Mid-American Conference Division leaders will clash on Sunday as the West-leading Ball State University men's basketball team plays host to East-leading University at Buffalo in a 2 p.m. showdown at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals (10-12, 5-5 MAC) will play their final game of the regular season against the East Division on Sunday and are hoping to break their current three-game losing streak. Ball State is 1-4 against the East this season, with its one win coming against Ohio University on Jan. 31.
The Bulls (17-5, 9-1 MAC), meanwhile, come into Sunday's game with their best start in program history since becoming an NCAA Division I team and their best overall start since the 1964-65 season. Buffalo is on a nine-game winning streak since its last loss, an 86-82 MAC-opening loss to Bowling Green State University on Jan. 10. Its 9-1 record in MAC play is its best since joining the league in 1998.
One key to Buffalo's success has been on the boards. The Bulls bring the MAC's top rebounding team at 37.9 rebounds per game.
"Buffalo is a physical team," coach Billy Taylor said. "They do a nice job of spacing the floor offensively, so they stretch you out and when their shot goes up, they can really fly to the glass."
Buffalo is led by its frontcourt. Guards Rodney Pierce, Calvin Betts and Greg Gamble combined to average 34.2 points, 15.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game this season.
"Buffalo is physical at the guard position," Taylor said. "They've got long, athletic, tall guards that allows them to be a team that can be really effective on the glass."
Pierce, a 6-foot-2 junior, leads the team in scoring and is eighth in the MAC with a 14.5 points-per-game average. He was named MAC East Player of the Week on Jan. 26 when he averaged 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in the Bulls' wins against East rivals Miami University and Kent State University.
"[Pierce] is just a tough scorer," Taylor said. "Another guy who can score in a variety of ways, whether it's making jump shots, making a move to the basket, getting out in transition - he's just a dangerous scorer and one of many guys on their team who can score long."
Betts has benefitted from a starting role this season after being named MAC Sixth Man of the Year last season by MAC Report Online. The 6-foot-3 junior averages 10.7 points and leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game, which is ranked No. 9 in the MAC. Betts also is the most accurate 3-point shooter in the conference, hitting 45.6 percent of his 3-point attempts.
Gamble, a 6-foot-4 senior captain, averages nine points per game and is second in the MAC with a 3.81 assists-per-game average. Gamble is also No. 15 in the MAC in rebounding with 5.2 boards per game.
The Bulls defeated host Eastern Michigan University 58-49 on Thursday night in their most recent contest. Pierce led the way with a game-high 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while Gamble added eight points and eight rebounds.
Sunday's game will be broadcast on television by The Ball State Sports Network.
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