Friday, January 6
Muncie, Ind.
8:30 p.m.
Ball State University
vs
Akron
Photo by: Chad Smith
Ball State Returns to Worthen for Nationally Televised MAC Showdown with Akron
January 05, 2023 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team returns to the court for the first time at home in Mid-American Conference play on Friday as Akron makes the trip to Muncie. The Cardinals (10-4, 1-0 MAC) and Zips (9-5, 1-0 MAC) each won their conference openers on Tuesday. Friday's contest is sponsored by McGuff Roofing. The game is scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. tip on CBS Sports Network.
BSU students, be among the first 350 in The Nest and receive a free hot dog, a slice of pizza, a fountain drink, or a beer. Arrive early, cheer loud, and enjoy responsibly. Parking for Friday's game will be free.
Last Time Out
The Cardinals improved to 10-4 overall and 1-0 in the MAC after a 90-83 road win against the Toledo Rockets. Jarron Coleman recorded a game-high 26 points and added two assists. Demarius Jacobs produced a career-high 25 points. He added two assists and two rebounds. Jaylin Sellers produced his second double-double of the season behind a 15-point effort and a game-high 11 rebounds. Basheer Jihad brought down a career-high eight rebounds along with his eight points. Payton Sparks had a team-high three assists and chipped in with eight points.
Sensational Sellers
Sellers paces the team with 14.5 points per game. He is shooting 57.1 percent from 3-point range, which leads the team. He is third on the team with 4.8 rebounds per game. He has produced a field-goal percentage of 53.2 on the season. Sellers has collected 12 assists, 11 steals and two blocks. He has notched four games with 20 or more points for the season.
Spark Plug
Sparks has a team-best 7.9 rebounds per game, which is tied for 91st in the country and fourth in the conference. His 3.21 offensive rebounds per contest have him ranked 38th in the nation and third in the MAC. He is third on the team averaging 13.1 points per game. He leads the team shooting 61.9 percent from the field. He has four double-doubles on the season, which is tied for 57th in the country and tied for second in the MAC. He is third on the team with 30 assists, second on the team with nine blocks, and has added six steals.
Spreading the Love
Ball State has four players averaging double-digit points through 14 games. Coleman is second on the team with 14.2 points per game. He has a team-best 48 assists and leads the squad with 32 made 3-pointers. His 19 steals are second on the team. He is averaging 4.6 boards per game and blocked nine shots. Jacobs rounds out the double-digit scorers with 13.0 points a game. He has a team-best 24 blocks, which is tied for 54th in the country and best in the MAC. His 1.71 blocks a game has him tied for 53rd in the NCAA and leads the conference. Jacobs is second on the squad with 45 assists. He has brought down 4.1 boards a game. Mickey Pearson Jr. is second on the team with 5.1 rebounds per game.
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 25.4 free throws per game, which is 10th in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 17.4 free-throws made per contest, which is 15th in the nation and leads the conference. Sparks is tied for 11th in the nation with 100 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC. The Cardinals are one of 29 teams in the NCAA that have made more free throws than their opponents have attempted.
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently shooting 48.9 percent from the field, which is tied for 23rd in the NCAA and best in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 39.1 percent from 3-point range, which is 12th in the country and the best in the MAC.
Series History with the Zips
Ball State and Akron will meet for the 47th time on Friday. The Zips have the series advantage 28-18. Akron has won the last five meetings, including a 79-60 victory in Muncie on March 1, 2022. The Cardinals are 12-10 at home against the Zips.
Scouting Akron
The Zips are led by Xavier Castaneda who is averaging 19.5 points per game. His 19.5 points per game is tied for 28th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. He is tied for fourth in the NCAA and leads the MAC with 83 made free throws. Castaneda leads the team with 39 assists and is tied for the team lead in steals with 14. He is third on the team, averaging 4.5 rebounds per contest. He is averaging 3.31 3-pointers per game, which is tied for the most in the MAC and tied for 12th in the NCAA. Enrique Freeman has a team-best 10.4 boards per contest, which is tied for ninth in the country and leads the conference. He leads the MAC with seven double-doubles and is tied for ninth in the nation. Freeman is second on the squad with 13.7 points per game and is second on the team with 32 assists. He leads the team with 13 blocks. Trendon Hankerson is second on the team with 4.6 rebounds per game and third on the team with 9.1 points per game.
Tale of the Tape
MAC Conference Standings
1. Kent State – 11-3 (1-0)
2. Ball State – 10-4 (1-0)
3. Akron – 9-5 (1-0)
4. Bowling Green – 7-7 (1-0)
5. Buffalo – 7-7 (1-0)
6. Central Michigan – 6-8 (1-0)
7. Toledo – 9-5 (0-1)
8. Ohio – 8-6 (0-1)
9. Miami – 6-8 (0-1)
10. Northern Illinois – 4-10 (0-1)
11. Western Michigan – 4-10 (0-1)
12. Eastern Michigan – 3-11 (0-1)
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.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
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BSU students, be among the first 350 in The Nest and receive a free hot dog, a slice of pizza, a fountain drink, or a beer. Arrive early, cheer loud, and enjoy responsibly. Parking for Friday's game will be free.
