The Ball State University men's basketball team is sitting atop the Mid-American Conference West Division and is not about to change its formula for success anytime soon.
The Cardinals (8-8, 3-1 MAC) own the MAC's second-best scoring defense at 60.4 points-per-game allowed, and coach Billy Taylor said remaining true to the team's defense-first mindset is critical.
"We've got to continue to play the tough defense that we have been playing so far in MAC play," Taylor said. "We have to remain true to our identity and the things that we've talked about all along and just continue to play that tough, hard-nosed defense."
Defense could be on display Sunday as Ball State plays host to the University of Toledo for a 2 p.m. tip-off at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals come in last in the MAC in scoring offense at 58.1 points per game, while the Rockets (4-14, 2-2 MAC) are second to last with a 59.8 points-per-game average.
Toledo has played the same four conference teams that Ball State has played so far this season in Eastern Michigan University, Northern Illinois University, Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University. Taylor said after losing its first two MAC games on the road, Toledo has picked up some steam with two home league wins against Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan - who defeated the Cardinals 71-65 on Saturday.
"[The Rockets have] gotten their confidence back by coming home and winning a couple games," Taylor said. "They've got some talented players ... so they're a very dangerous team and they can score the ball and disperse it in a variety of ways."
Taylor considers Toledo senior guard Tyrone Kent as "one of the best guards that we have in the MAC." Kent comes into Sunday's game ranked No. 7 in the MAC in scoring at 15.6 points per game, No. 14 in rebounding at 5.4 boards per game and No. 6 in 3-pointers made per game with 2.06.
"[Kent has] got the size, he's got the body, he's 6-foot-5, 200 pounds," Taylor said. "He's explosive in transition, he's athletic, he shoots deep 3s, I think he's shooting better 3s so he's a more consistent shooter this year, and he's making plays for teammates."
Kent, alongside fellow senior guard Jonathan Amos, form a frontcourt duo that averages 28.8 points per game for the Rockets, or a little less than 50 percent of the team's average offensive output.
However Taylor said he considers sophomore forward/center Justin Anyijong to be Toledo's "X" factor.
Anyijong averages 8.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in all games this season but has stepped up in the MAC, averaging 12.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in four league games this season.
"Anyijong has really played well for them," Taylor said. "He's done a very good job with his offensive rebounds, and just getting nine and a half rebounds a game in MAC play is really impressive for only a sophomore - and he's got a nice face-up game where he can make mid-range jump shots, can make some 3s and is a nice complement to Kent and Amos."
Sunday's game will be televised both on The Ball State Sports Network and will be picked up on ESPN Full Court. Local radio station 104.1 FM WLBC will also broadcast the game.
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