Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
4-12 (0-3MAC)
Eastern Michigan
7-9 (2-1MAC)
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Michigan | 29 | 27 | 56 |
| Ball State | 18 | 34 | 52 |
Cook's 17 Points Not Enough; Men's Basketball Falls To EMU
January 13, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Despite five three-point field goals and a career-high 17 points from freshman Ahmaad Cook, the Ball State men's basketball suffered its sixth-straight loss with a 56-52 homecourt setback Saturday to Eastern Michigan.
The loss drops the Cardinals to 4-12 overall and 0-3 in the Mid-American Conference, while Eastern Michigan won for the fifth time in its last six games to improve to 7-9 and 2-1 in the league.
“Losing is always tough, but I try to be optimistic and try to find the silver lining," said first-year BSU head coach Ronny Thompson. "I think it can be a negative or you can fix things and try to do something about it. We need to change our habits and work harder.”
After trailing 29-18 at halftime, Ball State found itself in a 14-point, 34-20 hole, less than three minutes into the second half following a three-point field goal from EMU's Jesse Bunkley.
The lead remained in double figures for much of the second half, before back-to-back three-point field goals from Cook ignited a furious Ball State comeback.
Cook hit his fourth long-range bomb of the game to pull BSU within 48-42 with 3:53 to play.
“I haven't been playing much, but when your number is called you have to play," Cook says. "I wasn't doing anything I wasn't supposed to be doing. If coach wants me to knock down shots, I'll knock down shots.”
The Eagles appeared to have weathered the first storm and quickly built a 50-42 lead with 2:27 to go, before Cook found an open Micah Rollin in the lane on the next possession.
A pair of free throws from Cook with a 1:30 left pulled BSU within 50-47, but the visiting Eagles connected from the free throw line in the closing minutes to escape with the 56-52 win.
Eastern Michigan did not score a field goal in the final 4:06, but did go 8-for-10 from the free throw line to seal the win.
“Today was a tough game and I wish some people would have stepped up," Thompson says. "We fought and fought, but the group I found that wanted to play, the clock ran out on them. We didn't have another option.”
Rollin was the only other Cardinal to score in double figures, finishing with 13 points and five rebounds. D'Andre Peyton had eight points and five boards.
Bunkley finished with 22 points, while Carlos Medlock added 14 points for Eastern Michigan.
Ball State returns to Worthen Arena for a 7 p.m. contest Tuesday against Northern Illinois. Tuesday's game marks the return of the No. 1 halftime act in all sports -- the world famous Quick Change.
Tickets are available by calling the BSU Ticket Office at 1.888.BSU.TICKET or online at ballstatesports.com.
