2018 MAC Basketball Preview: Central Michigan Chippewas vs Ball State Cardinals

The Ball State Cardinals (11-6, 2-2 MAC) will host the Central Michigan Chippewas (12-5, 1-3, MAC) on Tuesday night as both look to improve on their conference records. After winning 12 of their first 14 games, CMU has now dropped three contests in a row, all to conference opponents. Ball State, on the other hand, has gone 10-2 in their last 12 games.

Game Details

• When: Tuesday, Jan. 16th, 2018 at 7 p.m. EST
• Where: Worthen Arena - Muncie, Indiana
• Watch: ESPN3, WatchESPN app

Players to Watch

Cecil Williams, F, CMU - Williams leads the team with 14.9 points per game and has scored double-digits in 11 contests this season, including the last two games in which he’s scored a combined 37 points, pulled down 13 rebounds, and shot 50% from the field.

Shawn Roundtree, G, CMU - Roundtree is right behind Williams, averaging 14.5 points per game. He’s coming off a huge game, as he dropped a career-high 29 points against Toledo on Saturday and will look to continue that momentum against Ball State.

Trey Moses, C, Ball State - Moses is the Cardinals’ leading rebounder, with 7.8 boards per game. He also leads the team by shooting a solid 55.7% and averages 8.4 points per game. In the past seven games, he’s averaging a double-double (10.7 rebounds and 10.86 points).

Tayler Persons, G, Ball State - Persons leads Ball State with 14.3 points per game and 4.2 assists per game. The junior guard also shooting a very solid 50.5% from the field and hitting on just under 31% of his three point attempts.

Prediction

The Chips will come fired up (get it?) for this game, as they want to end their three game losing streak. Roundtree will still be feeling it from his huge game against the Rockets on Saturday and, with Williams and David DiLeo backing him up, CMU will pull a stunning upset of the Cardinals.

CMU Chippewas - 76
Ball State Cardinals - 73