CHIRP: Akron brings tough challenge to Ball State
January 23, 2012Before the Central Michigan game last Wednesday, coach Billy Taylor said his players were the most mentally engaged he'd seen in a while.
Before the Central Michigan game last Wednesday, coach Billy Taylor said his players were the most mentally engaged he'd seen in a while.
Ball State avoided comparisons to NAIA member Roosevelt Saturday with a 75-65 win over Northern Illinois in Dekalb.
A 63-48 loss to Mid-American Conference Western Division rival Toledo capped a dismal two-game road swing for Ball State. A horrid shooting average of 26 percent combined with poor interior defense resulted in more frustration for this young team.
Ball State was led by several new faces Wednesday night in an impressive 73-52 road victory over Mid-American Conference West Division opponent Central Michigan.
Prior to Saturday's game in Mount Pleasant, Mich., coach Kelly Packard gathered her group of players in the visitor's locker room and relayed a message to her team.
Ball State was led by several new faces Wednesday night in an impressive 73-52 road victory over Mid-American Conference West Division opponent Central Michigan.
At first glance, Saturday's 51-48 loss to Eastern Michigan looked like a defensive battle, one coach Billy Taylor could at least build on.
With the game tied at 48-48 and under 20 seconds remaining, Eastern Michigan's Antoine Green dribbled slowly at the top of the arc and drained a three-pointer right over Ball State guard Randy Davis.
For the second time in the last 10 days, the Cardinals squandered an opportunity to win on the road following a win on their home floor.
In their first two conference games the Cardinals have defeated the reigning MAC West champions, Western Michigan, and Toledo on the road with a game winner by senior forward Jarrod Jones with .6 seconds left on the clock.
Three days removed from their first Mid-American Conference loss of the season, coach Kelly Packard and the Cardinals will look to gain ground in the conference standings tonight as they host Northern Illinois at 7 p.m.
Following a Toledo layup with under seven seconds left to tie the game at 68-68, Ball State had one last shot to avoid overtime.
Preseason All-Mid-American Conference Selection Jarrod Jones received his fourth MAC West Division Player of the Week award Monday for his performance in Ball State's recent wins over Florida A&M and Western Michigan.
Coach Kelly Packard arrived in Muncie on Sunday night with a sour taste in her mouth. Just hours prior, she watched her team drop its first road Mid-American Conference game this season, a 76-64 defeat at Western Michigan, and its fourth loss in its last five games.
On Dec. 10, not a week shy of Christmas break for students, Ball State treated fans to a 58-55 win over Butler; the team's first since 2003.
Ball State will put its perfect 6-0 home record on the line today as it hosts its first conference opponent of the season against Western Michigan.
The past few meetings between Ball State and Western Michigan have been scrappy, chippy and everything in between.
In his first home game in nearly ten months, sophomore guard Tyrae Robinson said the nerves were there, but it didn't matter.
For the first time all season, point guard Tyrae Robinson will change out of his shirt and tie and suit up in a Ball State uniform.
Former Ball State basketball player Bonzi Wells has been waived by the Minnesota Timberwolves according to a press release from the team.
