Preview: Ball State at Buffalo in MAC Men’s Basketball

BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — A surging Buffalo squad will look to continue its dominant start to the season when it hosts struggling Ball State in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Alumni Arena.

The Bulls (12-2) enter conference play as one of the MAC’s hottest teams, having won nine of their last 10 games. Their most recent victory was an 81-67 road win at Northern Illinois on Wednesday. In contrast, the Cardinals (4-9) have lost eight of their last ten, though they are coming off a 93-30 rout of non-Division I Earlham on Monday.

The matchup features a stark contrast in momentum and will hinge on Buffalo’s high-powered offense against a Ball State team seeking consistency. A key battle will be in the backcourt between two standout guards.

Buffalo is led by dynamic guard Daniel Freitag, who is coming off a career-high 33-point performance against Northern Illinois. Over his last five games, Freitag is averaging 23.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists, showcasing his ability to carry the scoring load. He recorded a double-double with 31 points and 11 rebounds in a narrow loss at East Carolina on Dec. 14.

Ball State will counter with guard Devon Barnes, who posted 17 points and five assists in the win over Earlham. Barnes has been a bright spot, averaging 12.3 points and 3.3 assists over his last three games against Division I competition, including a 10-point effort in a loss to Miami (Ohio).

The Bulls have proven formidable at home, winning all six contests at Alumni Arena this season by an average margin of 23.8 points. Their only two losses came in tight road games against East Carolina and Saint Bonaventure.

Ball State’s road form has been a significant challenge. The Cardinals are 0-6 in true road games this season, with their last away victory dating back to last March. They have struggled offensively in those losses, failing to reach 65 points in five of the six defeats.

For Ball State to pull an upset, it will need to contain Freitag and find scoring beyond Barnes. Preston Copeland (18 points vs. Earlham) and Kody Clancy (11 points, 5 assists) provided support in the last outing. Buffalo will rely on its balanced attack, which saw Ryan Sabol (14 points) and Ezra McKenna (11 points) contribute significantly alongside Freitag in the win over Northern Illinois.

Saturday’s contest opens the MAC schedule for both teams. The rematch is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Muncie, Indiana.