Ball State University Athletics
Thursday, March 9
Cleveland, Ohio
1:30 p.m.
Ball State University
vs
Ohio
Photo by: BSU Photo Services
Cardinals Ready for Rematch with Bobcats in MAC Quarterfinals
March 08, 2023 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team returns to Cleveland and the Mid-American Conference tournament on Thursday. The Cardinals take on the Ohio Bobcats in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse approximately at 1:30 p.m.
Ball State finished the regular season with a 20-11 overall record and an 11-7 mark in conference play. Ohio finished with an 18-13 record and were 10-8 in league games.
Head Coach Michael Lewis is the first, first-year head coach to produce a seven-game winning streak. Ball State started 16-7 overall, which is the best start since the 1999-2000 season. The 19-7 start is the best start since the Cardinals started 1997-98 with a 21-7 record. He is the second coach in BSU history to win the regular season opener and the MAC opener in their first season as a head coach. He joins Rick Majerus in achieving the feat. Ball State has won 20 games for just the 13th time in program history.
Earlier today, Jarron Coleman and Payton Sparks were named to the All-MAC Second Team. Jaylin Sellers earned a spot on the All-MAC Third Team, while Demarius Jacobs earned a spot on the MAC All-Defensive Team.
Last Time Out
Ball State dropped the final game of the regular season to Toledo, 87-81. Payton Sparks recorded his 10th double-double of the season. He led the team with 24 points and collected a game-high 11 rebounds. Sparks added two assists and two blocks. Jaylin Sellers ended the game with 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Jacobs produced 12 points in his final regular season game as a Cardinal. He dished out a team-high six assists. He added a block and a steal. Basheer Jihad notched an 11-point effort to go along with two boards, two assists, a block, and a steal. Mickey Pearson Jr. closed out the double-digit scorers with 10. He brought down four rebounds and blocked two shots.
Boogie on Down
Coleman leads the Cardinals with 14.5 points per game. He leads the team with 110 assists, which is eighth in the MAC. He is second on the team with 40 steals, which is tied for ninth in the conference. He paces the team with 66 made 3-pointers and is seventh in the MAC. He is averaging 5.0 rebounds per game and has 10 blocks. Earlier this season, Coleman recorded his 1,000th career point.
Sensational Sellers
Sellers is second in the MAC shooting 46.0 percent from 3-point range. He is 11th in the MAC shooting 49.5 percent from the field. Sellers is second on the team with 13.7 points per game. He is averaging 3.8 boards a contest. He is third on the team with 21 steals. His 16 blocks are third on the team. He has 26 assists on the year. He has notched six games with 20 or more points for the season.
Spark Plug
Sparks leads the team with 8.7 rebounds per game, which is fourth in the conference. His 3.17 offensive rebounds per game are ranked third in the conference. He is tied for third in the MAC with 5.57 defensive boards a contest. He is ninth in the MAC with 27 blocked shots. He is tied for second in the conference with 10 double-doubles. Sparks is third in the conference shooting 59.1 percent from the field. His 212 free-throw attempts are second in the MAC and tied for 13th in the NCAA. He is second on the team with 27 blocks. Sparks is third on the team averaging 13.0 points per game.
Go DJ
Jacobs is second in the MAC with 36 blocks. He is second with 1.16 blocks per game. He is fourth in the conference shooting 44.3 percent from 3-point range. He is shooting 56.8 percent from the field, which is fifth in the MAC. He is shooting 82.7 percent from the free-throw line, which is sixth in the conference. He ranks fourth in the conference with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.88. He is 10th in the MAC with 107 assists. He leads the team with 42 steals and is eighth in the conference. Jacobs is averaging 12.2 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 23.9 free throws per game, which is fourth in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 16.4 free-throws made per contest, which is tied for 20th in the nation and is tied for first in the conference. Sparks is 13th in the nation with 212 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC.
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently shooting 47.4 percent from the field, which is 34th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 37.2 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 35 in the country and is tied for second in the MAC.
