A high school forward, Michael Bennett, was originally recruited to Ball State as a guard. The fifth-year senior is still listed as a guard in the school's media guide, but his role has morphed mainly into that of a forward off the bench.
Saturday at Miami, the 6-foot-5 Bennett played a career-high 39 minutes, including the final 13 of the game. Mostly, he was in place of starting center Anthony Kent who drew two fouls in the game's first four minutes and played just nine overall.
Bennett scored eight points against the RedHawks, including a layup that forced overtime, and grabbed six rebounds.
"Bennett coming in threw us off," Miami coach Charlie Coles said. "(Center) Monty (St. Clair) lost him a couple times."
On the season, Bennett is averaging 5.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 21.3 minutes. He has played down low this season, but coach Tim Buckley praises his versatility and effort he brings, often while sacrificing himself against taller players.
"He's an intangible guy," Buckley said. 'You can't really define him by position."
Buckley said Bennett's day-to-day effort provides a good example of what the intensity the Cardinals' less-experienced players need to have in Mid-American Conference play.
"He got tossed out of one of his first individual workouts (as a freshman) for lack of effort," Buckley said. "Now he's one of our top effort guys."
AROUND THE MAC
Toledo, the preseason favorite to win the West Division and the MAC Tournament, has stumbled to an 0-3 start, with losses at Vanderbilt, Wright State and East Carolina. The Rockets play host Nevada tonight before traveling to Duke on Sunday.
Eastern Michigan, Northern Illlinois and Western Michigan all won their MAC openers Saturday. Western dropped East favorite Buffalo 70-53, as forward Levi Rost dropped in eight three-pointers and 31 points.
In the East Division, Kent State also won its opener, and stands at 5-2 overall. The RedHawks are 4-1.
Rost and Miami's Danny Horace (20 points, 17 rebounds against BSU) were named MAC Players of the Week.
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