Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
2-12 (1-1MAC)
Central Michigan
6-8 (1-1MAC)
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Michigan | 28 | 43 | 71 |
| Ball State | 39 | 43 | 82 |
Five In Double Figures Leads Men's Hoops To MAC Win
January 13, 2008 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Anthony Newell scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Peyton Stovall and Melvin Goins each added 17 points as the Ball State men's basketball team defeated Central Michigan, 82-71.
The win evens Ball State's league record at 1-1, while CMU falls to 1-1.
“Central Michigan plays very physical and intense," said first-year BSU head coach Billy Taylor. "Today is what Mid-American Conference play is all about. Having so many double-figure scorers really helped in today's win and having so many touches made the game fun.”
Five Cardinals - - Newell (19), Goins (17), Stovall (17), Malik Perry (12) and Brandon Lampley (11) - - scored in double-figures in the same game for the first time since Nov. 11, 2006 versus Northern Colorado.
In addition, Ball State's 51 free throw attempts set a Ball State homecourt record, while BSU finished the game shooting .545 (24-for-44) from the field, marking the first time in the past two seasons the Cardinals have finished a game shooting above .500
“We played a team that was extremely hungrier than us," said CMU head coach Ernie Zeigler. “Ball State did a great job getting the tempo started in its favor and handling our pressure, which helped them get comfortable early."
Back-to-back scores from Newell, including a twisting layup in the lane, pushed the Cardinals ahead 9-2 less than three minutes into Sunday's game.
Goins scored on consecutive trips to give Ball State its first double-digit lead at 17-6 with 13:53 on the clock.
Defensively, Goins drew the assignment of MAC Player of the Year Candidate Giordan Watson. Watson scored just two points in the first half, before finishing the contest with 12.
“Absolutely," said Taylor, when asked if Goins' effort today was the best of his young career. "Melvin had great leadership today with running the point and protecting the ball. His driving to pull up with smart shots, and his defense guarding Watson."
After leading 39-28 at halftime, Central Michigan closed to within 49-45 with 10:36 remaining after a bucket from Jeremy Allen. Goins was fouled on the next possession while driving to the bucket and connected on both free throws to spark a 10-2 run.
Watson pulled the Chippewas to within nine points with 4:16 left, before Newell connected on two free throws to push the lead back to 11.
The BSU advantage reached a game-high 15 points at 76-61, before the 82-71 final score. Lampley hit 11 free throws in the final 2:18 of the contest.
Ball State, which has won two straight at Worthen Arena, returns to the court Wednesday with a 7 p.m. MAC West battle against Western Michigan.
Wednesday is Ball State student appreciation night as the first 1,000 BSU students will get free Nest "retro" headbands and t-shirts. In addition, five students will be introduced with the BSU starting lineup, plus will have chances to win free Muncie Mall giftcards and a $500 scholarship.
Game Notes:
BSU's 39 first-half points are the most the Cardinals have scored in the first half this season, and the most since Ball State scored 40 versus Northern Illinois Feb. 13, 2007.
Ball State's 82 points are the most for the Cardinals since they tallied 89 in a victory over Eastern Michigan (March 4, 2006).
Ball State's 51 free throws attempted were a Worthen Arena record, topping the previous mark of 46 set versus Central Michigan (Feb. 2, 1992) and later tied versus Alcorn State (Dec. 12, 1995). The 51 attempts were also a BSU homecourt record, topping the previous mark of 47 set versus Valparaiso (Feb. 14, 1968).
Ball State finished the game shooting .545 (24-for-44) from the field, marking the first time in the past two season's the Cardinals have finished a game shooting above .500. The last time the Cardinals reached the .500 mark was in the final game of the 2005-06 season, when Ball State shot .500 (27-for-54) versus Buffalo (March, 6, 2006).
Five Cardinals - - Newell (19), Goins (17), Stovall (17), Perry (12) and Lampley (11) - - scored in double-figures in the same game for the first time since Nov. 11, 2006 versus Northern Colorado.
Melvin Goins tied a career-high with 17 points versus Central Michigan.
Brandon Lampley scored all 11 of his points in the final 3:05 of the game, making 11 of 14 free throws. 10 of the points came in the final 2:18 of the contest. Entering the game, Lampley had only made 15 free throws in his two-plus year career, going 15 for 23 from the line.
Anthony Newell scored his second double-double of the season with 19 points and 12 rebounds. The double-double was the ninth of his career.
Ball State held the lead for the final 38:29 of Sunday's contest. In its two Mid-American Conference games this season, the Cardinals have led for a total of 62:57. BSU has only trailed for 11:57, while being tied for 5:06.
After Sunday's win versus Central Michigan, the Cardinals improve to 21-12 in Mid-American Conference home openers. BSU is 11-6 in MAC home openers at Worthen Arena, which opened in 1992.
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