Majok and Berry lead Ball State basketball
Fighting Cardinals head to Mackey Arena next week
By Rick Yencer
MUNCIE, IN - Ball State basketball continues to improve as forward Majok Majok joined guard Jesse Berry in some recognition as the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week.
Majok's improved scoring and rebounding with Berry's hot hand at times are needed as the Fighting Cardinals head to Mackey Arena to face the Purdue Boilermakers next week after a trip to the foothills of South Dakota on Saturday.
BSU Coach Billy Taylor was upbeat with recent wins over exhibition teams like Holy Cross and South Dakota, still knowing the Cardinals have to play much better going into Mackey and beginning MAC play in January. The Cardinals are even at 4-4.
Taylor was looking forward to play in Mackey with a Purdue team that has been up and down in he early season. The Boilermakers lost to Eastern Michigan last Saturday in a low scoring game 47-44. And the team is 4-5 with Muncie native and Purdue Coach Matt Painter looking for a winning season.
The top scorer for Purdue last week was Terone Johnson with 12 that went to Lafayette Jefferson High School with Berry.
Berry recalled Johnson in class and said he was a good competitor and was not surprised at his recent performance.
Out the gate, Berry scored a record 28 points against Cleveland State last month, gabbing MAC West Division player of the week.
This week, Majok shared that honor with Toledo's Rian Pearson for his career high 18 points and career best 17 rebounds against Holy Cross (Ind.) last week,
That performance was the best seen out of a BSU basketball players in the last decade, and Majok also is starting to get some national recognition for his rebounding too.
Taylor was pleased with Majok's improvement and the new numbers with his board average ranking him 13th in the nation. Majok also owns three double-doubles on the year and is averaging a double-double for the season with 13.1 points and 10.9 rebounds.
"He has exceeded my expectations," said Taylor about Majok, who transferred from a junior college to Ball State this year..
Ball State has another instate contest on Dec. 23 with IUPUI that is holding on at 4-8.
That Ball State matchup with
That Ball State matchup with Purdue at Mackey on Tuesday will be seen on ESPN, probably 3 if ESPN does not find something better.
In the height of the bowl season, or the made by ESPN bowl season, the sports schedule is always subject to change and the game could be found on any ESPN outlet.
After Purdue got beat by Notre Dame Saturday, look for the Boilermakers to be hungry for victory since they also recently lost to Eastern Michigan, another Mid-American conference team.
Purdue Coach Matt Painter looked slim and trim although the Boilermakers missed too many shots and rebounds to stay within range of the Irish. The 81-69 final was typical of recent Purdue losses. With Ball State winning some recent exhibitions, Tuesday's match-up should be fun.