Ball State University Athletics
Skip Mills' Double-Double Leads Men's Basketball To 53-50 Win At IUPUI
December 07, 2005 | Men's Basketball
The Cardinals used defensive pressure to force 12 second-half IUPUI turnovers, including consecutive steals which turned into dunks with just over 14 minutes to play to give Ball State its first lead of the game.
The plays came on consecutive possesions after Mills was whistled for his fourth foul with 14:26 to play. Charles Bass deflected a pass from IUPUI's Brandon Cole and converted with a thunderous dunk to pull BSU within 31-30 with 14:07 on the clock.
On the very next play, Chris Ames intercepted an IUPUI pass and also converted with a dunk to give BSU its first lead, 32-31. It was part of three steals in a four-minute span from Ames.
"We knew this was going to be a tough game in a tough environment," said BSU Head Coach Tim Buckley. "That stretch was an important one and sparked our team. We had active hands and were able to deflect the ball and score off turnovers."
The Cardinals extended the lead to five points on three occassions over the next seven minutes, before the Jaguars' Angelo Smith tied the contest at 43-43 with 5:34 to play.
IUPUI built a 48-46 advantage with three minutes to play, but freshman Jalon Perryman drilled a three-pointer -- his second of his brief collegiate career -- from the right corner to give BSU a 49-48 lead it wouldn't relinquish the remainder of the game.
The biggest play may have came just seconds later after another Cole turnover, when Mills knocked down a long-range three to give BSU a 52-48 lead with 1:31 left in the game.
The defensive pressure was again evident late in the game when Maurice Acker came up with his second steal on the night with :43 left, while a free throw from Brandon Lampley with :01 on the clock accounted for the final, 53-50.
In addition to the 18 points and 10 rebounds from Mills, Perryman notched 10 points in his first collegiate start. Ames finished with eight points, four rebounds and four steals, while D'Andre Peyton and Anthony Newell each chipped in five points. Bass finished with eight boards and two blocks.
The Cardinals, who improve to 3-1 on the season, return to action with a 7 p.m. game Saturday at Indiana State. IUPUI falls to 3-4 and travels to Western Michigan.
