GAME NOTES: A couple of teams ready to begin Mid-American Conference play square off at Savage Hall today, as the Ball State Cardinals tangle with the Toledo Rockets. After dropping their first 11 games of the season, the Cardinals were finally able to break into the win column in their last outing, defeating IPFW 69-62 on Monday. The victory should help take some pressure off BSU, which now heads out in search of its first road win (0-5) of the season. The Cardinals also turn their focus to MAC play, where they went just 5-11 a season ago. As for Toledo, it hasn't had that great of a start either, winning just three of its first 12 outings. The team though, is coming off a 71-69 victory over Oakland a week ago that improved the club to 3-1 at home. The Rockets now head into MAC action, where they won the regular season title last season with a 14-2 finish. Toledo leads the all-time series with BSU, 38-33, and it has won the last three encounters.

The Cardinals' struggles this season have come at the offensive end of the court, where they are averaging just 55.0 ppg and shooting a lackluster 39.0 percent from the field. The team though should receive a big boost from Anthony Newell, who returned to the lineup last game after missing nine outings in a row due to a foot injury. In three games this season, Newell is averaging team highs of 21.0 ppg and 7.3 rpg and that kind of production will surely revitalize this team. Peyton Stovall is another big time player for BSU and he is putting forth 14.3 ppg and 6.5 rpg. In the squad's last outing, Stovall poured in a career-high 37 points and ripped down nine caroms in leading the Cardinals past IPFW for their first win of the season. Stovall made 14-of-17 shots at the foul line and he also recorded five steals. Newell, in his first game back from the foot injury, also got involved, scoring 18 points and collecting seven caroms. The Cardinals won the game at the foul line, where they made 26-of-34 free throws.

Much like their opponent, the Rockets have had little success on offense this season, scoring only 58.6 ppg and shooting a dismal 29.8 percent from long distance. The team has also struggled greatly on the boards, being outrebounded by 8.5 rpg. Offensively, Tyrone Kent leads all players on the roster with 18.8 ppg and he is also dishing out a team-high 3.6 apg. Jonathan Amos ranks second to him with 12.3 ppg and he is grabbing 5.0 rpg. In the team's latest game, Kent converted a layup with three seconds remaining, lifting Toledo to a 71-69 win over Oakland. Kent finished the game with 22 points and four steals, although he also accounted for eight of the team's 23 turnovers. The Rockets shot a solid 49.0 percent from the floor and they compensated for their miscues by forcing Oakland into 26 turnovers.

Neither team has had much success this season, but with league play now beginning, this is a good chance for both programs to turn things around. Toledo has played well at home this season and that advantage should help it pull out the win today.