UMass Looks To Get Back On Track At Ball State
The Minutemen play at Ball State tonight at 7 pm (ESPN+)
UMass heads to Muncie, Ind., tonight trying to turn close calls into a needed result.
The Minutemen travel to Ball State for a 7 p.m. tip at Worthen Arena, streaming on ESPN+, and are listed as 4.5-point favorites despite a four-game skid that has tightened the middle of the MAC standings.
With three games remaining in the regular season and the top eight advancing to the league tournament in Cleveland, there is little margin left for error. UMass sits at 6-9 in the MAC, good for the eighth and final spot. The Minutemen are just a game out of sixth place and a half-game out of seventh, but they’re also a half-game out of falling out of the Top 8 altogether.
The Minutemen’s 15 league games have been decided by a combined 67 points, an average of 4.5 per contest. Eight of those have been decided by three points or fewer, with UMass going 4-4 in those matchups. Overall, UMass is 5-5 in games decided by three points or fewer and has played three overtime contests, including Saturday’s 86-82 loss to Buffalo.
In that game, UMass led for much of the first half and saw Marcus Banks Jr. score 24 points, including six three-pointers. Leonardo Bettiol added 21 points and eight rebounds whale Daniel Hankins-Sanford chipped in 13 points and K’Jei Parker finished with 12 as the Minutemen again generated enough offense, but could not close.
Offense has not been the issue.
UMass ranks second in the MAC and 23rd nationally with 17.6 assists per game and is averaging 10.2 made three-pointers over its last five contests. The Minutemen feature four players averaging double figures, led by Bettiol at 17.8 points per game and Banks at 16.9.
Bettiol is shooting 59.7 percent from the field, first in the MAC, while also averaging 7.8 rebounds per game, third in the league. Hankins-Sanford averages 7.2 rebounds and owns nine double-doubles, third most in the conference.
On the glass, UMass’ plus-5.3 rebounding margin ranks second in the MAC, and the Minutemen are third in offensive rebounds per game. Defensively, they have held opponents to 32.9 percent from three, fourth in the league.
The challenges have been defending the ball, staying out of foul trouble, making free throws and late-game execution.
Ball State enters at 8-19 overall and 3-11 in the MAC following a 78-65 loss to Akron. The Cardinals have dropped four straight and six of their last seven.
Davion Hill leads Ball State at 12.9 points per game, with Armoni Zeigler close behind at 12.0 while pacing the team in rebounding at 4.9 per game and assists with 2.8 per outing.
UMass won the last matchup 79-71 on Jan. 10 for its first-ever MAC victory, behind a 20-point performance from Bettiol.
For UMass, the path forward is clear.
The margins in the MAC have been thin all season. With three to go before the postseason field is set, Tuesday represents another opportunity to stabilize, secure positioning and reestablish momentum heading into March.
Your one-stop-shop for all your sports marketing needs… Owned and Operated by UMASS Grads.
We specialize in providing top-quality marketing & printing services for coaches, athletic directors, and sports marketing professionals.
Get Fan Ready!