# 1988–89 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team

The 1988–89 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference during the 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by second-year head coach Rick Majerus, Ball State played stifling defense en route to one of the best seasons in the school's history, including a school-record 29 wins and the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. The Cardinals won MAC regular season and tournament titles, advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, and finished the season with a 29–3 record (14–2 MAC).

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Non-conference regular season ||||||
| Nov 26, 1988* | | at Minnesota | W 63–57 | 1–0 | Williams Arena Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Nov 29, 1988* | | Cardinal Stritch | W 95–53 | 2–0 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Dec 2, 1988* | | U.S. International | W 85–66 | 3–0 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Dec 3, 1988* | | Florida A&M | W 76–52 | 4–0 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Dec 7, 1988* | | Indiana State | W 80–56 | 5–0 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Dec 10, 1988* | | Purdue | W 70–56 | 6–0 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Dec 13, 1988* | | at Valparaiso | W 63–56 | 7–0 | Athletics-Recreation Center Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Dec 21, 1988* | | at Florida International | W 89–66 | 8–0 | Golden Panther Arena Miami, Florida |
| Dec 22, 1988* | | vs. Northwestern | W 77–71 | 9–0 | Golden Panther Arena Miami, Florida |
| Dec 28, 1988* | | Texas State | W 75–59 | 10–0 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| MAC regular season ||||||
| Jan 4, 1989 | | Western Michigan | W 65–63 | 11–0 (1–0) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Jan 7, 1989 | | at Ohio | L 57–71 | 11–1 (1–1) | Convocation Center Athens, Ohio |
| Jan 11, 1989 | | Central Michigan | W 77–56 | 12–1 (2–1) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Jan 14, 1989 | | at Bowling Green | W 79–73 | 13–1 (3–1) | Anderson Arena Bowling Green, Ohio |
| Jan 18, 1989 | | Toledo | L 46–49 | 13–2 (3–2) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Jan 21, 1989* | | at Butler | W 54–44 | 14–2 | Hinkle Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Jan 25, 1989 | | Kent State | W 78–62 | 15–2 (4–2) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Jan 28, 1989 | | at Eastern Michigan | W 68–66 | 16–2 (5–2) | Bowen Field House Ypsilanti, Michigan |
| Feb 1, 1989 | | at Miami (OH) | W 66–51 | 17–2 (6–2) | Millett Hall Oxford, Ohio |
| Feb 4, 1989 | | Ohio | W 80–70 | 18–2 (7–2) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Feb 8, 1989 | | at Central Michigan | W 66–65 | 19–2 (8–2) | Rose Arena Mount Pleasant, Michigan |
| Feb 11, 1989 | | Bowling Green | W 64–51 | 20–2 (9–2) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Feb 15, 1989* | | at Toledo | W 74–69 | 21–2 (10–2) | John F. Savage Hall Toledo, Ohio |
| Feb 22, 1989 | No. 20 | at Kent State | W 73–61 | 22–2 (11–2) | MAC Center Kent, Ohio |
| Feb 25, 1989 | No. 20 | Eastern Michigan | W 76–63 | 23–2 (12–2) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Mar 1, 1989 | No. 19 | Miami (OH) | W 78–60 | 24–2 (13–2) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, Indiana |
| Mar 4, 1989 | No. 19 | at Western Michigan | W 92–79 | 25–2 (14–2) | University Arena Kalamazoo, Michigan |
| MAC tournament ||||||
| Mar 10, 1989* | No. 19 | vs. Ohio MAC Tournament Quarterfinal | W 62–46 | 26–2 | John F. Savage Hall Toledo, Ohio |
| Mar 11, 1989* | No. 19 | vs. Eastern Michigan MAC Tournament Semifinal | W 77–76 | 27–2 | John F. Savage Hall Toledo, Ohio |
| Mar 12, 1989* | No. 19 | vs. Kent State MAC tournament championship | W 67–65 | 28–2 | John F. Savage Hall Toledo, Ohio |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| Mar 16, 1989* | (9 MW) No. 18 | vs. (8 MW) Pittsburgh First round | W 68–64 | 29–2 | RCA Dome Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Mar 18, 1989* | (9 MW) No. 18 | vs. (1 MW) No. 3 Illinois Second round | L 60–72 | 29–3 | RCA Dome (37,444) Indianapolis, Indiana |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. MW=Midwest. All times are in Eastern Time. ||||||
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