Non-Conference Statistics
Field-goal percentage - 36.3 percent
3-point percentage - 33.8 percent
Points per game - 7.8
Conference Statistics
Field-goal percentage - 40.7 percent
3-point percentage - 41.4 percent
Points per game - 10.8
Before MAC play, Tyler averaged 5.7 points on 33.7 percent from the field and 28.9 percent from 3-point range, an area of the game he is known for.
Since the Cardinals' conference season started on Jan. 6, Tyler is averaging 22.8 minutes, 3.9 more minutes than he saw during the team's non-conference schedule. The 6-foot-2 Indianapolis native is shooting 41.4 percent from long range in the six MAC games so far, which has helped him average 10.8 points per game.
Tyler is playing his first full season with Ball State after starting in only nine games last year before becoming academically ineligible. The time he missed in the second half of last season could be one reason why his rhythm was thrown off in the first 13 games of the year.
“[Assistant] Coach [Danny] Peters and [head] coach [James] Whitford has been talking to me about getting up shots on my off time and getting my rhythm back,” Tyler said. “I think I’ve gotten it back, but I’m still continuing to improve it more because I want to be shooting more than 40 percent [from 3-point range].”
During Ball State's road test where they escaped Eastern Michigan with a buzzer beater in double-overtime, Tyler had a 17-point outing. After the Jan. 23 performance, Tyler is the third leading scorer on the team against conference opponents behind junior forward Ryan Weber (14.8 points per game) and sophomore guard Francis Kiapway (11.2 points per game).
Kiapway was the hero during the action in Ypsilanti against Eastern Michigan Jan. 23. The Canadian finished with career highs with 22 points and seven 3-pointers made, none more important than his last, which came at the end of double overtime, leaving 0.7 seconds left on the clock.
While Tyler's 17-point performance was overshadowed, he was glad to see his team walk away with the win.
“It was really good just seeing the ball go through the rim,” Tyler said.
During that game, he was awarded with his second start this season after Whitford decided to go without a point guard for defensive purposes against the guards for Eastern Michigan.
“I’m glad that I can make some shots for my team,” Tyler said after the win. “I kind of got hot, and my boy [Kiapway], me and him had a shootout.”
Tyler and the Cardinals (13-6, 4-2 MAC) will continue conference play on Jan. 26 against the Buffalo Bulls.
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