Highest attended home games (past 5 seasons)
2015-16 - 5,160 vs. Northern Illinois
2014-15 - 3,425 vs. Kent State
2013-14 - 6,015 vs. Butler
2012-13 - 3,658 vs. Kent State
2011-12 - 3,935 vs. Northern Illinois
When Ball State men's basketball (18-9, 9-5 Mid-American Conference) beat Northern Illinois (18-9, 7-7 MAC) Feb. 19 63-59, 5,160 spectators were on hand — almost double the average home crowd of 2,701 entering the game.
It was also the largest men's basketball crowd in Worthen Arena since 6,015 spectators showed up to watch the Cardinals host Butler University on Nov. 23, 2013.
Sophomore guard Francis Kiapway said he was excited to play in front of the large crowd.
“I was hype when I [saw] everybody coming into the arena,” he said. “I hope the fans stick with us at the next home game.”
Ball State senior forward Bo Calhoun was named Player of the Game after entertaining the crowd with his fourth consecutive double-double on a 10-point, 15-rebound performance.
“They call me ‘B.B.’ around here,” Calhoun said. “Boards and buckets.”
Head coach James Whitford said Calhoun has improved in his final season of eligibility.
“To show you how far [Calhoun] has come, it wasn’t even close to his best game,” Whitford said. “He can play a lot better than this, especially on the offensive end. I say that with great compliment to him, because who would’ve ever thought [Calhoun] wasn’t at his best.”
Four other Cardinals also scored in double figures. Junior forward Franko House had 11 points, six rebounds and four assists before fouling out with 3:45 left in the game. Sophomore guard Jeremie Tyler chipped in 10 points on 4-11 shooting as well. Sophomore forward Sean Sellers also chipped in 10 points. House said the balanced scoring was "huge for our team."
“We know coming into the season that we had a lot of scorers,” House said. “We’re pretty consistent with [balanced scoring]; any given night, somebody can have a big night.”
Kiapway added 11 points in his 30 minutes as the primary point guard. He finished the game with no turnovers even though he saw a heavy amount of press defense from Huskies’ guard Travon Baker.
“It felt good to be playing the point and not having any turnovers,” Kiapway said. “This is my first year really playing it, and I’m still not used to it.”
Whitford gave his team Feb. 20 off after notching its third straight win. He said he wanted his players to get off their feet and get away from the game before a highly-anticipated visit to Toledo on Feb. 23.
“That’s what good teams and good programs do,” Whitford said. “That’s the balance we want to spread — tremendous confidence that’s earned and also the humility to understand we got better because we did these things well and we have to continue to do them well.”
Five players —Tyler, House, Calhoun, Kiapway and Ryan Weber — are now averaging at least 10 points per game in MAC play. Calhoun leads the bunch with 11.3 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game.
“We just feel good as a team because we aren’t supposed to be here right now,” Calhoun said. “Staying humble is the key. We were picked to finish last in the Mid-American Conference — we really don’t feel any pressure, we just have to do what we have to do.”
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