Ball State Returns to MACtion with Road Trip to Akron

Tuesday, January 11

Akron, Ohio

7 p.m.

Ball State University

Akron

Photo by: Chad Smith

Ball State Returns to MACtion with Road Trip to Akron

January 10, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Watch Listen Live Stats BSU Game Notes

By: Chad Smith

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team returns to the hardwood on Tuesday for a Mid-American Conference showdown with the Akron Zips. The Cardinals enter the contest with a 7-7 overall record and are 2-1 in the MAC, while the Zips bring in an 8-4 mark and are 1-1 in conference play. The jump is scheduled for 7 p.m. from James A. Rhodes Arena.

BSU is coming off a 78-72 road victory against EMU. For the second time this season, the Cardinals had five players in double digits. Luke Bumbalough recorded his third game of the year with 20 points, with 20 in Saturday's contest. He tied with Payton Sparks for the team lead in rebounding with six. Tyler Cochran finished with 15 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. Sparks added 11 points. Miryne Thomas and Demarius Jacobs each chipped in with 10 points. Jacobs notched a game-high four assists. Jaylin Sellers and Sparks each blocked a shot. Sellers added nine points and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the field along with a team-high three steals.

Bumbalough paces Ball State with 12.9 points per game and leads the team with 46 assists. Cochran enters Tuesday averaging 11.4 points per contest, while Sparks is averaging 10.6. Sparks continues to pave the way on the glass with 6.2 rebounds per game. Cochran and Thomas are averaging 5.1 and 5.0 rebounds per contest, respectively. Cochran has been a force on the defensive end all season and has a team-high 27 steals. Jacobs and Bumbalough have double-digit steals with 12 and 10 respectively. Sparks, Thomas, and Basheer Jihad are all tied for the team lead in blocks with six each.

As a team, the Cardinals are tied for 41st the NCAA and lead the MAC with a 3-point percentage of .372.

Akron leads the overall series with Ball State 26-18. The Zips are currently on a three-game winning streak against the Cardinals, including an 88-79 victory on Feb. 19, 2021, in Muncie. Akron is 15-6 in games played at home against BSU.

Ali Ali leads the Zips with 15.1 points per game. Enrique Freeman (12.3), Zavier Castaneda (11.3), and Bryan Trimble Jr. (10.8) round out the double-digit scoring for Akron. Freeman is a menace in the glass with 11.1 rebounds per game, which is tied for sixth in the nation and leads the MAC. Aziz Bandaogo leads Akron with 19 blocks, while Freeman is second with 12. Ali leads the team in assists with 34. Greg Tribble and Mikal Dawson are in double figures in steals with 12 and 11, respectively.

All of BSU's games are presented on the Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network as well as Woof Boom Radio's 96.7 FM, 102.9 FM, 104.9 FM, WLBC HD2, and the stream of 967BlakeFM.com as well as WERKFM.net.

Tale of the Tape

BSU	Category	UA
74.4	POINTS PER GAME	73.4
76.8	OPP. POINTS PER GAME	61.5
.441	FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.454
.448	OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.410
.372	3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.357
.362	OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE	.327
.679	FREE THROW PERCENTAGE	.648
35.4	REBOUNDS PER GAME	38.8
-1.5	REBOUNDING MARGIN	7.0
13.9	ASSISTS PER GAME	12.5
14.6	TURNOVERS PER GAME	12.2
-1.6	TURNOVER MARGIN	0.4
6.5	STEALS PER GAME	6.1
2.2	BLOCKS PER GAME	3.0

Cardinal fans join the movement inside Worthen Arena and enjoy three or more games at a special price! Starting at just $27 for three men's games and $21 for three women's games or mix and match! Click here for more details.

Ball State Ticket Sell-a-Thon beings on Tuesday. Click here for more details about Sell-a-Thon along with the no fee for Friday.

Check out the latest edition of BirdFeed LIVE with Head Coach James Whitford.

As a reminder to all fans, face coverings are required while inside Worthen Arena.

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