Ball State University
7-8, 1-2MAC
Toledo
3-14, 0-3MAC
First Half Run Leads Men's Hoops To 71-43 Victory Over Toledo
January 18, 2010 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's basketball team turned in one of its top offensive performances of the season as the Cardinals used a 20-3 first half run on their way to a 71-43 victory over Mid-American Conference foe Toledo Sunday afternoon at Worthen Arena. The Cardinals 28-point victory is their largest of the season and the largest victory since the 2006-07 season (81-42 vs. Northern Colorado) and the largest MAC victory since 2003-04 (75-47 vs. Eastern Michigan).
"Our guys showed a lot of character and confidence in each other in how we battled today," head coach Billy Taylor said. "We got tremendous effort today and had a lot of guys step up and contribute. From Pierre (Sneed) and his defense, to Terrence (Watson) being a tremendous presence on both ends, Jauwan making shots on the perimeter, Jarrod (Jones) battling on the glass and Brawley (Chisholm) providing a spark off of the bench and set the tempo in the first half. Today was a true team victory"
Freshman guard Jauwan Scaife (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) led the offensive effort as he scored a career-high 20 points in the victory, 15 of which came in the second half. Scaife connected on a career-high six three-pointers, including five in the second half as he finished the game 6-of-8 from long range. The six three-pointers are the most for a Cardinal since Skip Mills hit six three-pointers against Buffalo March 6, 2006.
Senior forward Terrence Watson (Detroit, Mich./Univ. of Mississippi) also turned in a strong performance as he recorded his second career double-double with a career-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. Watson finished the game shooting 6-of-9 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line as he scored 13 of his points in the first half.
Ball State (7-8, 1-2 MAC) came out of the gate quickly as it opened the game on an 8-2 run through the first four minutes. Scaife and senior guard Brawley Chisholm (Bronx, N.Y./Western Texas College) ignited the early going as they hit back-to-back three-pointers.
Toledo (3-14, 0-3 MAC) was able to slow the early momentum briefly, narrowing the gap to 8-5. The Cardinals did not back down and broke the game open with a 20-3 run, including 11 straight points, over a span of 7:48 to take a 28-8 lead. Sophomore guard Randy Davis (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) ignited the run as he nailed the Cardinals' third three-pointer of the early going. Watson sparked the run with seven points, including an old-fashioned three-point play, while Chisholm scored six straight for the Cardinals to put Ball State ahead by 20 points.
The Cardinals took a 40-22 lead into the locker room as they connected on 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from the field in the first half, including 42.9 percent (3-of-7) from three-point land. BSU continued its strong play from the free throw line in the opening frame as it connected on 11-of-13 (84.6%) from the charity stripe. Watson led the Cardinals in the first half with 13 points and seven rebounds while Chisholm chipped in nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field.
Toledo was limited to just 25 percent (7-of-28) shooting from the field in the first half as the Cardinals' defense clamped down and forced the Rockets into 10 first half turnovers. Jake Barnett, the Rockets' leading scorer, was held to six first half points on just 1-of-5 shooting from the field.
Ball State came out in the second half and battled for every loose ball. The Cardinals took a 56-34 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game courtesy of a 9-2 run. Scaife ignited the run with a three-pointer while freshman guard Myron Green Jr. (Long Beach, Calif./Dominguez) nailed a jumper from the free throw line to cap the spurt.
Scaife's outside shooting went into overdrive in the second half as he hit all five of his three-pointers in the frame. He led the Cardinals down the stretch as he nailed his sixth three-pointer in Ball State second 9-2 run of the half as the Cardinals took their largest lead of the season at 71-41.
Ball State finished the game shooting 50 percent (25-of-50) from the field in the victory and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from three-point land. BSU was efficient in the victory as it handed out 17 assists on 25 field goals. The Cardinals also controlled the glass as well as they owned a 39-31 advantage. Sophomore forward Jarrod Jones (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City) finished the game with nine boards, eight on the defensive end to go along with his six points.
Toledo was held to just 30.8 percent (16-of-52) shooting in the loss as the Cardinals' defense tallied six steals and five blocked shots. The Rockets connected on just 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three-point land and committed 16 turnovers.
Barnett was limited to just 12 points as sophomore guard Pierre Sneed (Chicago, Ill./Simeon) held him to just 3-of-11 shooting from the field. Malcolm Griffin chipped in 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting for the Rockets who have now lost seven straight games.
Ball State returns to action Wednesday evening as it hosts MAC West Division rival Western Michigan. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Worthen Arena.
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