Ball State University
Indiana State
Inspired Effort Leads Men's Hoops Past Indiana State
December 10, 2009 | Men's Basketball
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Ball State men's basketball team turned in an inspired effort Wednesday night as the Cardinals defeated in-state rival Indiana State 68-63 at the Hulman Center in the 124th meeting all-time between the two teams. The Cardinals used a strong first half effort and played with resiliency down the stretch to pick up their third win of the season.
"I am proud of our team tonight," head coach Billy Taylor said. "We played with great effort, great heart and a lot of resiliency against a very tough Indiana State team in a hostile environment. We put a big emphasis on rebounding and taking care of the basketball tonight and our guys executed that game plan perfectly."
Sophomore forward Jarrod Jones (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City) led the Cardinals as he scored a game-high 16 points, despite battling foul trouble for most of the game. Jones connected on eight-of-12 from the field while grabbing five rebounds and handing out three assists. Sophomore guard Randy Davis (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) turned in a strong effort as he scored 11 points, grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and dished out four assists. Davis connected on eight-of-10 from the free throw line in the second half to help the Cardinals to victory.
The Cardinals (3-3) came out of the gate hitting on all cylinders as they scored the first seven points of the game on their way to an early 9-3 lead. Jones started things off as he scored on a fast break alley-oop, while Davis nailed a three-pointer for the first five points.
Ball State continued its strong start as it took a 14-3 lead to force an Indiana State timeout just over six minutes into the game. Freshman guard Jauwan Scaife (Muncie, Ind./Central) scored five straight points, including the Cardinals' second three-pointer to give BSU a double figure lead. The Cardinals added four more points as they took their largest lead of the season at 18-5 when Jones dunked an offensive rebound.
Indiana State (5-3) regrouped the started to chip away at the Cardinals' lead as they posted an 11-3 run to pull within seven points. Ball State weathered the push from the Sycamores and went into the locker room with a 31-23 lead as Jones closed the half by scoring on an offensive rebound.
The Cardinals finished the half shooting 48.0 percent (12-of-25) from the field and 60 percent (three-of-five) from three-point land. Ball State controlled the glass as it out-rebounded ISU by a 19-9 margin and only limited the Sycamores to one offensive rebound. Jones led the Cardinals in scoring with 10 points as he was five-of-seven from the field while Scaife added seven points.
Indiana State finished the half shooting 40.0 percent (10-of-25) from the field and 16.7 percent (two-of-12) from long range. The Sycamores were led in scoring by Harry Marshall who scored six points on three-of-seven shooting while Jake Kelly added five points.
Indiana State came out of the halftime break and chipped the lead down to five points at 33-28. The Cardinals responded to the ISU play with a 14-5 run to take a 47-33 lead as Jones scored back-to-back baskets. Freshman guard John Green (Osceola, Ind./Naval Academy Prep) added a basket and Scaife capped the run as he drove down the baseline for a layup.
The teams battled back and forth with the Cardinals taking a 54-44 lead with 6:23 left in the game. Indiana State went to a full court press and posted a 15-4 run to take its first lead of the game at 59-58 with just over three minutes left. Dwayne Lathan scored 12 straight points for the Sycamores to key the comeback bid.
Davis quickly gave the Cardinals the lead back as he nailed a pair of free throws and junior forward Malik Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia Lutheran) blocked a shot on the ensuing possession. BSU gave the Sycamores another chance though as Davis missed his first free throws of the night and ISU pulled back within one at 62-61when Harry Marshall nailed two free throws.
Ball State worked its next possession perfectly after a timeout and got a basket from Jones off of an inbounds play to take a 64-61 lead with 37 seconds left. Indiana State had a couple of cracks at the basket before senior forward Terrence Watson (Detroit, Mich./Univ. of Mississippi) turned in a strong defensive effort to thwart Marshall's attempt.
The Sycamores quickly fouled Davis as he grabbed his game-leading eighth rebound. Davis stepped up to the line and nailed both free throws to make it a two possession game. Indiana State pulled back within three as Latham score a quick basket, but Scaife sealed the victory as he hit two free throws with 3.0 seconds left in the game.
Ball State finished the game shooting 51.1 percent (24-of-47) from the field, including 54.5 percent (12-of-22) in the second half. The Cardinals nailed 66.7 percent (four-of-six) from three-point land and 66.7 percent (16-of-24) from the free throw line. BSU dominated the glass as the Cardinals held a 35-22 advantage, including 27 defensive rebounds.
Scaife finished the night with a career-high 14 points as he was four-of-seven from the field, two-of-three from three-point land and a perfect four-of-four from the charity stripe. He also grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists in a game-high 34 minutes. Perry added eight points, four rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot while Watson chipped in eight points and four rebounds off of the bench.
Indiana State was held to just 42.6 percent (23-of-54) shooting from the field in the loss, including 31.8 percent (seven-of-22) from long range. The Sycamores were strong from the free throw line in their comeback attempt as they hit 90.9 percent (10-of-11). Lathan led ISU with 16 points, all of which came in the second half as he was six-of-nine from the field. Marshall chipped in 14 points and dished out five assists as the Sycamores lost for the first time at home this season.
The meeting was the 124th career game between Ball State and Indiana State. The Cardinals' victory was the 56th in series history for BSU and just their 17th all-time in Terre Haute in 64 meetings.
The Cardinals return to action Saturday afternoon as they travel to Cookeville, Tenn., for a return matchup with Tennessee Tech. Game time is set for 2 p.m. (CT).
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