- Matchup: Central Michigan Chippewas vs Ball State Cardinals
- Date: Friday, March 6, 2026
- Venue: Worthen Arena, Muncie, IN
- Broadcast: ESPN+
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
This Friday, the Central Michigan Chippewas (10-20) travel to Worthen Arena to take on the Ball State Cardinals (11-19).
In their previous encounter, the Chippewas faced Akron, suffering a defeat with a final score of 77-64. Central Michigan recorded a field goal percentage of 43.1% (25 of 58) and hit 10 out of 23 three-point attempts. At the foul line, they made 4 of 6 shots, yielding a 66.7% success rate. On the boards, they secured 24 rebounds, 5 of which were offensive, along with 16 assists. The Chippewas forced the opposition into 12 turnovers while also notching 7 steals. Defensively, they allowed Akron to shoot 47.6% from the field, as the opposing team converted 30 of 63 attempts. Akron tallied 17 assists and achieved 12 steals as well, while grabbing a total of 41 rebounds, including 14 offensive boards. From the free throw line, Akron managed a 54.5% conversion, making 6 of 11 attempts. They also made 11 of 33 three-point shots. Both teams committed a comparable number of fouls, with Central Michigan finishing with 11 and Akron with 12.
Logan McIntire stood out for Central Michigan, shooting at a 50.0% clip from the field while recording 2 assists. He played 27 minutes, contributing 15 points and failing to grab any rebounds.
As they prepare for this matchup, the Central Michigan Chippewas hold a record of 10-20 this season. Averaging 73.5 points per game (248th in Division I), they shoot 46.6% from the field. From beyond the arc, they are converting at 33.3% (198 of 595) and boast a free throw percentage of 70.4%. On the boards, the Chippewas average 32.8 rebounds per game and have accumulated 455 assists over the season, ranking 109th nationally. They average 12.7 turnovers per contest and commit 17.6 personal fouls per game.
Defensively, Central Michigan forces opponents into an average of 12.3 turnovers per game while committing 16.9 personal fouls. They allow opposing teams to shoot 34.1% from 3-point range and rank 251st in points allowed, giving up 76.6 per game. Their overall field goal percentage allowed stands at 45.9% (803 of 1,748), and they yield an average of 35.5 rebounds per game, ranking 312th in terms of assists allowed with a total of 465 this season.
Meanwhile, the Ball State Cardinals triumphed in their recent matchup against Western Michigan, winning by a score of 74-71. During this game, Ball State allowed Western Michigan to grab a combined 34 rebounds (6 offensive). The Cardinals managed a 31.6% success rate from three-point range, hitting 6 of 19 while converting 19 out of 24 free throw attempts (79.2%). Defensively, they allowed Western Michigan to achieve a field goal percentage of 41.1%, with 23 successful shots out of 56 attempts. Ball State ended with a shooting percentage of 46.8% after making 29 out of 62 shots. They succeeded on 5 of 13 three-point attempts (38.5%) and finished at 57.9% from the free throw line after Western Michigan committed 13 fouls, granting the Cardinals 19 free throw attempts. Additionally, the Cardinals turned the ball over 6 times but secured 9 steals during the game, finishing with 25 defensive rebounds and 6 offensive boards for a total of 31 rebounds.
Armoni Zeigler played a pivotal role for Ball State, shooting 52.6% (10 of 19) and grabbing 7 rebounds. He contributed 28 points and dished out 8 assists in 42 minutes on the court.
For the season, Ball State holds a record of 11-19. They average 15.9 personal fouls per game and shoot 69.7% from the charity stripe. The Cardinals are averaging 12.3 assists per game (ranking 293rd in Division 1) and limit their turnovers to 10.6 per contest. Over the course of the season, they have scored a total of 2,008 points, averaging 66.9 points per game while averaging 32.4 rebounds per game. In terms of field goal percentage, they are shooting 41.5%, which stands as 336th nationwide.
Defensively, Ball State permits a 33.6% shooting rate from beyond the arc (229 of 682), while opponents make 76.8% of their free throw attempts. They give up an average of 13.0 assists and 35.9 rebounds per game, ranking 151st and 277th, respectively, in the country. The Cardinals allow 69.5 points per game, ranking them 67th in college basketball, while forcing 12.8 turnovers per game. Their opponents are shooting 44.3% against them, placing Ball State 190th in the nation for field goal percentage allowed.
Which team will prevail in tonight’s NCAA showdown against the spread?
Prediction: Back Central Michigan
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
