If the Ball State men's basketball team were to look at this season in the way of challenges, this weekend would mark one of the squad's biggest challenges thus far -- a need to win on the road.
Ball State will travel to New York Saturday and take on Buffalo in the first of three straight road games. Heading into Saturday's game, Ball State is coming off its latest conquest -- defeating Kent State.
The Cardinals downed the Golden Flashes Wednesday in Worthen Arena, 83-75. However, that game was not the only challenge the Cards have met lately. In the last three games, Ball State recovered from an early season seven-game losing streak by restoring its record back to .500. Ball State has also won three straight games and six of its last eight.
However, the two losses of those eight games came while playing on the road. In fact, Ball State has won only one true road game this season: its game against Eastern Michigan on Jan. 21.
"We aren't the only program that struggles on the road," Ball State coach Tim Buckley said. "It's something that you have to continue to fight and take on the challenge.
"Our biggest problem is effort on the road. We have to bring our effort with us. The building we play in doesn't determine how hard we should play."
Buffalo, Ball State's first of three road opponents, also met a challenge this week -- winning a game.
The Bulls snapped a 12-game losing streak Tuesday night by defeating Eastern Michigan at home in convincing fashion, 90-66. In its win, Buffalo set a school record for the highest field goal percentage in a single game, shooting 67 percent from the field, hitting 39 of 58 shots.
For the Bulls, Tuesday's win marked the fourth win of the season but the first in conference play.
But, Ball State coach Tim Buckley said, records don't mean everything.
"Buffalo is a very good team despite its record," Buckley said. "It lost a game to Kent on a last second play where the ball slipped through Antonio Gates' hands, and a shooter caught it and threw it in from three and won it. Buffalo should have won that game."
For Buffalo, the key against the Cardinals might be strong post play.
It was the post play of the Flashes that hurt the Cards the most. Antonio Gates finished with 22 points, most of which came in the lane. His teammates Nate Gerwig and John Edwards finished with 12 and 14 points, respectively, under the basket.
Edwards finished shooting seven of seven from the field in Wednesday's game against the Cardinal post defense.
"He got great post position," Buckley said.
In Buffalo's game against Eastern Michigan it was freshman forward B.J. Walker who led the Bulls with 21 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
"I think we have to continue to get better defensively in the post," Buckley said. "It's an area that Buffalo has been attacking lately, so we are going to have to be prepared for that."
Not only for momentum's sake, but also for standings' sake Ball State's next two games on the road, both conference contests, are crucial. With Wednesday's win over MAC East Division leader Kent State, Ball State vaulted forward in the West Division standings.
The Cardinals are now in third place in their division,-ábehind Northern Illinois, a team Ball State has lost to twice, and Central Michigan, a team the Cards have not yet played against. Central Michigan will be the second of the three upcoming road games while ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday against Western Kentucky will wrap up Ball State's travel.
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