MEN'S BASKETBALL: Ball State earns 2-game lead over Central Michigan with 69-63 win
February 18, 2010The victory effectively gives Ball State a two-game lead in the MAC West with three conference games to play.
The victory effectively gives Ball State a two-game lead in the MAC West with three conference games to play.
The Cardinals took full advantage of the whistle-happy officials against his Chippewas. Ball State hit 24-of-31 free throws, led by freshman guard Jauwan Scaife, who hit 12-of-14 free throws to outshoot Central Michigan at the charity stripe (9-of-13).
The Ball State University men's basketball team defeated visiting Central Michigan University 69-63 Wednesday night at Worthen Arena to take a two-game lead in the Mid American Conference West Division with just three MAC games left to play. Check out the images from the game.
Get to know Central Michigan before you head to the Nest tonight.
Find out who has the edge in tonight's MAC West showdown at Worthen Arena between division leaders Ball State and Central Michigan.
Ball State (13-11, 7-5) is tied with Central Michigan University (12-12, 7-5) after each team scored victories this weekend.
The Cardinals will host the Chippewas on Wednesday night in Worthen Arena in a game that will determine who has the upper hand in the division.
Randy Davis didn't just knock down "some shots." He knocked down big shots down the stretch to help give Ball State (13-11, 7-5 MAC) three road wins in the MAC for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
After a 4-2 tour of the MAC East Division, Ball State (12-11, 6-5 MAC) continues play against the MAC West Division today as it travels to Northern Illinois University (8-15, 4-7 MAC), losers of seven straight since beginning MAC play 4-0.
Despite the worst loss in the Billy Taylor era, Ball State (12-11, 6-5 MAC) ended with a successful tour against the MAC East Division, going 4-2 against its cross-divisional opponents. It is just its third winning season against the East since divisional play began in the 1997-98 season.
With experience, a balanced offensive attack featuring four of the top-20 scorers in the MAC and size and strength in both the frontcourt and the backcourt, Ball State coach Billy Taylor sees in Kent State the blueprint with which he hopes Ball State will grace the Worthen Arena court in the next couple seasons.
Davis led the way for the Cardinals (12-9, 6-3 Mid-American Conference) with a game-high 18 points and four assists to just one turnover in 33 minutes of action. Three other Ball State players scored in double-digits: Watson had 14 points and nine rebounds, sophomore center Jarrod Jones earned a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Scaife added 10 points.
Sporting its longest winning streak in six years, Ball State University will host the University of Akron, the defending Mid-American Conference champion, Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals (12-9, 6-3) have won four straight and five of their last six games to reassert themselves in the MAC race.
Today's games are being telecast regionally by Fox Sports Net. The last time the channel hosted a men's-women's Ball State basketball double-header was Jan. 17, when the Cardinals swept the University of Toledo; the men's team won 71-43, while the women's team squeaked by with a 73-69 victory.
For 33 minutes Thursday night, Randy Davis played almost flawless basketball. The point guard led Ball State University to a 64-59 victory against Bowling Green State University with a game-high 18 points and four assists. Davis turned the ball over only once, and made five of his six free throws.
Heading into tonight's game against the Falcons (11-9, 4-4 MAC), the Cardinals are 3-0 against the MAC East, while the rest of the West Division has stumbled to a 3-11 combined record against its cross-divisional rivals.
The 28-point margin of victory is the largest for Ball State under coach Billy Taylor, and the largest since defeating the University of Northern Colorado 81-42 to open the 2006-07 season.
Through Thursday's games, the Cardinals ranked last in Division I in 3-pointers made per game. With that in mind, Toledo coach Gene Cross said his game plan was to take away Ball State center Jarrod Jones, who leads the team in scoring. The Rockets limited the sophomore to six points, but enabled Ball State's shooters to get open looks.
The Ball State University men's and women's basketball teams host the University of Toledo today at Worthen Arena in what are pivotal games for both teams.As always, check out our live, in-game updates on Twitter and at bsudailynews.com.
Ball State shot 24 percent from the field, the third consecutive time it failed to shoot 30 percent. The lone bright spot offensively was freshman guard Jauwan Scaife, who led the team with 12 points. But even Scaife struggled shooting the ball, making just three of his 14 shots.
