Tuesday, March 5
Muncie, IN
7:00 p.m.
Ball State University
vs
Kent State
Photo by: Grace Adcock/Ball State Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosting Kent State in Home Finale
March 04, 2024 | Men's Basketball
The Ball State men's basketball team gets a rematch from its first conference game of the year when the Cardinals host Kent State at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Noah Reed and David Eha on the call, while Mick Tidrow and Scot Bunnell handle the radio broadcast on WMUN 1340AM - 92.5FM. This will be the 93rd meeting in the series between the Cardinals and Golden Flashes.
Ball State (14-15, 6-9 Mid-American Conference) fell to Kent State (15-14, 8-8 MAC) by a score of 82-69 back on Jan. 2 in Northeast Ohio for the MAC opener. Basheer Jihad tallied a game high 23 points in the setback.
The Cardinals fought back from a 60-48 deficit with eight minutes to play in regulation to force overtime against Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Worthen Arena, but the Broncos prevailed 78-76 on a buzzer beater layup in the extra period. Jalin Anderson's game high 25 points and six assists weren't enough to complete the comeback against WMU.
The Golden Flashes began the campaign as one of the favorites to win the MAC but have been hurt by injury, including most recently a season-ending one to leading rebounder Chris Payton Jr. Kent State has won two in a row coming into this game (79-73 on Saturday over Central Michigan and 76-64 last Tuesday over Buffalo).
SCOUTING KENT STATE: The Golden Flashes went 28-7 (15-3 MAC) last season in head coach Rob Senderoff's 12th leading the program. Kent State beat Toledo 93-78 in the championship game of the MAC Tournament.
The Flashes pace the league in turnovers forced per game (13.7) while ranking second in free throw shooting (76.1 percent), steals per game (7.1) and 3-pointers made per game (8.4).
Junior guard Jalen Sullinger is second in the MAC in 3-point makes (2.5 per game), while redshirt senior Giovanni Santiago ranks second in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.26) and fourth in assists per game at 4.2.
CARDINAL DIRECTIONS
Ed Butler scored 545 in the 1963-64 season, and Jihad would get in the Top 15 with 18 more points.
SINGLE SEASON ASSISTS: Junior guard Jalin Anderson is within striking distance of the Top 10 for Ball State single season assists with his 131.
Randy Davis (2011-12) and Bob Faulkner (1974-75) are tied for 10th at 144 assists.
MAGIC MICKEY: Redshirt junior forward Mickey Pearson Jr. put up a career high 25 points in last Tuesday's 79-71 win at Central Michigan.
The Lincoln, Ala., native went 9 of 13 from the field, including 3 of 5 from distance, and 4-for-4 at the free throw line to establish a new career best for the second time this season (24 on Nov. 21 against USC Upstate).
GREAT LAKES STATE FINALE: Last Tuesday's game at CMU marked the Ball State men's basketball team's last game in the state of Michigan on the 2023-24 calendar.
The Cardinals posted a 4-0 record in the state this season after taking down Detroit Mercy on Dec. 6, Eastern Michigan on Jan. 16, Western Michigan on Feb. 3 and the Chippewas on Feb. 27.
1,000 Points: Anderson hit the 1,000-point mark in his career with a last-minute free throw at Northern Illinois on Feb. 20.
The Jackson, Tenn., native scored 604 of those before transferring to Ball State, where he's averaged 15.0 points per game in 28 games (420 total).
DB FOR THREE: Junior guard Davion Bailey leads the Cardinals in 3-pointers made (62) and 3-point shooting (42.5 percent) so far this season, and the shooting efficiency is first in the MAC among players who've made at least 40 triples.
The Indianapolis native's 2.5 triples made per game and 42 total in conference games ranks third in the MAC.
HANDLING THE HUSKIES: Ball State swept the season series with Northern Illinois and has now won 9 of 10 games against the Huskies thanks to the 70-63 decision on Tuesday in DeKalb.
The men's basketball team has won by double-figures over the Huskies five times in that span and bettered its record to 63-40 in the series, including 26-23 on the road.
FRESHMAN MAKING MOVES: Freshman guard Trent Middleton Jr. has scored in double figures in 5 of the last 11 games after doing so twice in the first 16 games of his collegiate career.
The Philadelphia native has averaged 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game during the span.
SECOND TRIP AROUND THE MAC: Ball State began its back end of double play opponents on Feb. 17 after playing each of the other 11 Mid-American Conference teams in first 11 league games of the year.
Ball State's regular season series against Akron, Buffalo, Ohio and Toledo have wrapped up with those schools being single-play opponents for the 2024 schedule.
CROATIAN DESTINATION: Ball State is the only Division I school featuring Croatia natives on both its men's basketball (Jurica Zagorsak) and women's basketball (Hana Muhl) teams.
Zagorsak is one of only nine Croatians currently on Division I men's basketball rosters. Ball State has played three of the other teams with a Croatian (Detroit Mercy, Little Rock and Toledo).
FREE THROWS FALLING: Pearson Jr. ranks second in the Mid-American Conference among qualifiers in free throw shooting percentage at 86.8 (92 of 106), which is No. 57 in NCAA Division I.
