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

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Ball State has a chance like hundreds of other college teams to play their way into the NCAA tournament this weekend, especially since teams like Liberty and Harvard already won their conference tournaments.

 But the Mid-American Conference is certainly not Ivy League or Big South with two divisions and 12 teams with a couple of top ranked basketball programs.

Staff Report

MUNCIE, IN - The Ball State men’s basketball team hosts Mid-American Conference West Division leader Western Michigan for a 6 p.m. tipoff Saturday at Worthen Arena. The game will be televised by SportsTime Ohio with the broadcast also streamed on ESPN3.

Ball State (8-13, 2-7 MAC), coming off a home loss Saturday to Ohio, will look to get on track against the Broncos (15-7, 7-2 MAC), which won their seventh straight game Saturday against Kent State.

Staff Report

MUNCIE, IN - It will be a “Red Out” Wednesday night at Worthen Arena when Ball State hosts Ohio for a 7 p.m. tipoff in Mid-American Conference play. Fans are encouraged to wear red, and Cardinals will also be wearing their red uniforms.

Ball State (8-12, 2-6 MAC) is coming off a 70-59 setback Saturday at Bowling Green, while Ohio (15-6, 6-1 MAC) had a seven-game winning streak snapped Saturday with an 86-72 loss at Akron.

The Matchup

Ball State trails 40-33 in the all-time series with Ohio. The Cardinals hold an 18-5 advantage in games played in Muncie and a 10-4 mark against the Bobcats inside Worthen Arena. Ohio snuck past Ball State last season 59-55 in Athens, Ohio, but the Cardinals won the previous meeting 76-73 in overtime at the 2011 Mid-American Conference Tournament.

The margin of victory has not been larger than eight points for either team over the past seven meetings with five of those being decided by four points or fewer and three going to overtime.In last year’s loss, Ball State’s Chris Bond had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - Toledo guard Rian Pearson knew letting Ball State hang around could beat them in the end.

 But the Rockets, who outscored the Cardinals nine points in the second half, won 85-78 after Ball State led by a deuce at halftime.

Ball State’s Majok Grabs MAC West Player of the Week Honor

By Rick Yencer

Source: BSUSports.com

MUNCIE, IN - Majok Majok's raw talent is beginning to improve as he grabbed 21 points Saturday against Miami and won a Player of the Week award from the Mid-American Conference. It marks the second player-of-the-week award for Majok this season and the fourth for a Ball State player. Teammate Jesse Berry is also a two-time winner.

 Majok, a junior forward, got the West Division nod for averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds in the Miami and Buffalo games. He shot 64.7 percent from the floor and 85.7 percent at the free throw line, a big improvement from recent games.

 Actually, Majok and three other Ball State players got in double figures Saturday to beat Miami 82-62 which was the highest scoring game the Cardinals had yet. And at 2-4 in conference and 8-10 overall, the team is about the average of other MAC teams in the West and East.

 And Majok will compete in the Geico Play of Year competition on CBS April 6 with other talented college stars. He won out from other players nominated the week of Jan. 2 when he slammed dunked a final shot against Norfolk State. That buzzer beater score won Ball State the game.

 On Wednesday, Ball State plays Toledo that is 3-3 in the Mac and 7-10 overall. Their top scorers are Rian Pearson who averages about 18.2 points, and Julius Brown at 13.4 points.

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.

By Rick Yencer

MUNCIE, IN - IUPUI came off a string of losses to outrun and outscore Ball State University 77-68 Sunday in Worthern Arena that was mostly empty a couple days before Christmas.

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 - 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.