Tuesday, March 1
Muncie, Ind.
7 p.m.
Ball State University
vs
Akron
Photo by: Chad Smith
Cardinals Host Zips for Senior Day
February 28, 2022 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team will play inside Worthen Arena for the last time in the regular season on Tuesday. The Cardinals (13-15, 8-9 MAC) will host the Akron Zips (19-9, 12-6 MAC). Tuesday's game is sponsored by Family Vision Care.
Prior to the game Ball State will recognize its senior players as well as its senior student managers.
Payton Sparks led the Cardinals with 17 points and finished with a game-high 10 rebounds, last time out against Eastern Michigan. He added two assists, a steal, and a block. Demarius Jacobs posted a 14-point performance with six rebounds, one steal, and an assist. Miryne Thomas and Jaylin Sellers each finished with 12 points. Thomas added six rebounds and three assists. Sellers tied for the team lead in blocks with one to go along with his four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Sparks has a team-best 13.6 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per contest. Sparks has tallied 380 points this season and is currently third as a freshman in all-time scoring, behind Bonzi Wells (474) and Ray McCallum (463). Sparks has attempted 184 free throws this season, which is tied for 12th in the NCAA and leads the MAC. He has attempted more free throws than any other freshman in the NCAA. Tyler Cochran and Thomas are tied for second on the squad with 11.6 points per game. Cochran is second on the team with 5.7 rebounds per contest. Cochran's 55 steals lead the team and his 1.96 steals per game has him tied for 42nd in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Luke Bumbalough rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.4 a game and leads Ball State with 78 steals. Jacobs is third on the team with 11 blocks.
In the matchup against Akron earlier this season, Sparks produced his first career double-double with a career-high 23 points along with a team-high 10 rebounds. Thomas posted 12 points behind a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from 3-point range. Thomas tied for a team-high two steals and added three boards. Jacobs chipped in with 10 points and tied for a game-high six assists. Bumbalough rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points. Cochran brought down six rebounds, second on the team, and added nine points.
Akron leads the overall series with Ball State 27-18. The Zips are currently on a four-game winning streak against the Cardinals, including an 84-74 victory on Jan. 11, 2022, in Akron. Ball State is 12-9 at home against Akron.
Ali Ali leads Akron with 14.1 points per game and has a team-high 79 assists. Enrique Freeman is averaging a double-double with 13.1 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game. Freeman leads the team in rebounding and is second on the squad with 36 blocks. Xavier Castaneda is averaging 12.5 points per game. Bryan Trimble Jr. closes out the double-digit scorers with 10.4 a contest. Aziz Bandaogo has a team-best 38 blocks. Greg Tribble paces the team with 31 steals.
In the meeting earlier this season, the Zips were led by Castaneda with a career-high 29 points. Trimble added 19 points along with three rebounds. Freeman tallied 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, for a double-double. Mikal Dawson finished with 10 points. Bandaogo blocked a game-high two shots.
All of BSU's games are presented on the Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network on Woof Boom stations 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
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.
As a reminder to all fans, face coverings are required while inside Worthen Arena.
Follow the Cardinals
Twitter
Instagram
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Prior to the game Ball State will recognize its senior players as well as its senior student managers.
Payton Sparks led the Cardinals with 17 points and finished with a game-high 10 rebounds, last time out against Eastern Michigan. He added two assists, a steal, and a block. Demarius Jacobs posted a 14-point performance with six rebounds, one steal, and an assist. Miryne Thomas and Jaylin Sellers each finished with 12 points. Thomas added six rebounds and three assists. Sellers tied for the team lead in blocks with one to go along with his four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Sparks has a team-best 13.6 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per contest. Sparks has tallied 380 points this season and is currently third as a freshman in all-time scoring, behind Bonzi Wells (474) and Ray McCallum (463). Sparks has attempted 184 free throws this season, which is tied for 12th in the NCAA and leads the MAC. He has attempted more free throws than any other freshman in the NCAA. Tyler Cochran and Thomas are tied for second on the squad with 11.6 points per game. Cochran is second on the team with 5.7 rebounds per contest. Cochran's 55 steals lead the team and his 1.96 steals per game has him tied for 42nd in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Luke Bumbalough rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.4 a game and leads Ball State with 78 steals. Jacobs is third on the team with 11 blocks.
In the matchup against Akron earlier this season, Sparks produced his first career double-double with a career-high 23 points along with a team-high 10 rebounds. Thomas posted 12 points behind a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from 3-point range. Thomas tied for a team-high two steals and added three boards. Jacobs chipped in with 10 points and tied for a game-high six assists. Bumbalough rounded out the double-digit scoring with 10 points. Cochran brought down six rebounds, second on the team, and added nine points.
Akron leads the overall series with Ball State 27-18. The Zips are currently on a four-game winning streak against the Cardinals, including an 84-74 victory on Jan. 11, 2022, in Akron. Ball State is 12-9 at home against Akron.
Ali Ali leads Akron with 14.1 points per game and has a team-high 79 assists. Enrique Freeman is averaging a double-double with 13.1 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game. Freeman leads the team in rebounding and is second on the squad with 36 blocks. Xavier Castaneda is averaging 12.5 points per game. Bryan Trimble Jr. closes out the double-digit scorers with 10.4 a contest. Aziz Bandaogo has a team-best 38 blocks. Greg Tribble paces the team with 31 steals.
In the meeting earlier this season, the Zips were led by Castaneda with a career-high 29 points. Trimble added 19 points along with three rebounds. Freeman tallied 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, for a double-double. Mikal Dawson finished with 10 points. Bandaogo blocked a game-high two shots.
All of BSU's games are presented on the Ball State Gainbridge Radio Network on Woof Boom stations 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 |
| 75.5 | POINTS PER GAME | 71.4 |
| 77.2 | OPP. POINTS PER GAME | 63.3 |
| .449 | FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .464 |
| .447 | OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .425 |
| .364 | 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .348 |
| .359 | OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .347 |
| .692 | FREE THROW PERCENTAGE | .678 |
| 35.6 | REBOUNDS PER GAME | 35.7 |
| -0.5 | REBOUNDING MARGIN | 5.2 |
| 13.5 | ASSISTS PER GAME | 12.0 |
| 14.1 | TURNOVERS PER GAME | 11.8 |
| -1.5 | TURNOVER MARGIN | -0.2 |
| 6.1 | STEALS PER GAME | 5.5 |
| 2.4 | BLOCKS PER GAME | 3.3 |
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.
As a reminder to all fans, face coverings are required while inside Worthen Arena.
Follow the Cardinals
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Players Mentioned
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