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The Ball State Cardinals (16-9) head to Miami (OH) to take on the RedHawks (9-16) in a game that has the potential to be low-scoring. Action gets underway at 7:00 pm ET on Tuesday, Feb. 16 and will air on ES3.
The RedHawks were blown out by Toledo 93-49 on Saturday. Willie Moore played well, recording four points, three steals, and three rebounds for Miami (OH). The Cardinals, meanwhile, are coming off a 75-63 win over Central Michigan on Saturday. Bo Calhoun had a big game, recording 22 points and 14 rebounds to claim his sixth double-double of the season.
Half-court execution will be of utmost importance when two of the nation’s slowest-paced teams square off. Miami (OH) ranks 336th in possessions per game (64.9), while Ball State is 293rd (66.9).
This is the second game of the season between these two teams, with the Cardinals winning the first matchup 48-46. Despite the loss, Eric Washington was a top performer in the game with 26 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and four three-pointers.
The RedHawks are hoping to improve on their records of 9-16 Straight Up (SU) and 9-13 Against The Spread (ATS). The RedHawks have seen an uptick in scoring as of late, averaging 69.7 points during the last 10 games compared to their season average of 62.2 points per game.
On the other side, Ball State has a SU record of 16-9 and an ATS record of 8-11. The Cardinals will be looking to pick it up in this one after recent offensive struggles. In their most recent 10 games, their scoring has dropped to 56.1 PPG, compared to 62.2 for the duration of the season. Ball State is one of the top three-point shooting teams in the nation, making .384 of their shots from three-point range. The Cardinals are one of the top defensive teams in the nation, essentially shutting down opponents to the tune of 66.0 points allowed per game.
The Cardinals’ win over Miami (OH) in their last clash couldn’t give them the edge in the head-to-head record over their most recent meetings, where Miami (OH) still leads 7-3 SU. With an 8-2 record, the RedHawks also have the advantage ATS. When it comes to field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers, Ball State held the edge in all three of these categories twice in the last five meetings. Miami (OH) never did so in those games.
Predictions: SU Winner – BallSt, ATS Winner – BallSt
Notes
Miami (OH) scores an average of just 62.2 points per game (ranked 249th). Ball State ranks 41st in points allowed, giving up 66.0 points per game.
Miami (OH) scores just 64.9 points per home game (ranked 245th). Ball State ranks 81st in points allowed on the road, giving up 71.6 points.
Miami (OH) lost its last game by a 44-point margin. In games decided by a margin of 18 points or more, Ball State is 3-0. Miami (OH) is 1-3 in blowouts this season.
Ball State beats Miami (OH) in both possessions per game and points per possession. The Cardinals average 66.9 possessions and 1.053 points per possession, while the RedHawks average 64.9 possessions with .959 points per possession.
The Miami (OH) RedHawks average an effective field goal percentage of 44.6% this season. The Ball State Cardinals have a losing record of 5-8 when opponents have an eFG% of 44.6% or greater.
The Miami (OH) RedHawks average 17.0 three point attempts per game and have a poor 2-7 record when attempting at least 20 in a game. The Ball State Cardinals average 22.0 attempts and have a solid 11-6 record when attempting 20 or more.
Miami (OH) ranks 19th in forced turnovers with an average rate of 22.4%. Ball State has a 4-3 record when it suffers a turnover rate equal to or exceeding this.
