# 1989–90 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team

The 1989–90 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference during the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. After the departure of head coach Rick Majerus, Ball State responded under new coach Dick Hunsaker by having the best season in the school's history. This group of Cardinals became the first team in the Mid-American Conference history to win two consecutive MAC regular season conference championships as well as back-to-back conference tournament titles. The 1990 Ball State basketball team also became the first team in the MAC to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in its current format. The Cardinals lost in the Sweet 16 to the eventual national champions UNLV Runnin' Rebels, 69–67.
The team was led by many transfer players and two of Coach Hunsaker’s key transfers, starting forwards Paris McCurdy and Curtis Kidd, were high school teammates. They both signed to play their college ball at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. However, because of disciplinary reasons, the two had to find a new school. Former coach Rick Majerus gave them a second chance, and they came through. The two became the key assets to Ball States Sweet 16 run.
The Cardinals finished the regular season at 24-6 before heading to the NCAA tournament. The Cardinals were a 12 seed and began the tournament at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. They upset the Oregon State Beavers in what was star point guard Gary Payton’s last game in college. They won the game when McCurdy made a three-point play with no time left. Ball State then had to play the Louisville Cardinals next. They ended up defeating Louisville late in the game by a final score of 62–60. Meanwhile, in Muncie, fans stormed the village (the center of Ball State's off campus social scene) after the win. Ball State advanced to face the top-seeded UNLV Runnin' Rebels. Ball State shut down one of the best offenses in college basketball history and had a chance to win it in the final seconds. Down by two, the Cards made a deep pass to tie or take the lead but it was picked off.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Non-conference regular season ||||||
| Nov 24, 1989* | | at Purdue | L 43–57 | 0–1 | Mackey Arena West Lafayette, IN |
| Nov 28, 1989* | | Saginaw Valley State | W 66–45 | 1–1 | |
| Dec 1, 1989* | | Hardin-Simmons | W 98–70 | 2–1 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Dec 2, 1989* | | Coppin State | W 71–66 | 3–1 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Dec 5, 1989* | | at Indiana State | L 48–49 | 3–2 | Hulman Center Terre Haute, IN |
| Dec 13, 1989* | | at Valparaiso | W 79–72 | 4–2 | Athletics–Recreation Center Valparaiso, IN |
| Dec 21, 1989* | | Cardinal Stritch | W 116–52 | 5–2 | |
| Dec 23, 1989* | | at Butler | W 63–42 | 6–2 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Dec 29, 1989* | | vs. Memphis State Old Style Classic | L 73–76 $^{OT}$ | 6–3 | Chicago, IL |
| Dec 30, 1989* | | vs. Grambling Old Style Classic | W 79–56 | 7–3 | Chicago, IL |
| MAC regular season ||||||
| Jan 3, 1990 | | at Central Michigan | W 83–60 | 8–3 (1–0) | Rose Arena Mount Pleasant, MI |
| Jan 6, 1990 | | Bowling Green | W 71–65 | 9–3 (2–0) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Jan 10, 1990 | | at Eastern Michigan | W 85–67 | 10–3 (3–0) | Bowen Field House Ypsilanti, MI |
| Jan 13, 1990* | | Florida International | W 105–50 | 11–3 | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Jan 17, 1990 | | at Kent | L 68–71 | 11–4 (3–1) | Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center Kent, OH |
| Jan 20, 1990 | | Toledo | W 59–54 | 12–4 (4–1) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Jan 24, 1990 | | Miami University | W 71–64 | 13–4 (5–1) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Jan 27, 1990 | | at Western Michigan | W 65–38 | 14–4 (6–1) | University Arena Kalamazoo, MI |
| Jan 31, 1990 | | Ohio | W 77–61 | 15–4 (7–1) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Feb 3, 1990 | | at Bowling Green | W 45–44 | 16–4 (8–1) | Anderson Arena Bowling Green, OH |
| Feb 7, 1990 | | Eastern Michigan | L 57–58 | 16–5 (8–2) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Feb 14, 1990 | | Kent | W 77–50 | 17–5 (9–2) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Feb 17, 1990 | | at Toledo | L 47–68 | 17–6 (9–3) | John F. Savage Hall Toledo, OH |
| Feb 21, 1990 | | at Miami University | W 79–73 | 18–6 (10–3) | Millett Hall Oxford, OH |
| Feb 24, 1990 | | Western Michigan | W 77–54 | 19–6 (11–3) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| Feb 28, 1990 | | at Ohio | W 77–60 | 20–6 (12–3) | Convocation Center Athens, OH |
| Mar 3, 1990 | | Central Michigan | W 84–57 | 21–6 (13–3) | Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN |
| MAC tournament ||||||
| Mar 9, 1990 | (1) | vs. (8) Ohio Quarterfinals | W 77–70 | 22–6 | Cobo Arena Detroit, MI |
| Mar 10, 1990 | (1) | vs. (5) Eastern Michigan Semifinals | W 69–58 | 23–6 | Cobo Arena Detroit, MI |
| Mar 11, 1990 | (1) | vs. (7) Central Michigan Championship | W 78–56 | 24–6 | Cobo Arena Detroit, MI |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| Mar 15, 1990 | (12 W) | vs. (5 W) No. 22 Oregon State First Round | W 54–53 | 25–6 | Jon M. Huntsman Center (10,020) Salt Lake City, UT |
| Mar 17, 1990 | (12 W) | vs. (4 W) No. 16 Louisville Second Round | W 62–60 | 26–6 | Jon M. Huntsman Center Salt Lake City, UT |
| Mar 23, 1990 | (12 W) | vs. (1 W) No. 2 UNLV Sweet Sixteen | L 67–69 | 26–7 | Oakland—Alameda County Coliseum Arena Oakland, CA |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time Source. ||||||