Friday, March 4
Kalamazoo, Mich.
6 p.m.
Ball State University
at
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
Photo by: BSU Photo Services
Cardinals Travel to Broncos for Regular-Season Finale
March 03, 2022 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team will play its final game of the regular season on the road against Western Michigan on Friday. The Cardinals and Broncos are scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip on ESPN+.
In BSU's last time out against Akron, Tyler Cochran led Ball State with 18 points and produced a team-high 10 rebounds on his way to his second double-double of the season. Cochran also notched the team's only steal. Demarius Jacobs was the only other Cardinal with double digits as he added 10 points with seven rebounds and the team's only block. Luke Bumbalough led the team with three assists and chipped in with nine points.
Payton Sparks has a team-best 13.3 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per contest. Sparks has tallied 385 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 188 free throws this season, which is tied for 15th in the NCAA and leads the MAC. He has attempted more free throws than any other freshman in the NCAA. Cochran has averaged 11.8 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per contest, both are second on the team. Cochran leads the team with 56 steals and his 1.93 steals per game lead the MAC. Miryne Thomas is averaging 11.4 points per contest and has a team-best 17 blocks. Bumbalough rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.3 a game and leads the team with 81 assists.
In the matchup against WMU earlier this season, Thomas led the way with 18 points, for his sixth-consecutive game in double figures. Cochran tallied his fifth-straight game in double digits behind a 13-point effort. Bumbalough added 13 points, while Jacobs went for 11 points. Sparks picked up his fourth double-double, behind 11 points and 10 rebounds. Bumbalough and Cochran tied for a game-high three assists and a game-high two steals. Cochran, Thomas, and Basheer Jihad all tied for second on the team with four rebounds.
Ball State leads the overall series 69-67. The Cardinals have won the last three meetings between the two programs, including an 83-72 victory on Jan. 29, in Muncie. The Broncos are 44-22 at home against the Cardinals.
Lamar Norman Jr. leads the Broncos with 20.1 points per game. He is the only player averaging double figures and he also leads the team with 50 assists and 25 steals. Markeese Hastings has a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game and is second on the team in blocks with 17. Titus Wright has a team-high 19 blocks, while Mileek McMillan rounds out the double-figure shot blockers with 12.
In the meeting earlier this season, Norman recorded a game-high 22 points to lead WMU and added a rebound and an assist. B. Artis White posted a 21-point effort with two rebounds, a steal, and tied for a game-high three assists. Hastings and McMillan each tallied 10 points. Hastings collected a team-high nine rebounds. McMillan and Mack Smith tied for a game-high two steals.
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
Follow the Cardinals
Twitter
Instagram
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
In BSU's last time out against Akron, Tyler Cochran led Ball State with 18 points and produced a team-high 10 rebounds on his way to his second double-double of the season. Cochran also notched the team's only steal. Demarius Jacobs was the only other Cardinal with double digits as he added 10 points with seven rebounds and the team's only block. Luke Bumbalough led the team with three assists and chipped in with nine points.
Payton Sparks has a team-best 13.3 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per contest. Sparks has tallied 385 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 188 free throws this season, which is tied for 15th in the NCAA and leads the MAC. He has attempted more free throws than any other freshman in the NCAA. Cochran has averaged 11.8 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per contest, both are second on the team. Cochran leads the team with 56 steals and his 1.93 steals per game lead the MAC. Miryne Thomas is averaging 11.4 points per contest and has a team-best 17 blocks. Bumbalough rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11.3 a game and leads the team with 81 assists.
In the matchup against WMU earlier this season, Thomas led the way with 18 points, for his sixth-consecutive game in double figures. Cochran tallied his fifth-straight game in double digits behind a 13-point effort. Bumbalough added 13 points, while Jacobs went for 11 points. Sparks picked up his fourth double-double, behind 11 points and 10 rebounds. Bumbalough and Cochran tied for a game-high three assists and a game-high two steals. Cochran, Thomas, and Basheer Jihad all tied for second on the team with four rebounds.
Ball State leads the overall series 69-67. The Cardinals have won the last three meetings between the two programs, including an 83-72 victory on Jan. 29, in Muncie. The Broncos are 44-22 at home against the Cardinals.
Lamar Norman Jr. leads the Broncos with 20.1 points per game. He is the only player averaging double figures and he also leads the team with 50 assists and 25 steals. Markeese Hastings has a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game and is second on the team in blocks with 17. Titus Wright has a team-high 19 blocks, while Mileek McMillan rounds out the double-figure shot blockers with 12.
In the meeting earlier this season, Norman recorded a game-high 22 points to lead WMU and added a rebound and an assist. B. Artis White posted a 21-point effort with two rebounds, a steal, and tied for a game-high three assists. Hastings and McMillan each tallied 10 points. Hastings collected a team-high nine rebounds. McMillan and Mack Smith tied for a game-high two steals.
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 | WMU |
| 74.9 | POINTS PER GAME | 65.5 |
| 77.2 | OPP. POINTS PER GAME | 75.5 |
| .446 | FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .421 |
| .446 | OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .460 |
| .365 | 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .333 |
| .361 | OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .332 |
| .697 | FREE THROW PERCENTAGE | .702 |
| 35.7 | REBOUNDS PER GAME | 33.1 |
| -0.2 | REBOUNDING MARGIN | -3.0 |
| 13.4 | ASSISTS PER GAME | 10.2 |
| 14.2 | TURNOVERS PER GAME | 13.7 |
| -1.8 | TURNOVER MARGIN | -3.6 |
| 6.0 | STEALS PER GAME | 5.2 |
| 2.4 | BLOCKS PER GAME | 2.4 |
Follow the Cardinals
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballBall State Men's Basketball // Coach Lewis Season Preview
Tuesday, September 30
Men's Basketball // Season Preview with Head Coach Michael Lewis
Monday, September 29
This Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Jeff Mitchell, Brady Sallee, and Michael Lewis
Thursday, September 25
Men's Basketball // Armoni Zeigler
Wednesday, September 10