vs. Ball State (1/12)

[mbenecke]

Following our 2-game sweep of Central Michigan, our Falcons (9-2, 5-0 MAC) will return home to the Stroh Center on Tuesday, January 12 at 7:00pm to take on the Ball State Cardinals (4-5, 2-2 MAC). The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 or ESPN+.

Ball State comes in with a fairly unimpressive resume so far, with multiple big losses and a few close wins that easily could have been losses. They’re a respectable program - picked to finish 5th in the MAC in the preseason poll - but I believe this is a game we should win. they’re coming in off a 17 point loss at Buffalo last night.

Time to defend the Stroh and get it done on the court before heading to Buffalo on Friday night for a national TV game. Can’t look ahead, we have to take care of business here.

Go Falcons - Beat Ball State!

[mbenecke]

BG looking for their 3rd 6-0 MAC start in men’s basketball program history tonight.

In 1961-1962, we started 7-0 before finishing 11-1.

In 2018-2019, we started 6-0 before finishing 12-6.

It’s 4-5 Ball State on tap tonight in the Stroh, then we go to Buffalo and host Akron. It's important that we win this one and stay focused without looking ahead to those clashes - have to take it 1 at a time.

[fanatic13]

Akron loses at niu today after losing at emu. Not sure what's wrong with them but more motivation to not overlook anyone and an opportunity to put some ground between the middle of the mac

[mbenecke]

First 4 minutes in the books, with ball State leading 8-7.

When you look at the guys Ball State is starting, it feels like we could get the ball in to Swingle tonight - he seems to have a sizeable height advantage down low. We've already given him one easy look, and I hope more are on the way.

[mbenecke]

11:57 left in the first half, BG leads 14-13.

[mbenecke]

8 minutes left in the first half, Ball State leads 25-18.

Our defense has been subpar, but man, what does Swingle have to do to not get called for a foul? He breathes on a guy, he's lucky it's not called a flagrant. He is forced to play so soft by these officials, it's maddening.

[mbenecke]

Ball State is shooting the lights out, now up 32-21 with 6 to go in the half.

[mbenecke]

3:54 to go until halftime, Ball State leads 34-27. BG has been playing better since the timeout, and Plowden drew a foul going into the last media timeout. Would be nice to close the gap a little more going into halftime, then have a fast start to the 2nd half.

[mbenecke]

Juice has gotten rolling and doing his thing a little bit, and suddenly the lead is 2. Timeout Ball State, about 2 minutes until halftime. We've played really well since that Huger timeout with about 6 to play.

[Diemilkweed]

Missing a lot of FT's tonight.

And man is our offense stagnant compared to theirs.

[mbenecke]

HALFTIME: Ball State leads 43-36.

We missed 7 free throws in the first half. Need to clean that up and earn the gimmes in the 2nd half. Let's fight, boys.

[mbenecke]

Justin Turner moved into 3rd place on the all-time scoring list at BG during the first half, passing the great Howard Komives.

[mbenecke]

Awful start to the half. BG is down 13 now, and forced to a call a timeout. We can't defend their 3 point shooting, and it feels like we can't buy a bucket in this game.

[mbenecke]

Under-16 in the 2nd half, BG is down 58-40. this one is ugly. We just have no answer for them making everything.

[hammb]

Boy, this is a complete clunker. We look slow and sloppy across the board. Step late everywhere defensively, no ball movement at all on offense.

STill time, but gonna have to figure something out (and probably get insanely hot from 3) just to make this thing competitive.

Even from the free throw line we've been awful...Diggs & Turner have missed freethrows and Plowden missed a pair earlier...these are 80-90% FT shooters...dunno what's up.

Looks like they all hung out with Johnny Moxon last night.