2016 – 17 Ball State Cardinals men 's basketball team represented Ball State University during the 2016 – 17 NCAA Division I men 's basketball season . The Cardinals , led by fourth-year head coach James Whitford , played their home games at Worthen Arena as members of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference . They finished the season 21 – 13 , 11 – 7 in MAC play to finish in a tie for the West Division title . As the No. 4 seed in the MAC Tournament they defeated Western Michigan in the Quarterfinals to advance to the Semifinals where they lost to Akron . They were invited to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they lost in the First Round to Fort Wayne
MAC Tournament
2017 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament
2016–17 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team