The Ball State Cardinals (4-0) welcomed the Northern Iowa Panthers to Worthen Arena Saturday for a matchup between two mid-major teams that have high expectations this season. Head coach Brady Sallee knew that a game against a team of the Panthers’ caliber would test the Cardinals.
The top-ten matchup did not disappoint, with a close back-and-forth battle that ended in a Ball State 75-64 win over UNI.
Kiael Kelly, his friends and family provide an in-depth look into who the man under center at Ball State is. The redshirt sophomore has earned the starting quarterback spot for Ball State halfway through the season.
Head coach Mike Neu made it clear there is always something to play for. He said that players only get so many games, and for seniors, the time is winding down for their time at Ball State. With that being said, Neu said that they won’t take anything for granted and finish the fight.
The Cardinals (3-0) defeated Oakland City (1-4) 92-51, but that wasn't enough for head coach Michael Lewis. Ball State hits the road for the first time this season Saturday, Nov. 18, to face Evansville (2-0) at 2 p.m. ET.
The Cardinals finished shooting at a 55 percent rate for the night, Sallee said the team clearly is going to make shots. That being said, he said the Cardinals cannot rely on just making shots. He said Ball State has not run into a team that is shooting well, but it is just a matter of time until they do. When they do, he said they will have to rely on tough defense to persevere.
Here are three takeaways from the Ball State (3-0) win over the Cougars (0-4). The second quarter has been Ball State’s best quarter through three games this year. They’re outscoring opponents 78-39 in the period, doubling up their opponents.
The Pacers have gotten off to a pretty good start, going 6-4 and sitting third in the Eastern Conference. However, it is only the beginning. Here are some takeaways from the first 10 games of the season.
“I was an undersized defensive lineman with a chip on my shoulder; that is kind of how I see myself as a coach now,” Tyler Stockton said. “I kind of feel underrated all the time and know I have to outwork people.”
Since Plitt’s first season donning the red and white four years ago, Ball State has added to its rich history. In this span, the Cardinals have compiled a 99-49 overall record, captured a pair of MAC Tournament titles and made three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Ball State defeated Troy 86-73 as a part of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Sun Belt Conference Challenge (SBC).
The Cardinals used late-game defensive prowess and momentum-shifting plays to defeat Old Dominion (1-1) in the MAC-SBC Challenge. Ball State (2-0) stays at home for its next matchup, a 7 p.m. contest against Oakland City (1-3) Tuesday, Nov. 14 in Worthen Arena.
