The Ball State Cardinals (9-9, 1-5 MAC) hit the road on Tuesday for a Mid-American Conference clash in upstate New York and Alumni Arena against the Buffalo Bulls (2-15, 1-4 MAC). Ball State was defeated by Miami (OH) 87-80 on Saturday in overtime. The Cardinals have lost seven of the last eight. Buffalo was defeated by the Toledo Rockets 77-66 last Tuesday and the Bulls have lost four straight and 13 of the last 14. Ball State will play without Zane Doughty, Ethan Brittain and Joey Brown. Buffalo will play without James Graham III.
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Ball State is scoring an average of 74.3 points per game which is 196th in the nation. The Cardinals are shooting 45.7% overall and 36.9% from 3-point territory which are 137th and 51st respectively. The Cardinals are making 76% of their free throws which is 41st. Basheer Jihad is the leading scorer for Ball State with an average of 19.0 points per game and Jalin Anderson is second with an average of 16.1 points per game. Anderson is the leader in assists with an average of 4.7 dishes per contest.
Ball State is allowing an average of 70.6 points per game which is 149th but the Cardinals over the last eight games played are allowing an average of 77.7 points per game which has resulted in seven losses with just one win. Opponents are shooting 45.3% overall and 34.2% from three-point land which are 293rd and 244th respecti vely. Ball State averages 34.5 rebounds per game led by Jihad with an average of 7.4 per game. Anderson is the leader in steals with an average of 1.6 per game and Jihad is the rim protector with an average of 1.1 blocked shots per game.