Over their last two games, the UB offense has really turned it on, averaging 95.5 points per game against Akron and Central Michigan. The Bulls went a combined 68-for-131 (51.9%) from the field and they shot well from long range, going 21-of-48 (43.7%) from beyond the arc. It was the first time this season that UB shot better than 40% from three in back-to-back games and just the second time this year they shot over 50% from the field in back-to-back contests.
As the Bulls get ready to play their 10th conference game on Friday night, this will mark their sixth game against the MAC West. Through the first five, the Bulls hold a 3-2 advantage, including 1-1 on the road. UB will play three of their next four against MAC West opponents before ending the season with five straight vs. the East.
Ball State is winners of six of their last seven games, including three straight, following an 81-80 win over Toledo on Tuesday night. The Cardinals are now 15-7 on the year and lead the MAC West at 6-3. Ball State defeated the Bulls 92-77 at Alumni Arena on Jan. 14.
Ball State is led by Tayler Persons, who is averaging 16.1 points per game and leads the Cardinals with 112 assists. Franko House is second on the team, averaging 12.9 points per contest, while chipping in 6.5 boards per game. Trey Moses leads the team with 8.7 rebounds per contest. The Cardinals feature a balanced offense where eight different players are averaging at least 7.6 points per game.
In the first meeting between the two schools, Ball State had six players in double figures, including three different players with 17 points (Tayler Persons, Jeremie Tyler, Ryan Weber). Trey Moses ripped down 14 rebounds. The Cardinals shot just under 50% from the floor and nearly 43% from three in the victory.
James Whitford is in his fourth season at Ball State having led BSU to a 21-14 record last season and a trip to the Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournament which marked Ball State’s first 20-win season and first postseason appearance in 14 years. Whitford was introduced as the 19th men’s basketball coach in Ball State history on April 10, 2013. In his career as an assistant coach at Arizona, Xavier and Miami University, his teams posted an overall record of 400-208, reached the NCAA tournament 10 times.
The Bulls recorded 101 points on Tuesday night in their victory over Central Michigan, their highest scoring output ever against a Mid-American Conference team in regulation. The Bulls scored 107 points in a double overtime loss to Kent State in 2006 and between 2006-17 the Bulls twice put up over 100 points against non Division I opponents.
The last time that UB put up 100 points in a regulation game against a D-I opponent was Nov. 21, 2001 when they scored 100 points at Chicago State. Since turning Division I in 1991-92, Tuesday night was the fourth time that the Bulls have scored at least 100 points against a fellow D-I opponent in regulation.
from UBBulls.com via IFTTT
