Miami RedHawks (8-9; 1-3 MAC) at Ball State (10-7, 3-1 MAC)
Game 18: Saturday, January 18 • 1 p.m. (EST)
Worthen Arena (11,500) • Muncie, Ind.
Series vs. Ball State/Streak: Miami leads 65-40/MU-3
Last Meeting: Miami 69 Ball State 66, February 19, 2019
TV: ESPN+ • Joel Godett (PxP) Dave Eha (Color)
Radio: Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner • Terry Bridge (PxP)
Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner Affiliates: WMOH 1450 Hamilton; WFMG 101.3 Richmond; WDBZ 1230 AM/101.5 FM Cincinnati
 
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Miami University men's basketball team takes a quick break from its long home stretch to make the short trip to Muncie, Indiana for a contest against Ball State on Saturday. Tip time is at 1 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+. An audio broadcast will be available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner.

SIBANDE REBOUNDS WITH STRONG PERFORMANCE: Junior guard Nike Sibande found his groove again in leading Miami to its first MAC win of the season, 77-74, over Kent State on Tuesday. He finished with his third double-double of the year, scoring 25 points and bringing in 10 rebounds. Sibande moved into a tie for 16th all-time with Hall-of-Famer Bob Brown ('49) with 1,277 career points.

CAREER HIGH FOR WHITE: Redshirt freshman guard Myja White has come into his own since being inserted into the starting lineup eight games ago. A strong individual defender, White is also beginning to provide some offense for the RedHawks. He scored a career-high eight points in the win over the Golden Flashes Tuesday. White drained a three-pointer on Miami's first possession in each half to help set the tone.

DEPTH: Miami's bench has outscored its opponent in every MAC game this season. In fact the RedHawks' bench has outscored the opposition in 12 straight games and 16 out of 17 contests this season.

ABOUT BALL STATE: The Cardinals are 10-7 overall and 3-1 in the MAC. They rebounded from their first MAC loss (75-60 to Akron on Jan. 10) with a dominant, 69-52, road win at Eastern Michigan in their last action on Tuesday. Ball State has been strong defensively this season, holding opponents to 61.6 points per game, which is the best in the MAC. It has three scoring in double figures, led by redshirt senior forward Tahjai Teague. He leads the Cardinals with 14.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

THE SERIES WITH THE CARDINALS: Miami leads the all-time series with Ball State, 65-40. The RedHawks have won three straight against the Cardinals, including both match ups last season. On Jan. 22, 2019 in Muncie, Miami used a complete 40 minute effort to build and maintain a small lead throughout the contest as it earned a 71-65 victory. Bam Bowman led four in double figures with 16 points. On Feb. 19, 2019 in Oxford, Precious Ayah came off the bench and finished with a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Nike Sibande scored a team-high 17 in a 69-66 victory.

UP AHEAD: Miami is home for the next three games in a row. It starts next Tuesday when the RedHawks host current MAC leader Akron. Tip time is at 7 p.m. and it will air live on ESPN+. An audio broadcast will be available on the Miami Sports Network from Van Wagner.