Saturday, January 26
Athens, Ohio
2:00 PM ET
Ball State University
at
Ohio
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Men’s Basketball Looks to Continue Road Success Saturday at Ohio
January 25, 2019 | Men's Basketball
Cardinals aiming to avenge loss to Bobcats two weeks ago in Muncie
Game 20
Ball State (11-8, 2-4 MAC) at Ohio (10-8, 2-4 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 26 (2 p.m.)
Athens, Ohio (Convocation Center)
Watch: ESPN3 | Listen: 96.7/104.9 | Live Stats
Setting the Stage
• Ball State visits Ohio for the second meeting of the season between the teams. The Cardinals are looking to avenge a 70-52 loss to the Bobcats two weeks ago in Muncie. That matchup was the second in a stretch that has seen BSU drop four of its past five games. Ball State is coming off a 71-65 loss Tuesday to Miami despite a second-half rally to grab the lead.
• Ohio is coming off an 81-76 win over Western Michigan. It was Bobcats' first home victory in league play, though they did push MAC West Division leader Northern Illinois to overtime at home in the MAC opener. The Bobcats enter Saturday's game shooting just 40.5 percent in MAC play, while Ball State allows only 42.2 percent shooting, second-best in the league.
About the Matchup
• Despite losses in four of its past five games, Ball State remains a top-100 team in the major power ranking systems, including a high mark of No. 90 in ESPN's BPI. The Cardinals reached a high of No. 49 in the NCAA's NET rankings earlier this month. BSU has not finished a season in the top 100 since 2004-05 (96 in Ken Pomeroy).
• Ball State faces an Ohio team that checks in a No. 156 in the NET rankings. Sophomore forward Jason Carter ranks seventh in the MAC in scoring at 16.3 points per game, though sophomore guard Teyvion Kirk is the team's top scorer in MAC play at 14.5 per game. Kirk led Ohio with 19 points in the win two weeks ago in Muncie. Freshman guard Jason Preston has recorded one of the more incredible stats in MAC play so far with 21 assists and just one turnover. He had nine assists in Tuesday's win over Western Michigan.
• Ball State's strength of schedule ranks 94th among the nation's 353 Division I teams, according to Ken Pomeroy. It is the highest-rated schedule the Cardinals' have played since 2004-05 (91st).
• The schedule strength number is likely to maintain or get better based on the value of the MAC this season. KenPom rates the MAC at No. 9 among the 32 D-I conferences, the best it has been in the 18-year history of his rankings. The NET has the MAC one spot better at No. 8 overall and second only to the American Athletic Conference outside the traditional power leagues.
• Ball State has had more success on the road than at home in MAC play. The Cardinals are 0-3 at home but 2-1 on the road with double-digit wins over Toledo and Central Michigan and a one-point loss to a Bowling Green squad that remains unbeaten in league play.
What's Trending
• Ball State suffered its first loss of the season when outrebounding an opponent in Tuesday's game with Miami. The Cardinals held a 36-27 advantage on the glass but lost the game. BSU had previously been 11-0 when winning the battle of the boards. The Cardinals are 0-7 when being outrebounded.
• After shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range during the non-conference schedule, Ball State is making just 26.9 percent in MAC play. The Cardinals hit just one 3-pointer in Tuesday's loss to Miami. It has been 357 games since BSU did not make at least one 3 (Dec. 2, 2007 at Valparaiso).
• BSU averaged 15.6 assists through 15 games, but the Cardinals have recorded just 24 over the past four. The past four games have accounted for BSU's four lowest assist totals of the season.
Ball State (11-8, 2-4 MAC) at Ohio (10-8, 2-4 MAC)
Saturday, Jan. 26 (2 p.m.)
Athens, Ohio (Convocation Center)
Watch: ESPN3 | Listen: 96.7/104.9 | Live Stats
Setting the Stage
• Ball State visits Ohio for the second meeting of the season between the teams. The Cardinals are looking to avenge a 70-52 loss to the Bobcats two weeks ago in Muncie. That matchup was the second in a stretch that has seen BSU drop four of its past five games. Ball State is coming off a 71-65 loss Tuesday to Miami despite a second-half rally to grab the lead.
• Ohio is coming off an 81-76 win over Western Michigan. It was Bobcats' first home victory in league play, though they did push MAC West Division leader Northern Illinois to overtime at home in the MAC opener. The Bobcats enter Saturday's game shooting just 40.5 percent in MAC play, while Ball State allows only 42.2 percent shooting, second-best in the league.
About the Matchup
• Despite losses in four of its past five games, Ball State remains a top-100 team in the major power ranking systems, including a high mark of No. 90 in ESPN's BPI. The Cardinals reached a high of No. 49 in the NCAA's NET rankings earlier this month. BSU has not finished a season in the top 100 since 2004-05 (96 in Ken Pomeroy).
• Ball State faces an Ohio team that checks in a No. 156 in the NET rankings. Sophomore forward Jason Carter ranks seventh in the MAC in scoring at 16.3 points per game, though sophomore guard Teyvion Kirk is the team's top scorer in MAC play at 14.5 per game. Kirk led Ohio with 19 points in the win two weeks ago in Muncie. Freshman guard Jason Preston has recorded one of the more incredible stats in MAC play so far with 21 assists and just one turnover. He had nine assists in Tuesday's win over Western Michigan.
• Ball State's strength of schedule ranks 94th among the nation's 353 Division I teams, according to Ken Pomeroy. It is the highest-rated schedule the Cardinals' have played since 2004-05 (91st).
• The schedule strength number is likely to maintain or get better based on the value of the MAC this season. KenPom rates the MAC at No. 9 among the 32 D-I conferences, the best it has been in the 18-year history of his rankings. The NET has the MAC one spot better at No. 8 overall and second only to the American Athletic Conference outside the traditional power leagues.
• Ball State has had more success on the road than at home in MAC play. The Cardinals are 0-3 at home but 2-1 on the road with double-digit wins over Toledo and Central Michigan and a one-point loss to a Bowling Green squad that remains unbeaten in league play.
What's Trending
• Ball State suffered its first loss of the season when outrebounding an opponent in Tuesday's game with Miami. The Cardinals held a 36-27 advantage on the glass but lost the game. BSU had previously been 11-0 when winning the battle of the boards. The Cardinals are 0-7 when being outrebounded.
• After shooting 38.4 percent from 3-point range during the non-conference schedule, Ball State is making just 26.9 percent in MAC play. The Cardinals hit just one 3-pointer in Tuesday's loss to Miami. It has been 357 games since BSU did not make at least one 3 (Dec. 2, 2007 at Valparaiso).
• BSU averaged 15.6 assists through 15 games, but the Cardinals have recorded just 24 over the past four. The past four games have accounted for BSU's four lowest assist totals of the season.
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