The Northern Illinois Huskies will travel to Worthen Arena to take on the Ball State Cardinals this Tuesday night in College Basketball action.
The Northern Illinois Huskies lost their 3rd straight game and dropped to 6-16 on the season after being defeated by the Toledo Rockets, 100-72, this past Saturday. Northern Illinois had no answers on the defensive end for the high-powered Toledo offense and could not fight back after going into halftime trailing by a 53-35 margin. Northern Illinois shot 41.8% from the field & 23.8% from beyond the arc while allowing Toledo to shoot 56.3% from the field & 42.9% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Huskies Keshawn Williams who had 19 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, & 1 steal.
On the season, Northern Illinois is averaging 63.9 ppg on 41.4% shooting from the field. The Huskies are averaging 6.3 three-pointers per game on 33.1% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Northern Illinois has been led by Keshawn Williams (16.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.1 spg), Trendon Hankerson (11.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.9 spg), Kaleb Thornton (8.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.0 spg), & Anthony Crump (6.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.2 apg).
Defensively, Northern Illinois is allowing their opponents to average 72.9 ppg on 45.2% shooting from the field. The Huskies have a rebound margin of -4.3 and a turnover margin of -0.3.
The Ball State Cardinals lost their 2nd straight game and dropped to 11-13 on the season after being defeated by the Buffalo Bulls, 80-74, this past Saturday. Ball State led by a 56-48 margin midway through the 2nd half, however, the Cardinals defense struggled down the stretch and could not fight back after Buffalo took a 76-68 lead with 1:17 left in regulation. Ball State shot 46.7% from the field & 33.3% from beyond the arc while allowing Buffalo to shoot 42.9% from the field & 33.3% from beyond the arc. Leading the way for the Cardinals was Payton Sparks who had a double-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, & 1 block.
On the season, Ball State is averaging 75.3 ppg on 45.0% shooting from the field. The Cardinals are averaging 8.8 three-pointers per game on 36.6% shooting from beyond the arc. Offensively, Ball State has been led by Payton Sparks (13.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 1.2 apg), Tyler Cochran (12.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.9 spg), Luke Bumbalough (11.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.0 apg), & Miryne Thomas (11.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 apg).
Defensively, Ball State is allowing their opponents to average 77.4 ppg on 44.9% shooting from the field. The Cardinals have a rebound margin of -0.8 and a turnover margin of -1.8.
The Huskies are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss & 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games. The Cardinals are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 home games & 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games.
Northern Illinois has lost 8 of their last 9 games and has really struggled on both ends of the court this season as the Huskies come into this game ranked just 322nd in scoring offense, 299th in FG%, & 277th in scoring defense. Ball State has had plenty of issues on the defensive end, however, this is a team that has played well at home this season (8-3 record) and as I think their offense, which ranks 78th in scoring offense, 62nd in three-pointers made per game, & 43rd in 3P-FG%, will be able to put up plenty of points against the Huskies defense, I’m taking Ball State to cover this large home spread. Good Luck!