Ball State Men's Basketball Falls to Buffalo

Loss puts Cardinals 1.5 games behind 8th seed for MAC tournament

Feb. 12, 2026 at 3:07am

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Ball State Men's Basketball entered their game against Buffalo half-a-game behind the Bulls in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) standings. The weight of the game could not be ignored, as the cut-off seed to make the MAC tournament in Cleveland is the eighth seed, and Buffalo held that spot entering the game. The Cardinals fell to the Bulls 63-53 and now sit 1.5 games behind the eighth seed.

Why it matters

This loss puts Ball State in a precarious position to qualify for the MAC tournament in Cleveland, which is the top postseason event for the conference. Making the tournament is crucial for the Cardinals to have a chance at an NCAA tournament bid.

The details

Ball State needed a win to keep pace with Buffalo for the eighth and final spot in the MAC tournament. However, the Cardinals were unable to overcome the Bulls, losing by a final score of 63-53. This defeat drops Ball State to 1.5 games behind Buffalo for that final tournament berth.

  • The game was played on February 12, 2026.

The players

Ball State Men's Basketball

The men's basketball team representing Ball State University, a public research university located in Muncie, Indiana.

Buffalo

The men's basketball team representing the University at Buffalo, a public research university located in Buffalo, New York.

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What’s next

Ball State will need to win their remaining games and hope Buffalo stumbles down the stretch in order to qualify for the MAC tournament in Cleveland.

The takeaway

This loss puts Ball State in a precarious position to make the MAC tournament, which is crucial for their chances at an NCAA tournament bid. The Cardinals will need to regroup and win their remaining games to have a shot at the postseason.