Saturday, February 21st, 2:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Worthen Arena (11,500) -- Muncie, Indiana. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Tennessee Tech 8-7, Ball St. 8-5. Away Record: Tennessee Tech 3-9, Ball St. 3-8. Neutral Record: Tennessee Tech 0-0, Ball St. 0-0. Conference Record: Tennessee Tech 5-12, Ball St. 6-6. Series Record: Tennessee Tech leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: Worthen Arena in Muncie is the site of this afternoon's BracketBuster matchup between the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles and Ball State Cardinals. The Golden Eagles, out of the Ohio Valley Conference, are just 5-12 in league play, and 11-6 overall. Tennessee Tech has lost its last six games, including a 77-74 setback against Tennessee State on Thursday. The club is just 3-9 on the road and has to be considered the underdog this afternoon. As for Ball State, it has lost four of its last five games to fall to 11-13 overall and 6-6 in Mid-American Conference action. The Cardinals hope to improve their 8-5 home record with a win today. On Wednesday, they fell to Toledo on the road by a 71-67 final. Tennessee Tech has lost its only two previous series meetings with Ball State.

Kevin Murphy scored 19 points for Tennessee Tech in the heartbreaking loss to Tennessee State last time out. Frank Davis pitched in 17 points, and Daniel Northern added 12 points for the Golden Eagles. They were outscored 20-14 from the foul line and suffered a 42-35 rebounding disadvantage. Northern is averaging 12.0 ppg this season to go along with 8.5 rpg and 69 blocks, making him one of the better frontcourt performers in the OVC. Davis checks in with 10.4 ppg, and he is a 44.2 percent shooter from three-point range. Will Barnes is the third and final double-digit scorer in the lineup with 10.1 ppg. Tennessee Tech is generating 73.6 ppg while limiting opponent to 72.7 ppg.

In the four-point loss to Toledo on Wednesday, Ball State turned the ball over 16 times and suffered a 19-11 disadvantage in points from the foul line, overshadowing the fact that the club is shooting 50 percent from the floor. Rob Giles posted 22 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Cardinals in defeat. Jarrod Jones had 14 points, while Brandon Lampley added 11 points. As for Maurice Hubbard, he tallied 10 points. Jones is the only active player for the squad who is averaging double digits in scoring, as he is posting 10.9 ppg. Ball State has struggled offensively, as it is averaging a mere 57.4 ppg on 41.3 percent shooting from the field.

Tennessee Tech is our pick today, as it has too much offensive power for Ball State to combat. Still, it should be a close game.

Predicted Outcome

Tennessee Tech 69, Ball State 62