Bailey (84.8 percent, 28-33) and Middleton Jr. (82.3 percent, 51-62) have also been efficient at the foul line, while the Cardinals as a whole lead the MAC in free throw shooting at 76.9 percent, which ranks No. 23 nationally.
BANKING ON BASHEER: Jihad leads the team in scoring (18.8 ppg), rebounding (7.9 per game) and field goal percentage (46.0) among Cardinals averaging at least four field goal attempts this season. Jihad has established or tied career highs in scoring six times already this season, including on Jan. 20 against Miami (29 points).
The Detroit native's scoring average has nearly tripled over last year (7.1), while his rebounding average has doubled (3.6). Jihad started only one game in his first two seasons at Ball State, but has been a mainstay in the starting lineup as an upperclassman now.
JALIN JAMS: Anderson, a transfer out of Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, leads the Ball State backcourt in scoring and the team in assists (4.5 per game) as the Cardinals' lead guard. Anderson leads the MAC in steals (30) in conference play and is third overall at 46 total steals so far.
The Jackson, Tenn., native boasts Ball State's highest offensive output (29 points against Old Dominion) so far and has already established his career high for single season points, assists, rebounds and steals. Anderson has shown a penchant for explosive offensive performances, posting nine 20+ point games so far this season.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK X3: Jihad was named the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Week on Jan. 29 after taking home the honor on Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.
Jihad averaged 24.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 per game in wins at Buffalo and vs Northern Illinois, including a 28-point, 14-rebound double-double on Jan. 27 against the Huskies.
Up Next
Ball State plays at Bowling Green on Friday at 7 p.m. in the regular season finale.
Â
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Noah Reed and David Eha on the call, while Mick Tidrow and Scot Bunnell handle the radio broadcast on WMUN 1340AM - 92.5FM. This will be the 93rd meeting in the series between the Cardinals and Golden Flashes.
Ball State (14-15, 6-9 Mid-American Conference) fell to Kent State (15-14, 8-8 MAC) by a score of 82-69 back on Jan. 2 in Northeast Ohio for the MAC opener. Basheer Jihad tallied a game high 23 points in the setback.
The Cardinals fought back from a 60-48 deficit with eight minutes to play in regulation to force overtime against Western Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Worthen Arena, but the Broncos prevailed 78-76 on a buzzer beater layup in the extra period. Jalin Anderson's game high 25 points and six assists weren't enough to complete the comeback against WMU.
The Golden Flashes began the campaign as one of the favorites to win the MAC but have been hurt by injury, including most recently a season-ending one to leading rebounder Chris Payton Jr. Kent State has won two in a row coming into this game (79-73 on Saturday over Central Michigan and 76-64 last Tuesday over Buffalo).
SCOUTING KENT STATE: The Golden Flashes went 28-7 (15-3 MAC) last season in head coach Rob Senderoff's 12th leading the program. Kent State beat Toledo 93-78 in the championship game of the MAC Tournament.
The Flashes pace the league in turnovers forced per game (13.7) while ranking second in free throw shooting (76.1 percent), steals per game (7.1) and 3-pointers made per game (8.4).
Junior guard Jalen Sullinger is second in the MAC in 3-point makes (2.5 per game), while redshirt senior Giovanni Santiago ranks second in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.26) and fourth in assists per game at 4.2.
CARDINAL DIRECTIONS
- Basheer Jihad leads the Cardinals in scoring (18.8 points per game) and rebounding (7.9) averages. The junior forward out of Detroit has led the Cardinals in scoring 17 games so far, scoring in double-figures 28 times, including 11 games with 20+ points. The big man's total points (544) ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference, while his rebounding and scoring averages are also fourth. Jihad leads the MAC in free throw attempts (215) and makes (160), ranking No. 17 and No. 20 in those categories nationally.
- The Cardinals lead the MAC and rank in the Top 60 in Division I in free throw shooting (76.9 percent, No. 23), free throws made per game (16.3, No. 42) and fewest fouls committed (15.3 per game, No. 55). Ball State 3-point shooting (36.7 percent, No. 45 nationally) ranks third in the league.
- Ball State's 20 wins last year were its most since 2016-17 when that team won 21. This season's Cardinals will look for back-to-back 20-win schedules for the first time since that 2016-17 season.
- The Cardinals are a young group, as the roster includes only one senior or graduate student (Ethan Brittain-Watts). Ball State returns only 21.5 percent of minutes played and 19.6 percent of points scored from last year's team.
- Brittain-Watts (Boston University), Jalin Anderson (Loyola Marymount) and Davion Bailey (Southeastern CC) form Ball State's trio of transfers.
- Joey Brown (Indianapolis), Zane Doughty (Indianapolis), Mason Jones (Valparaiso, Ind.), Trent Middleton Jr. (Philadelphia) and Jurica Zagorsak (Zadar, Croatia) are the Cardinals' quintet of true freshmen.
- Ball State signed forward Jai Anthoni Bearden (Phoenix, Ariz.) and guard Jermarhi "Fatt" Hill (Bessemer, Ala.) to national letters of intent to form the Cardinals' 2024 recruiting class.
