Took Kent state also (BIG) last night. glad to see you are on it! :thumb:
Kent State (17-3) at Ball State (10-11)
Line-Up
The Sports Network
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, February 12th, 7:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Worthen Arena (11,500) -- Muncie, Indiana.
Television: Local. Home Record: Kent State 7-2, Ball State 7-3. Away Record:
Kent State 9-1, Ball State 1-7. Neutral Record: Kent State 1-0, Ball State
2-1. Conference Record: Kent State 10-2, Ball State 5-6. Series Record: Ball
State leads, 36-28.
GAME NOTES: Two of the Mid-American Conference's best players battle against
each other on the hardwood tonight, as the Ball State Cardinals play host to
the Kent State Golden Flashes. Kent State will be determined to rebound from
its 67-61 loss to Northern Illinois on Saturday. The setback ended an eight
game losing streak for the Flashes and was only their second loss in their
last 13 games. Kent State is 10-2 in the MAC this season and has gone a very
impressive 9-1 when playing away from home. The Cardinals have won three of
their last four games, including a 78-70 win against Miami-Ohio and in doing
so, upped their conference record to 5-6 this year. Although Ball State has
just one victory in eight road games, it has been able to go 7-3 playing in
Muncie this year. The Cardinals have a 36-28 series advantage on Kent State,
but the Flashes have taken two straight from Ball State. While Kent State has
played well in the series of late, the Cardinals have a commanding 25-6 record
when playing against the Flashes in Muncie.
Eric Haut paced the Flashes in defeat against Northern Illinois, scoring 22
points on 5-of-14 shooting from behind the arc. Anthony Wilkins had 15 points,
while Antonio Gates turned in 12 points and nine rebounds in a losing effort.
Kent State shot just 37.7 percent from the field and 29 percent from three-
point range, while also getting outrebounded, 30-27. It wasn't one of Gates'
most impressive performances of the season, as one of the MAC's leading
scorers and most complete players, dropped his scoring average to 21.0 ppg.
Gates is still collecting 8.1 rpg and ranks second on the team with 85
assists. Haut is turning in 15.4 ppg on a blistering 49.2 percent shooting
from three-point territory. Wilkins is trying to break into double figures, as
he's scoring 9.4 ppg on 37.6 percent shooing from three-point territory. The
Flashes offense has been dominating this season, averaging 78.2 ppg on 50.6
percent shooting from the field and 42.8 percent from long range.
Chris Williams is leading the Cardinals and the MAC in scoring this season
with 23.4 ppg. Williams has the rare ability to drive to the basket and
frequently draw fouls on his way there. He's also been extremely accurate when
he does get to the charity stripe, making 148-of-167 free throw attempts.
Cameron Echols is chipping in 13.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg, while leading the team
with 15 blocks. Matt McCollom is contributing 12.4 ppg on 34.9 percent
shooting from three-point range and has a team-best 53 assists. Williams again
led the Cardinals in their win against Miami-Ohio, scoring a game-high 39
points on 14-of-15 shooting from the foul line. He also shot 11-of-21 from the
floor and dished out a team-high five assists, while McCollom added 20 points
in the victory. Echols recorded a double-double, scoring 10 points and
grabbing 11 rebounds. Ball State won the rebounding battle, 32-24 and shot an
impressive 25-of-29 from the charity stripe.
Kent State has played even better on the road, than it has at home and should
be able to pull out another one tonight. The Cardinals have played better of
late and Williams is so good, that he gives his team a chance to win every
single time they take the hardwood. That being said, Gates is a dominating
force as well and one of the best all-around players in the country, as he
will lead the Flashes to a close victory.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Kent State 76, Ball State 72
from the sports newtork:
