Ball State University
3-15, 2-4MAC
Ohio University
13-6, 4-2MAC
Cardinals Suffer Last-Second Loss At Ohio, 61-59
January 26, 2008 | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio's Jerome Tillman scored his only field goal of the day with five seconds remaining Saturday afternoon to complete the Bobcats' comeback victory 61-59 over Ball State.
The Cardinals, who held a 12-point advantage at halftime, dropped their second straight contest in the closing minutes of the game.
“Our kids certainly deserve to win a game like this,” said first-year Ball State head coach Billy Taylor. “We gave a fantastic effort against a very good Ohio team. We still have a few things we need to clean up in terms of execution, but give Ohio credit. They made the plays down the stretch.”
Ball State had the lead for nearly 38 minutes Saturday afternoon at the Convocation Center against an Ohio team which won its eighth straight contest at home and 13th game of the season.
Anthony Newell scored eight straight points in the final 2:30 of the first half with a pair of three-point field goals and jumper in the lane.
Rob Giles capped an 11-0 BSU scoring run with a tri-lighter of his own with just four seconds left to give BSU a 35-23 edge at the intermission.
The Bobcats slowly chipped away at the lead in the second half, but the Cardinals answered nearly every time.
A pair of free throws from OU's Leon Williams with 2:43 on the clock gave the home team its first lead at 51-50, before an offensive board and free throw from Newell tied the score at 51 seconds later.
Williams broke free for a dunk to give Ohio a 55-51 lead with 1:48 remaining, but Melvin Goins answered with a jumper in the lane to pull BSU back to within two.
With 36 seconds to go, the Bobcats' Bubba Walther hit two free throws to extend the lead to 59-56.
Newell tied the game for the fourth time with a three-point field goal with 25 seconds left off an assist from Goins, but after an Ohio timeout, Tillman connected for the game-winner with five seconds left.
The Cardinals called their final timeout and Newell's three-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the left-side of the rim to seal the Ohio comeback.
“Obviously we were rushed to get a shot, but I felt like it was a good look,” Newell said. “I wish I could have squared up a little more, but unfortunately it did not fall.”
For the second straight contest, Newell scored a game-high 24 points to lead Ball State. Malik Perry and Peyton Stovall each scored seven points, while Rob Giles added six.
The Cardinals return to Worthen Arena for a 7 p.m. contest Wednesday against Bowling Green.
