The Cardinals have held 14 opponents this season to less than 40 percent shooting.
