Ball State University
13-13, 7-6MAC
Central Michigan
9-17, 5-8MAC
Men?s Basketball Clamps Down On Central Michigan, 53-44
February 26, 2009 | Men's Basketball
“We said all along that defense is our identity and I thought our guys really came out and stayed true to that,” head coach Billy Taylor said. “It was just a tremendous job on the defensive end of the floor, holding a team like Central Michigan to 44 points. I couldn't be more proud of our effort and we did a great job in the post defensively.”
Ball State used a balanced scoring attack as eight different players found their way on the scoring sheet, including five with at least seven points in the victory. Senior guard Brandon Lampley (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) led the way as he scored a team-high 11 points and was four-of-eight from the field. Lampley also keyed the defensive effort as he tallied a game-high three steals as Ball State forced Central Michigan into 17 turnovers.
The two teams came out of the gate slowly as they went back-and-forth with Ball State taking an early 10-8 lead as it posted an 8-2 run with just under 10 minutes to go in the first half. Freshman forwards Mo Hubbard (Chantilly, Va./Westfield) and Jarrod Jones (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City) scored on back-to-back possessions to put the Cardinals ahead.
Ball State broke the game open down the stretch in the first half as the Cardinals closed the opening stanza on an 11-0 run to take a 25-14 lead into the locker room. Lampley ignited the run as he scored seven straight points in the stretch, including a jumper as the clock expired to end the half. Ball State's defense stepped up in the run as well as it limited CMU without a field goal the final 4:54 of the half. The Chippewas missed three shots and turned the ball over three times down the stretch.
The Cardinals finished the first half shooting 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from the field and 50 percent (one-of-two) from three-point land. Ball State forced Central Michigan into 12 first half turnovers and held the Chippewas to just 38.9 percent (seven-of-18) shooting from the field, including no three-pointers.
The teams came out of the half an traded baskets until senior guard Rob Giles (Detroit, Mich./Mott CC) scored on consecutive possessions to put BSU ahead 30-19. Central Michigan (9-17, 5-8 MAC) re-grouped and ran off an 8-2 run to narrow the margin to five points at 32-27 and force a Ball State timeout.
The Cardinals responded to the timeout as Jones scored in the paint on the ensuing possession. Hubbard gave BSU some life with back-to-back stellar plays as he blocked a dunk attempt from Brandon Ford on the defensive end and then scored on the fast break on the offensive end to force CMU into a timeout.
The Chippewas kept hanging around as they narrowed the deficit to four points at 42-38, but Hubbard once again came through with a key play. He converted an old-fashioned three-point play to raise the BSU lead back to seven points. The Cardinals kept CMU in the game as they missed free throws down the stretch but Ball State nailed five-of-six from the charity stripe in the final minute to seal the victory.
The Cardinals finished the game shooting 39.5 percent (17-of-43) from the field and only attempted three three-pointers. Ball State shot 52.9 percent (18-of-34) from the charity stripe in the game with sophomore forward Malik Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia Lutheran) leading the way as he nailed five-of-six from the line.
Jones finished the game with nine points and five rebounds as he played 29 minutes. Hubbard also chipped in nine points as he was four-of-five from the field off of the bench. Senior guard Laron Frazier (Waukegan, Ill./Highland CC) added eight points and six rebounds while Giles finished with seven points and five rebounds.
Central Michigan was held to just 35.6 percent (16-of-45) shooting from the field and 36.4 percent (four-of-11) from long range. The Chippewas only went to the free throw line 13 times in the loss and connected on 61.5 percent (eight-of-13). Guard Robbie Harman scored a game-high 23 points in the loss, with 21 of his points coming in the second half as he nailed four three-pointers. Central Michigan's leading scorer Marcus Van was held scoreless for the first time this season as he fouled out after just 20 minutes of action.
The victory marks the fourth time this MAC season that the Cardinals have held an opponent under 50 points. Ball State's defense limited the Chippewas to just 43 points which is tied for their lowest offensive output of the season.
The Cardinals will be back in action Saturday afternoon as they travel to DeKalb, Ill. for a meeting with MAC West foe Northern Illinois. Game time is 3 p.m. (ET) at the Convocation Center and will be broadcast by the Ball State Sports Network. Affiliates for the game include: WIPB-Muncie, WYIN-Merrillville, WNDA Jeffersonville/Louisville, Hometown Television 19 ? Noblesville/Indianapolis, WJTS Jasper, WHME South Bend & Fox 39-Rockford.
####
