MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. ? The Ball State men's basketball team dropped its first Mid-American Conference game of the season Saturday afternoon as the Cardinals fell 71-65 to Central Michigan at Rose Arena. The loss drops the Cardinals to 7-8 on the season and 2-1 in MAC play.
“Today was a hard fought game and what you expect in a MAC game,” head coach Billy Taylor said. “Our guys struggled defensively today. We couldn't get the stops that we needed and are used to getting. We made a great run late in the game, but we dug ourselves too big of a hole to overcome, especially on the road.”
Senior guard Laron Frazier (Waukegan, Ill./Highland CC) paced three Cardinals in double figures in the loss. Frazier scored a season-high 18 points off of the bench as the Ball State bench out-scored Central Michigan's bench 36-13. Frazier connected on seven-of-13 from the field, while also handing out three assists and notching two steals.
Freshman forward Jarrod Jones (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City) continued his recent strong play he added 15 points and five rebounds. Jones connected on five-of-six from the field and five-of-six from the free throw line.
Central Michigan (4-11, 1-2 MAC) came out of the gate quickly as it jumped out to a 6-2 lead. The Cardinals weathered the early storm and took their first lead of the game courtesy of an 8-3 run. Senior guard Brandon Lampley (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) ignited the run with a three-pointer, while freshman forward Mo Hubbard (Chantilly, Va./Westfield) capped the spurt with a basket in the paint.
The Chippewas answered with six straight points and closed the half on a 13-6 run to take a 27-23 lead into the locker room. Ball State connected on 47.1 percent (eight-of-17) from the field in the first half but also committed 10 first half turnovers. Central Michigan shot 42.3 percent (11-of-26) from the field, including hitting three three-pointers.
The two teams battled back-and-forth for most of the second half with the Cardinals continually pulling within four points. Ball State made a run and pulled within 48-44 as Lampley and Frazier scored back-to-back baskets to force a CMU timeout. The Chippewas came out of the timeout and ran off a 7-2 run to move the lead back to nine points at 55-46.
Once again the Cardinals clawed back within four points at 59-55 but CMU was able to connect on consecutive trips down the floor to extend the lead. Ball State made one final push down the stretch as its full court press created opportunities in the final two minutes. The Cardinals ran off an 8-2 run to pull within two points at 65-63. Frazier ignited the run with four points and Lampley capped the run with a three-pointer off of a missed free throw to make it a one possession game.
Ball State kept the pressure on but Central Michigan was able to beat the full court press and score a much needed basket. The Cardinals came right back down and got a good look at the basket but Lampley's three-pointer rimmed in and out to keep Ball State's comeback at bay. Central Michigan was able to seal the victory at the line in the closing minutes to pick up its first MAC win of the season.
The Cardinals finished the game shooting 48.8 percent (21-of-43) from the field and 28.6 percent (four-of-14) from three-point land. Ball State was solid from the free throw line in the loss as it connected on 70.4 percent (19-of-27) from the charity stripe. Central Michigan finished the game shooting 51.1 percent (24-of-47) from the field and 35.7 percent (five-of-14) from long range. The Chippewas were equally as good from the line as they hit 72.0 percent (18-of-25) foul shots.
Lampley finished the game with 14 points in 30 minutes off of the bench. He connected on four-of-seven from the field, including two three-pointers, and was a perfect four-of-four from the foul line. Hubbard paced the Cardinals on the glass as he grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in 28 minutes off of the bench.
Central Michigan had three players in double figures in the victory with guard Jordan Bitzer leading the charge with 21 points. Bitzer was seven-of-nine shooting from the field and a perfect four-of-four from the line. Robbie Harman added 15 points and six assists for CMU.
Ball State will return to action Tuesday night as it begins a two-game homestand. The Cardinals will welcome in MAC West Division foe Western Michigan to Worthen Arena for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
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