Series History with Ohio
The Cardinals and Bobcats will meet for the 90th time on Thursday. Ohio has the series advantage, 54-35, including a 76-71 victory in Athens earlier this season. The Cardinals are 7-4 against the Bobcats in MAC Tournaments but have lost the last two postseason meetings. Last season, Ohio knocked off Ball State 77-67.
Scouting the Bobcats
In the matchup earlier this season, Jaylin Hunter led the Bobcats with 23 points, four assists, and four steals. Dwight Wilson III produced a double-double behind 22 points and 10 rebounds. AJ Clayton closed out the double-digit scorers with 16 points along with six rebounds and added a blocked shot. Wilson leads the team shooting 62.0 percent from the field, which is tied for 13th in the NCAA. He leads the team averaging 15.9 points per game and 9.1 boards per game. He has 39 assists, 11 steals, and six blocks. Jaylin Hunter is second on the team with 12.7 points a game. He paces the team with 132 assists, which is fourth in the MAC. He has a team-high 53 steals. Miles Brown rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.5 a contest. He is second on the team with 61 assists. He has added 40 steals and seven blocks. Clayton has a team-best 19 blocks and is second on the squad with 4.6 rebounds per game.
Tale of the Tape
MAC Conference Standings
1. Toledo – 25-6 (16-2)
2. Kent State – 25-6 (15-3)
3. Akron – 21-10 (13-5)
4. Ball State – 20-11 (11-7)
5. Ohio – 18-13 (10-8)
6. Buffalo – 15-16 (9-9)
7. Northern Illinois – 13-18 (9-9)
8. Miami – 12-19 (6-12)
9. Bowling Green – 11-20 (5-13)
10. Central Michigan – 10-21 (5-13)
10. Eastern Michigan – 8-23 (5-13)
12. Western Michigan – 8-23 (4-14)
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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Ball State finished the regular season with a 20-11 overall record and an 11-7 mark in conference play. Ohio finished with an 18-13 record and were 10-8 in league games.
Head Coach Michael Lewis is the first, first-year head coach to produce a seven-game winning streak. Ball State started 16-7 overall, which is the best start since the 1999-2000 season. The 19-7 start is the best start since the Cardinals started 1997-98 with a 21-7 record. He is the second coach in BSU history to win the regular season opener and the MAC opener in their first season as a head coach. He joins Rick Majerus in achieving the feat. Ball State has won 20 games for just the 13th time in program history.
Earlier today, Jarron Coleman and Payton Sparks were named to the All-MAC Second Team. Jaylin Sellers earned a spot on the All-MAC Third Team, while Demarius Jacobs earned a spot on the MAC All-Defensive Team.
Last Time Out
Ball State dropped the final game of the regular season to Toledo, 87-81. Payton Sparks recorded his 10th double-double of the season. He led the team with 24 points and collected a game-high 11 rebounds. Sparks added two assists and two blocks. Jaylin Sellers ended the game with 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Jacobs produced 12 points in his final regular season game as a Cardinal. He dished out a team-high six assists. He added a block and a steal. Basheer Jihad notched an 11-point effort to go along with two boards, two assists, a block, and a steal. Mickey Pearson Jr. closed out the double-digit scorers with 10. He brought down four rebounds and blocked two shots.
Boogie on Down
Coleman leads the Cardinals with 14.5 points per game. He leads the team with 110 assists, which is eighth in the MAC. He is second on the team with 40 steals, which is tied for ninth in the conference. He paces the team with 66 made 3-pointers and is seventh in the MAC. He is averaging 5.0 rebounds per game and has 10 blocks. Earlier this season, Coleman recorded his 1,000th career point.
Sensational Sellers
Sellers is second in the MAC shooting 46.0 percent from 3-point range. He is 11th in the MAC shooting 49.5 percent from the field. Sellers is second on the team with 13.7 points per game. He is averaging 3.8 boards a contest. He is third on the team with 21 steals. His 16 blocks are third on the team. He has 26 assists on the year. He has notched six games with 20 or more points for the season.
