January 17, 2025
Ball State (13-4, 5-0 MAC) vs. Akron (9-8, 3-2 MAC)
Jan. 18, 2025>>Worthen Arena>> 11:30 am ET>>Muncie, Ind.
Ball State (13-4, 5-0) vs. Toledo(11-4,3-2 MAC)
Jan. 20, 2025>>Worthen Arena>> 11:00 am ET>>Muncie, Ind. >> MLK Day
CBS Sports Network – Talent: Jacki Windon and Matt Shepard
Opening Tip:
– Saturday’s game against Akron will mark the 51st time in program history the two schools have met with the Cardinals leading the all-time series, 31-19. Ball State has won 13 of the last 16 meetings against the Zips. Brady Sallee owns a 13-8 mark against Akron. Ball State won the home-and-away series last season against the Zips.
– In their last meeting, the Cardinals defeated the Zips in Worthen Arena on Feb. 28, 2024 by a score of 75-41.
– Monday’s contest marks the 94th time in program history the two schools have met with Toledo leading the all-time series record, 62-31. Ball State split the home-and-away series with the Rockets last season defeating them on the CBS Sports Network on Jan. 21, 2024 by a 65-51 ledger. The Cardinals then fell to the Rockets in Toledo on Feb. 24, 2024 in Savage Arena by a 70-48 decision.
– The Cardinals have been road warriors the past four years during Mid-American Conference action. Ball State owns a 30-10 (.736) ledger when playing league games on the road dating back to the 2021 MAC season with its best showing being in 2021 when the Cardinals went 9-1 that year.
– For the second-straight season, the Cardinals have opened Mid-American Conference with a 5-0 ledger. Ball State remains the only team in league play that is undefeated.
– Ball State has won nine-straight MAC regular season games dating back to last year. The Cardinals haven’t lost a regular season league contest since Feb. 24, 2024, which was at Toledo.
– A BIG congratulations to Ally Becki as she has received national recognition after being voted to the 2025 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List. Becki currently ranks fifth in the nation in triple doubles, 15th in the nation in assists (91) and 17th in the nation in assists per game (5.7). Becki also leads the MAC in four different categories, assist/turnover ratio (2.33), assists (91), assists per game (5.7) and triple doubles (1).
NET Rankings:
The NCAA Division I net rankings have the Cardinals being ranked in the top 70 coming in at 54. Ball State has earned the highest net ranking out of all the schools in the Mid-American Conference.
Sallee is HOT in January:
It may be cold outside but the Cardinals tend to get hot in the month of January under 13th-year head coach Brady Sallee. Sallee owns an overall record of 73-29 (.710) in the month of January dating back to his first season in 2012-13.
Home Sweet Home:
John E. Worthen Arena has been very good to the Cardinals for the past decade. Ball State has a record of 195-87 (.654) at Worthen Arena from 2004-present. In 13 seasons Brady Sallee has compiled a 129-56 (.691) record in Worthen Arena. His best season at home was in 2022-23 when the Cardinals went 15-1 in Worthen.
Inside the Paint:
Ball State is 10-2 when winning the paint battle and this year; vs. Old Dominion (38-24), IU Indy (36-12), Memphis (60-28), Northern Iowa (28-24) Northern Kentucky (36-16), Anderson (82-22), Miami (24-16), Eastern Michigan (54-30), Buffalo (38-36) and Kent State (38-18). Ball State tied with Texas A&M, 34-34. BSU led that stat category in a loss to South Dakota State (32-14).
Forcing Miscues:
Ball State has caused its opponents to commit 323 miscues in 16 games. The Cardinals have been able to turn those turnovers into a total of 339 points so far this season: Old Dominion (21 pts), IU Indy (25 pts), Memphis (22 pts), Northern Iowa (21 pts), No. 16 Northern Carolina (14 pts), Texas A&M (29 pts), Columbia (8), South Dakota State (17), Davidson (24), Northern Kentucky (20 pts), Anderson (46), Miami (31), Central Michigan (22), Eastern Michigan (22), Buffalo (17) and Kent State (18).
13-1 at the Half:
The Cardinals own an 13-1 ledger when Ball State ends the first half with the lead. The lone loss came against Columbia University as the Cardinals had a 31-25 edge against the Jack Rabbits at halftime on Nov. 25, 2024 in the last game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.
Lachelle Austin Nearing 1,000 Career Points:
The Cardinals welcomed transfer Lachelle Austin to its 2024-25 roster this season. Austin, a senior, is familiar with the Mid-American Conference, playing three years at Eastern Michigan. Austin was one of the Eagles top scorers and has scored in double figure in six of the Cardinals’ seven contests thus far this season. Austin for her career has 961 points and needs just 22 to reach 1,000.
© 2025 Ball State University Athletics
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