Ball State basketball will have to adjust with Brachen Hazen out indefinitely

• Ball State at Valparaiso, 8 p.m. on ESPN+
• Ball State is coming off an 89-77 loss at Evansville.

MUNCIE, Ind. — As Ball State enters the home stretch of the non-conference season and gets its final tune-ups for Mid-American Conference play, it will do so without a key player.

Brachen Hazen, who began the season as a starter, will be out indefinitely with a back injury. He has sat out three of the last four games, and Ball State head coach James Whitford said over the weekend that Hazen won't be back anytime soon. He'll sit out at least Monday's game at Valparaiso (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and the final two non-conference games against Howard and Delaware State. Whitford said Hazen's absence will likely extend well into MAC play.

"It was something that had been bugging him, and it took us a while to get a beat on what was actually causing it," Whitford said. "But it’s clear we know he needs some rest. It’s time for his back to really get healthy. That’s going to be a while. Could be a month, could be two months."

The Arkansas transfer had been off to a solid first season with the Cardinals (6-4), though he hasn't seemed quite right since scoring 15 points in the season opener. Hazen has made 14 of 26 shots from the floor, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range, but he hasn't shown the same explosiveness he had last season during practice as a redshirt.

When healthy, the 6-foot-8 Hazen is one of Ball State's best rebounders, if not its best rebounder. He is averaging 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in seven games this season. After playing 25 minutes in the opener, he has played more than 18 just once since.

"I wouldn’t call (the injury) deadly serious as much as he’s just in a risky place," Whitford said. "Anytime it’s someone’s back, you’re careful. We’re going to err on the side of caution. He’s going to be out for a while."

The Crusaders are also 6-4 and always seem to have good games with the Cardinals, like last season's buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Tayler Persons. While Ball State is used to playing without Hazen, it sure could use some size as it battles a big Valparaiso squad on Monday, with 7-1 Derrik Smits and 7-0 Jaume Sorolla.

"It takes away some of our depth," Whitford said. "We’re not as deep a team anymore and puts more urgency on us being healthy aside from that. It takes away a good player. But he’ll be back at some point. Every team has to go through it. This is our time."

Monday's game is the last of four straight road games. The Cardinals would feel awfully good if they can return home with a 3-1 record in that span. It isn't common to see a team like Ball State play just three of its first 11 games at home.

"That’s been the biggest challenge in my eyes," Whitford said. "But all these games, to me, they mimic MAC games. They’re similar to the type of games we’re going to have to win on the road."

Ryan O’Gara covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high schools at the Star Press. Contact him at (765) 213-5829, rogara@muncie.gannett.com or @RyanOGara.