Ball State at Muncie Free Press - Delaware County Indiana | News and Information

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN -  On the recommendation of Ball State President Jo Ann Gora, the university's board of trustees showered its faculty with a 3 percent raise this week, and assessed students another 2 percent on tuition in a $339 million budget for 2013-14.

By Rick Yencer

MANHATTAN, KS - The historic post season run by Ball State womens basketball ended at Kansas State Thursday night after Big 12 leader Brittany Chambers pounded the boards with a record 23 points.

By Asia Jureczko

MUNCIE, IN - The Blue Man Group, known for their outrageous light displays, creative musical techniques and explosions of color, did not disappoint at their performance for Emens Auditorium on Ball State University’s campus.

The thrilling, heart pounding, beat and impressive “instrumental” talent, struck wonderment into the hearts of young and old. Using a combination of glowing, live musicians, positioned mystically above stage, and a unique assortment of PVC pipes and handcrafted steel drums, the Blue Man Group played surprisingly catchy, techno-tunes. All the while, enchanting the audience with magnificent colors, lights and comedic skits.

For one who has never experienced this spectacular performance, the Blue Man Group is an absolute must-see. Be prepared to be struck with astonishment and then surprised into  uproarious laughter.

Using skilled theatrics, the performers convey speechless comedic skits, tickling even the sourest of funny bones. The show blends a harmonious compilation of modern society satire, slapstick routines and witt, all without speaking a single word.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Ball State squandered an early lead with Buffalo and then lost a mostly one possession game 66-63 at the end with poor free throw shooting.

 "This loss hurts us," said BSU Coach Billy Taylor, about both players and coaches.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Back to back road losses and a 1-3 start in the Mid-American Conference should not cause Ball State fans to panic about their basketball team, says BSU Coach Billy Taylor.

 It's been a difficult stretch for the Cardinals losing to Central Michigan 71-57 on Saturday after being ahead by a basket at halftime, and losing a few days earlier to Akron 71-64.

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.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Zach Fields, Ball State senior center, wanted to get his team restarted last week when they slumped in the last few minutes against Cleveland State.

 So he said a few words like former Indiana coach Bobby Knight would yell to get the Hoosiers back in the game.

 That spark did not result in a last minute comeback, and Fields, the vocal leader of the Fighting Cardinals basketball team, is still trying to figure out how to get his teammates to play 40 minutes of ball and win some games.

 The 2-4 Cardinals had little to cheer about during a media gathering on Monday as  their football partners were the news and headed to the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl in St., Peterburg, Fla.

 Basketball Coach Biilly Taylor said he was feeling great, but acknowledged there was lots of work to stop turnovers and get more outside shots for the Cardinals to get back in the game before the Mid-American Conference season starts in January.

 Granted, Ball State played No. 1 Indiana and ranked Butler besides a hot Indiana State team, but still have to play Purdue at Mackey on Dec. 18 and an always fast Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis on Dec. 23.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN -  It was a thrill for senior center Dan Manick to learn he and his his Cardinal football teammates were headed to Florida to play in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl against Central Florida.

 BSU Coach Pete Lembo and his staff gathered the 9-3 Cardinals briefly Sunday night after the bowl hosts announced the big game on Dec. 21 in St. Petersburg, Fla..

 Manick of Dyer, and defensive tackle Brandon Newman of Louisville, Ky., were on hand at Monday's media gathering as the big post season game with more details were discussed by Lembo. 

 Manick also learned from an ESPN scroll that Central Florida is the biggest school in Florida, with an enrollment of 51,000, compared to Ball State with 21,053.. Lembo chimed in that the school just built a new stadium that holds 40,000 fans and the school was bumping up to the Big East Conference next year after losing Saturday to Tulsa in the Conference USA conference.

 Lembo explained that Central Florida had big defenders and plenty of playmakers, besides having all the resources with a big enrollment and being located in the Disneyworld capital of Orlando, Fla. where the game will be played at the Topicana Field.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Ball State University Coach Billy Taylor referred to his first coaching visit to historic  I.U. Assembly Hall on Sunday as the most hostile environment the Cardinals will face this season.

 That 101-53 humiliation at the hands of the No. 1 ranked Hoosiers and their national championship banners is something that Taylor promised to work through with his young basketball team that just got beat  20 points by Indiana State last week.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Ball State basketball has a big man and a big schedule this season, playing Indiana, Purdue and Butler.

 Billy Taylor, that Lehigh transplant entering his 6th season, was excited at the prospect of playing the No. 1 ranked Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on Nov. 25.

 "It is a great opportunity any time you play No. 1, said Taylor, at the basketball media day and practice this week.

 And BSU senior Jauwan Scaife, who averaged 5.9 points a game last season, said he wanted to make sure the team played well against the Hoosiers, just as Taylor echoed while introduced a young new team with some injuries.

 The newest member is Majok Majok, a junior college transfer who comes from down under, Perth, Australia, and towers at 6-foot-8. As Bobby Knight once said, he could always teach shooting and dribbling but he could not teach how a center could be 7-foot.