Spark Plug
Sparks leads the team with 8.7 rebounds per game, which is fourth in the conference. His 3.17 offensive rebounds per game are ranked third in the conference. He is tied for third in the MAC with 5.57 defensive boards a contest. He is ninth in the MAC with 27 blocked shots. He is tied for second in the conference with 10 double-doubles. Sparks is third in the conference shooting 59.1 percent from the field. His 212 free-throw attempts are second in the MAC and tied for 13th in the NCAA. He is second on the team with 27 blocks. Sparks is third on the team averaging 13.0 points per game.
Go DJ
Jacobs is second in the MAC with 36 blocks. He is second with 1.16 blocks per game. He is fourth in the conference shooting 44.3 percent from 3-point range. He is shooting 56.8 percent from the field, which is fifth in the MAC. He is shooting 82.7 percent from the free-throw line, which is sixth in the conference. He ranks fourth in the conference with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.88. He is 10th in the MAC with 107 assists. He leads the team with 42 steals and is eighth in the conference. Jacobs is averaging 12.2 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Taking Advantage at the Free-Throw Line
As a team, the Cardinals are averaging 23.9 free throws per game, which is fourth in the NCAA and leads the MAC. Ball State is averaging 16.4 free-throws made per contest, which is tied for 20th in the nation and is tied for first in the conference. Sparks is 13th in the nation with 212 free-throw attempts, which is second in the MAC.
Effective Shooting
The Cardinals are currently shooting 47.4 percent from the field, which is 34th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. Ball State has been effective from behind the arc with a combined 37.2 percent from 3-point range, which is tied for 35 in the country and is tied for second in the MAC.
Series History with Ohio
The Cardinals and Bobcats will meet for the 90th time on Thursday. Ohio has the series advantage, 54-35, including a 76-71 victory in Athens earlier this season. The Cardinals are 7-4 against the Bobcats in MAC Tournaments but have lost the last two postseason meetings. Last season, Ohio knocked off Ball State 77-67.
Scouting the Bobcats
In the matchup earlier this season, Jaylin Hunter led the Bobcats with 23 points, four assists, and four steals. Dwight Wilson III produced a double-double behind 22 points and 10 rebounds. AJ Clayton closed out the double-digit scorers with 16 points along with six rebounds and added a blocked shot. Wilson leads the team shooting 62.0 percent from the field, which is tied for 13th in the NCAA. He leads the team averaging 15.9 points per game and 9.1 boards per game. He has 39 assists, 11 steals, and six blocks. Jaylin Hunter is second on the team with 12.7 points a game. He paces the team with 132 assists, which is fourth in the MAC. He has a team-high 53 steals. Miles Brown rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.5 a contest. He is second on the team with 61 assists. He has added 40 steals and seven blocks. Clayton has a team-best 19 blocks and is second on the squad with 4.6 rebounds per game.
Tale of the Tape
| BSU | Category | OU |
| 76.6 | POINTS PER GAME | 78.6 |
| 71.0 | OPP. POINTS PER GAME | 72.9 |
| .474 | FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .460 |
| .438 | OPP. FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .444 |
| .372 | 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .372 |
| .380 | OPP. 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE | .342 |
| .686 | FREE THROW PERCENTAGE | .726 |
| 36.0 | REBOUNDS PER GAME | 37.1 |
| 3.5 | REBOUNDING MARGIN | 2.4 |
| 13.3 | ASSISTS PER GAME | 12.8 |
| 12.2 | TURNOVERS PER GAME | 11.0 |
| -0.5 | TURNOVER MARGIN | 1.4 |
| 5.6 | STEALS PER GAME | 6.5 |
| 3.9 | BLOCKS PER GAME | 2.2 |
MAC Conference Standings
1. Toledo – 25-6 (16-2)
2. Kent State – 25-6 (15-3)
3. Akron – 21-10 (13-5)
4. Ball State – 20-11 (11-7)
5. Ohio – 18-13 (10-8)
6. Buffalo – 15-16 (9-9)
7. Northern Illinois – 13-18 (9-9)
8. Miami – 12-19 (6-12)
9. Bowling Green – 11-20 (5-13)
10. Central Michigan – 10-21 (5-13)
10. Eastern Michigan – 8-23 (5-13)
12. Western Michigan – 8-23 (4-14)
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).
Follow the Cardinals
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