The Ball State Cardinals (9-4, 0-0 MAC) open their Mid-American Conference schedule with a visit to Savage Arena and Toledo, Ohio to play the Toledo Rockets (9-4, 0-0 MAC), who will also be opening their MAC schedule. Ball State defeated Chicago State 70-63 in its most recent games and has won five straight. Toledo defeated Lourdes, a division III opponent, 103-88 for its second straight win and fourth in the last five. Ball State and Toledo do not have any players listed on their injury reports.
Ball State is 99th in the nation in scoring with an average of 76.5 points per game. The Cardinals have the 31st best field goal shooting percentage at 48.6% and are 33rd in three-point shooting at 38.1%. Jaylin Sellers is the leading scorer for Ball State with an average of 14.4 points per game and the guard is shooting 54.1% overall and 58.3% from long range. Payton Sparks is the second leading scorer with an average of 13.5 points per game and the center is shooting 61.8% overall and 50.0% from behind the line. Jarron Coleman is the leader in assists with an average of 3.5 dishes per game. Ball State averages 13.5 assists and 12.5 turnovers per contest.
Ball State is allowing an average of 65.8 points per game, while holding opponents to a field goal shooting percentage of 41.3% and a 3-point shooting percentage of 35.3%. The Cardinals are averaging 35.5 rebounds per game while allowing an average of 29.2 boards per contest. Sparks is the leading rebounder with an average of 8.0 boards per game. Damarius Jacobs is the leader in steals with an average of 1.6 per contests and is also the leader in swats with an average of 1.8 blocked shots per contest.