Ed Butler scored 545 in the 1963-64 season, and Jihad would get in the Top 15 with 18 more points.
SINGLE SEASON ASSISTS: Junior guard Jalin Anderson is within striking distance of the Top 10 for Ball State single season assists with his 131.
Randy Davis (2011-12) and Bob Faulkner (1974-75) are tied for 10th at 144 assists.
MAGIC MICKEY: Redshirt junior forward Mickey Pearson Jr. put up a career high 25 points in last Tuesday's 79-71 win at Central Michigan.
The Lincoln, Ala., native went 9 of 13 from the field, including 3 of 5 from distance, and 4-for-4 at the free throw line to establish a new career best for the second time this season (24 on Nov. 21 against USC Upstate).
GREAT LAKES STATE FINALE: Last Tuesday's game at CMU marked the Ball State men's basketball team's last game in the state of Michigan on the 2023-24 calendar.
The Cardinals posted a 4-0 record in the state this season after taking down Detroit Mercy on Dec. 6, Eastern Michigan on Jan. 16, Western Michigan on Feb. 3 and the Chippewas on Feb. 27.
1,000 Points: Anderson hit the 1,000-point mark in his career with a last-minute free throw at Northern Illinois on Feb. 20.
The Jackson, Tenn., native scored 604 of those before transferring to Ball State, where he's averaged 15.0 points per game in 28 games (420 total).
DB FOR THREE: Junior guard Davion Bailey leads the Cardinals in 3-pointers made (62) and 3-point shooting (42.5 percent) so far this season, and the shooting efficiency is first in the MAC among players who've made at least 40 triples.
The Indianapolis native's 2.5 triples made per game and 42 total in conference games ranks third in the MAC.
HANDLING THE HUSKIES: Ball State swept the season series with Northern Illinois and has now won 9 of 10 games against the Huskies thanks to the 70-63 decision on Tuesday in DeKalb.
The men's basketball team has won by double-figures over the Huskies five times in that span and bettered its record to 63-40 in the series, including 26-23 on the road.
FRESHMAN MAKING MOVES: Freshman guard Trent Middleton Jr. has scored in double figures in 5 of the last 11 games after doing so twice in the first 16 games of his collegiate career.
The Philadelphia native has averaged 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game during the span.
SECOND TRIP AROUND THE MAC: Ball State began its back end of double play opponents on Feb. 17 after playing each of the other 11 Mid-American Conference teams in first 11 league games of the year.
Ball State's regular season series against Akron, Buffalo, Ohio and Toledo have wrapped up with those schools being single-play opponents for the 2024 schedule.
CROATIAN DESTINATION: Ball State is the only Division I school featuring Croatia natives on both its men's basketball (Jurica Zagorsak) and women's basketball (Hana Muhl) teams.
Zagorsak is one of only nine Croatians currently on Division I men's basketball rosters. Ball State has played three of the other teams with a Croatian (Detroit Mercy, Little Rock and Toledo).
FREE THROWS FALLING: Pearson Jr. ranks second in the Mid-American Conference among qualifiers in free throw shooting percentage at 86.8 (92 of 106), which is No. 57 in NCAA Division I.
Bailey (84.8 percent, 28-33) and Middleton Jr. (82.3 percent, 51-62) have also been efficient at the foul line, while the Cardinals as a whole lead the MAC in free throw shooting at 76.9 percent, which ranks No. 23 nationally.
BANKING ON BASHEER: Jihad leads the team in scoring (18.8 ppg), rebounding (7.9 per game) and field goal percentage (46.0) among Cardinals averaging at least four field goal attempts this season. Jihad has established or tied career highs in scoring six times already this season, including on Jan. 20 against Miami (29 points).
The Detroit native's scoring average has nearly tripled over last year (7.1), while his rebounding average has doubled (3.6). Jihad started only one game in his first two seasons at Ball State, but has been a mainstay in the starting lineup as an upperclassman now.
JALIN JAMS: Anderson, a transfer out of Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, leads the Ball State backcourt in scoring and the team in assists (4.5 per game) as the Cardinals' lead guard. Anderson leads the MAC in steals (30) in conference play and is third overall at 46 total steals so far.
The Jackson, Tenn., native boasts Ball State's highest offensive output (29 points against Old Dominion) so far and has already established his career high for single season points, assists, rebounds and steals. Anderson has shown a penchant for explosive offensive performances, posting nine 20+ point games so far this season.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK X3: Jihad was named the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Week on Jan. 29 after taking home the honor on Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.
Jihad averaged 24.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 per game in wins at Buffalo and vs Northern Illinois, including a 28-point, 14-rebound double-double on Jan. 27 against the Huskies.
Up Next
Ball State plays at Bowling Green on Friday at 7 p.m. in the regular season finale.
Â
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball // Armoni Zeigler
Wednesday, September 10
Men's Basketball // Armoni Zeigler - Heart of the Cardinal Podcast
Tuesday, September 09
Men's Basketball // Jai Anthoni Bearden
Wednesday, August 20
Men's Basketball // Jai Anthoni Bearden - Heart of the Cardinal Podcast
Wednesday, August 20