Preview: Ball State Cardinals at Central Michigan Chippewas MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum in the Mid-American Conference will meet when Ball State visits Central Michigan on Tuesday night at McGuirk Arena. Both the Cardinals and Chippewas enter with identical 5-13 overall records, making this a critical matchup in the league’s standings as the season nears its midpoint. Each program is coming off contrasting results in its last outing. Ball State snapped a four-game losing streak with a 76-71 home victory over Ohio on Jan. 16. The Cardinals were led by a stellar performance from guard Armoni Zeigler, who scored 28 points. Zeigler has been a consistent offensive force, averaging over 20 points per game in his last six contests, including a 30-point effort at Akron on Jan. 13. Central Michigan, meanwhile, is looking to rebound from a lopsided 100-61 road loss at Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 13. The Chippewas’ most recent win was an 87-85 home victory over Kent State on Jan. 10. Guard Logan McIntire has been a key contributor, scoring 15 points in a narrow loss to Toledo on Jan. 3. The game will feature a battle between Zeigler’s high-volume scoring and a Central Michigan defense that allowed 100 points in its last game. Ball State will aim to build on its latest win, while the Chippewas hope to protect their home court and find consistency. Tuesday’s contest is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this regular season. Following this game, Ball State will host Northern Illinois on Jan. 24, while Central Michigan travels to face rival Western Michigan on the same date. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST.