Ball State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Suffers 68-59 loss at Western Michigan
January 26, 2006 | Men's Basketball
With the loss, Ball State falls to 6-10 overall and 2-6 in the MAC, while WMU improves to 7-11 overall and 4-4 in league play.
After getting off to a quick start early in the game, Ball Sate grabbed an eight-point lead with 13:55 remaining in the first half and the lead changed five times in the first stanza with the Broncos taking a 31-29 advantage at the half.
"A couple of our guys gave into fatique down the stretch," BSU head coach Tim Buckley says. "We did not make the plays, and Western Michigan was more aggressive than we were. They made it to the free throw line and converted."
Ball State's Maurice Acker tied the game at 40-40 with 12:35 to play on a three-point shot, and finished the game with a team-high 15 points. After the Broncos extended a lead to 45-40, BSU's Landon Adler hit a three with 9:00 on the clock to give the Cardinals a 48-45 edge.
A pair of Acker free throws at the 7:17 mark tied the game at 50-50, but Western Michigan went on an 11-3 run to take a 61-53 lead with 1:51 to play.
Adding to Acker's 15 points were four Ball State players with nine points apiece -- Adler, Skip Mills, D'Andre Payton and Jalon Perryman. Adler and Peyton tied for team-high honors with five rebounds apiece.
Leading Western Michigan's offensive attack was Joe Reitz with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Derek Drews, the son of former Ball State basketball letterman Mike Drews, managed 14 points.
"Everyone did what they had to, but I needed to make more shots," Mills says. "Reitz was a huge factor. We have to keep moving forward."
Ball State will return to Worthen Arena for a 4 p.m. home game Sunday versus Toledo. The contest will air live on the Ball State Sports Television Network, and can be heard on the Ball State Radio Network with Morry Mannies and David Eha making the call.
