After claiming its first win in five weeks on Saturday against Toledo, the men's basketball team will try to conquer another problem -- road games.
Ball State, yet to win a road game, is now faced with two consecutive conference games on the road. The first is today against Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m. in Ypsilanti, Mich.
For support in its quest to conquer the road, Ball State may turn to sophomore Matt McCollom -- the game's leading scorer in the Cardinals' win over Toledo, 77-72.
McCollom finished the game with a career-high 29 points, shooting 9-of-14 from the field and 9-of-12 from the free throw line.
"He did what we brought him to do, not to score points but to lead our basketball team," coach Tim Buckley said. "I think because of his will to win he played the way he did.
"His communication, his demeanor and all those things we have expected from him since he got here came to fruition on Saturday."
Buckley said the whole team showed an intensity level that has been lacking for more than a month. Much of that intensity on Saturday came after a team meeting when the players asked for a coachless conversation.
Buckley said Monday he believes that meeting allowed the team to get to know one another better and become closer as a team.
"Number one, when you get a chance to talk and a chance to clear the air, you unburden yourself a lot," he said. "It makes you feel better about yourself and your teammates.
"Secondly, not ever sitting down with the team and discussing what they talked about, I guarantee they talked about accountability and responsibility," Buckley said. "When you feel like you are accountable to not only yourself but to other people, then you take a bigger pride in what you do."
Pride was something Ball State appeared to have Saturday and something they have seemingly lacked in past games.
In three other conference games this season, Ball State has held at least a five-point lead in the second half. Each time, the Cardinals let that lead slip away, losing each contest.
Saturday, Ball State mounted a lead as high as 14 points in the first half and as high as nine in the second half. The Rockets retook the lead with five minutes remaining in the game. Ball State did not, however, topple on Saturday as it has in the past, claiming the win by five points.
Speaking of his team's intensity, Buckley said Saturday's effort is something he will expect to see on a regular basis.
"We have to mature in the regard that we have to bring it like that every day," Buckley said. "Whether we do it in practice or in the game; if we do that then we have a chance to be successful."
Currently, Ball State sits at the bottom of the Mid-American Conference West division with a conference record of 1-4, 6-9 overall. Eastern Michigan is in second to last with a conference record of 1-3, 7-6 overall.
The Eagles have lost five of their last seven games including its latest tumble against Northern Illinois, 88-79 on Saturday.
Eastern defeated Bowling Green earlier in the season, a team that defeated Ball State.
Ryan Prillman leads the Eagles with 18.6 points a game and is backed up by Markus Austin who adds 17 points a game.
Buckley said Monday he hopes to see the same intensity his team brought to the hard wood on Saturday.
And, judging from the comments made by freshman Kyle Cox, a player who scored seven points in Ball State's Saturday win, it appears Ball State is ready to take on its next challenge.
"I think we are itching to play right now," Cox said. "We had a good day Saturday and I think it was a turning point. We are really making strides. I think the guys have kind of banded together and we want to prove these doubters wrong," Cox said. "We want to make a serious run in late January and February and be ready for the tournament in March."
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