Last Time Out
The Cardinals improved to 10-4 overall and 1-0 in the MAC after a 90-83 road win against the Toledo Rockets. Jarron Coleman recorded a game-high 26 points and added two assists. Demarius Jacobs produced a career-high 25 points. He added two assists and two rebounds. Jaylin Sellers produced his second double-double of the season behind a 15-point effort and a game-high 11 rebounds. Basheer Jihad brought down a career-high eight rebounds along with his eight points. Payton Sparks had a team-high three assists and chipped in with eight points.
Sensational Sellers
Sellers paces the team with 14.5 points per game. He is shooting 57.1 percent from 3-point range, which leads the team. He is third on the team with 4.8 rebounds per game. He has produced a field-goal percentage of 53.2 on the season. Sellers has collected 12 assists, 11 steals and two blocks. He has notched four games with 20 or more points for the season.
Spark Plug
Sparks has a team-best 7.9 rebounds per game, which is tied for 91st in the country and fourth in the conference. His 3.21 offensive rebounds per contest have him ranked 38th in the nation and third in the MAC. He is third on the team averaging 13.1 points per game. He leads the team shooting 61.9 percent from the field. He has four double-doubles on the season, which is tied for 57th in the country and tied for second in the MAC. He is third on the team with 30 assists, second on the team with nine blocks, and has added six steals.
Spreading the Love
Ball State has four players averaging double-digit points through 14 games. Coleman is second on the team with 14.2 points per game. He has a team-best 48 assists and leads the squad with 32 made 3-pointers. His 19 steals are second on the team. He is averaging 4.6 boards per game and blocked nine shots. Jacobs rounds out the double-digit scorers with 13.0 points a game. He has a team-best 24 blocks, which is tied for 54th in the country and best in the MAC. His 1.71 blocks a game has him tied for 53rd in the NCAA and leads the conference. Jacobs is second on the squad with 45 assists. He has brought down 4.1 boards a game. Mickey Pearson Jr. is second on the team with 5.1 rebounds per game.
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 25.4 free throws per game, which is 10th in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 17.4 free-throws made per contest, which is 15th in the nation and leads the conference. Sparks is tied for 11th in the nation with 100 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC. The Cardinals are one of 29 teams in the NCAA that have made more free throws than their opponents have attempted.
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently shooting 48.9 percent from the field, which is tied for 23rd in the NCAA and best in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 39.1 percent from 3-point range, which is 12th in the country and the best in the MAC.
Series History with the Zips
Ball State and Akron will meet for the 47th time on Friday. The Zips have the series advantage 28-18. Akron has won the last five meetings, including a 79-60 victory in Muncie on March 1, 2022. The Cardinals are 12-10 at home against the Zips.
Scouting Akron
The Zips are led by Xavier Castaneda who is averaging 19.5 points per game. His 19.5 points per game is tied for 28th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. He is tied for fourth in the NCAA and leads the MAC with 83 made free throws. Castaneda leads the team with 39 assists and is tied for the team lead in steals with 14. He is third on the team, averaging 4.5 rebounds per contest. He is averaging 3.31 3-pointers per game, which is tied for the most in the MAC and tied for 12th in the NCAA. Enrique Freeman has a team-best 10.4 boards per contest, which is tied for ninth in the country and leads the conference. He leads the MAC with seven double-doubles and is tied for ninth in the nation. Freeman is second on the squad with 13.7 points per game and is second on the team with 32 assists. He leads the team with 13 blocks. Trendon Hankerson is second on the team with 4.6 rebounds per game and third on the team with 9.1 points per game.
Tale of the Tape
| BSU | Category | UA |
| 77.4 | POINTS PER GAME | 69.9 |
| 67.1 | OPP. POINTS PER GAME | 61.8 |
| .489 | FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .419 |
| .420 | OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .414 |
| .391 | 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .340 |
| .356 | OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .338 |
| .685 | FREE THROW PERCENTAGE | .680 |
| 35.9 | REBOUNDS PER GAME | 37.6 |
| 4.0 | REBOUNDING MARGIN | 4.2 |
| 13.6 | ASSISTS PER GAME | 13.1 |
| 12.4 | TURNOVERS PER GAME | 11.9 |
| -0.1 | TURNOVER MARGIN | 1.6 |
| 6.3 | STEALS PER GAME | 7.0 |
| 4.6 | BLOCKS PER GAME | 2.5 |
MAC Conference Standings
1. Kent State – 11-3 (1-0)
2. Ball State – 10-4 (1-0)
3. Akron – 9-5 (1-0)
4. Bowling Green – 7-7 (1-0)
5. Buffalo – 7-7 (1-0)
6. Central Michigan – 6-8 (1-0)
7. Toledo – 9-5 (0-1)
8. Ohio – 8-6 (0-1)
9. Miami – 6-8 (0-1)
10. Northern Illinois – 4-10 (0-1)
11. Western Michigan – 4-10 (0-1)
12. Eastern Michigan – 3-11 (0-1)
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.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
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