Cardinals Start New Season with Oldest Rival

Game 1
Ball State (0-0, 0-0 MAC) vs. Indiana State (0-0, 0-0 MVC)
Tuesday, Nov. 2 (7 p.m.)
Muncie, Ind. (Worthen Arena)
Watch (ESPN+) | Listen (96.7/104.9) | Live Stats

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Setting the Stage
• Ball State hosts Indiana State in the season opener for the 130th all-time meeting in the oldest rivalry in program history. The Cardinals won last year's matchup, 93-85, in Terre Haute.

• Both teams played one exhibition game, with Ball State defeating UIndy, 92-76, and Indiana State defeating Rose-Hulman, 77-44.

• The last time Ball State and Indiana State met in a season opener was 2013 in James Whitford's first game as the Cardinals' head coach. The Sycamores won that contest, 83-72.

• Kyle Mallers led BSU to its exhibition win with 25 points, seven more than his career-high of 18. Tahjai Teague, who scored 20 points five times in MAC play last year, added 20.

• Transfers K.J. Walton, Brachen Hazen and Austin Nehls all debuted for Ball State in the exhibition win. Walton went for 15 points.

• Indiana State went 13-18 a year ago and 8-10 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Jordan Barnes returns as the Sycamores' top threat after averaging 17.4 points per game a season ago. Indiana State is playing its ninth season under head coach Greg Lansing.

• The 2018-19 season is Ball State's sixth under Whitford's direction. The Cardinals have averaged 20.3 victories over the past three years, winning MAC West Division championships in both 2016 and 2017.

• With Ball State's crop of returning players plus three eligible transfers, the Cardinals' active roster boasts a total of 4,997 career points.

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Players Mentioned

Brachen Hazen

Kyle Mallers

Austin Nehls

Tahjai Teague

K.J. Walton