Worthen Arena, get ready for Jerome Tillman.
The Ball State University men's basketball team plays host to Ohio University on Saturday, led by the 6-foot-6, 235 pound Tillman, who leads the Mid-American Conference with 19.7 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game.
Ball State coach Billy Taylor said Tillman, a senior, has been dominant this season because of a variety of offensive skills.
"[Tillman] does a great job in the low-post concealing his man and getting close to the basket," Taylor said. "He's also very capable from the perimeter, he's making 3s this year, so he's making jump shots and he can also get to the basket. He can drive it right or left and make big shots that way as well, so he's very complete as a player, and then he's a tenacious rebounder."
When the defensive focus is directly on Tillman down low, Taylor said, the Bobcats (10-8, 3-2 MAC) can hurt an opponent with the MAC's best 3-point shooting percentage at 38.6 percent.
Led by Tommy Freeman, a 2007 Muncie Central graduate who is second in the MAC with a .430 3-point shooting percentage, Ohio features three of the top-15 3-point shooters in the conference in Freeman, Justin Orr and Steven Coleman.
"Freeman has shot the ball extremely well from 3 and has really found a nice role with this team," Taylor said. "They are shooting the ball very well from the perimeter, but a lot of that has to do with the emphasis that has to go on Jerome Tillman and his ability to score in and around the painted area."
The Cardinals (9-9, 4-2 MAC) hope senior guard/forward Rob Giles will play against Ohio after missing Wednesday's game against Bowling Green State University with a bruised left shoulder - an injury suffered in practice Tuesday.
"We're hopeful that he'll be able to play on Saturday," Taylor said. "But really, we still have a long way to try to get treatments and rehab so that he can be able to play on Saturday and play without pain."
Saturday's game, which will be broadcast by the Ball State Sports Network, begins at 2 p.m.
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