NWAkron’s favorite MAC team, the 9-6 Ball State Cardinals, come into the JAR for a late night 9 p.m. game Friday fresh off of a 20 point drubbing of Canada.
The Cards are led by junior guard Ishmael El-Amin at 14.6 ppg. El Amin is the son of former University of Connecticut and NBA player Khalid El-Amin. Cardinals ended up with 16-17 record overall and won just six MAC games last year. Ball State lost guard Taylor Person to graduation. Senior forward Tahjai Teague was named to the West Division Preseason All-MAC Team and the team was predicted to finish third in the West Division.