In the past two games, the Ball State men's basketball team has found motivation through streak-breaking.
The Cardinals snapped a seven-game losing streak against Toledo and broke Eastern Michigan's seven-game home winning streak. Saturday, Ball State will travel to Miami in an attempt to break another streak. In the last 11 years, the Cardinals have lost 10 straight games in Millet Hall.
"It's a great place to play," Ball State coach Tim Buckley said of the RedHawks' home court. "We have had some great basketball games down there.
"You have to go down there and compete and play for 40 minutes. We have been in positions the last two years where we have had the lead late in the game and let it get away."
Buckley explained that in the Mid-American Conference every team seems to have somewhat of a home court advantage.
"I think there is usually something magical about every home building - you like to play in it; you feel comfortable playing in it. That's why any time you go on the road in this league and get a victory, it's very satisfying."
Junior Robert Owens, who scored a career-high 14 points against Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, said it's the Miami students that make Millet Hall a difficult place to play. The key is looking past the student distractions.
"The guys just need to block that out and follow the game plan," he said. "We have to stay positive. Things are going to go sour sometimes, but we just need to stay positive with each other and stay on the same page. If we stay together and follow the game plan, we'll be right in this game."
Ball State (7-9 overall, 2-4 MAC) heads into Saturday's game two straight wins, one which marked the Cardinals' first true road win of the season at Eastern Michigan, 91-90. In that game it was Chris Williams who returned to the scoring spotlight, his 27 points leading Ball State to a win.
Miami (6-9, 4-2) heads into Saturday's contest having won its last two conference games against Ohio and Akron. Akron defeated Ball State earlier this season, 105-104, in overtime. Leading the way for Miami in scoring is junior Juby Johnson, averaging nearly 14 points per game.
Buckley and his team will concentrate on, among other things, the pace of the game. Traditionally, Miami is a team that wins through domination of the game's tempo.
"I am not as concerned about the score as I am what the possessions are like," Buckley said. "We don't want to go in and take quick shots, because they may have the ball for 30 seconds each possession. If you take quick shots and miss them, then you have to come back down the floor and guard for 30 seconds. It can really zap your spirits."
The third-year coach explained that his team will have to play the game as it comes, taking advantage of whatever opportunities may come about.
"We have to be very opportunistic with what we do. If we can push the pace and we can get good shots then we'll do that," Buckley said. "If they are back and we can't get anything, then we will have to run some offense and try to break them down as best as we can."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
