Ball State University
9-9, 3-3MAC
Miami
6-13, 3-3MAC
Men?s Basketball Scores Double Overtime Win Over Miami
January 27, 2010 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State men's basketball team picked up its first double overtime victory since 1999 with a thrilling 65-59 victory over Mid-American Conference rival Miami Tuesday night at Worthen Arena. The victory was the first for the Cardinals against the rival RedHawks since the 2003-04 season and improved the Cardinals to 9-9 overall and 3-3 in MAC play.
"I am Proud of our team for showing such resiliency in making a comeback against a great team in Miami," head coach Billy Taylor said. "Being able to come back in regulation, force overtime and grind out a victory is really impressive for me to see. We had so many guys step up tonight. Jarrod Jones really emerging tonight being the leader and player he can be, Jauwan Scaife being huge down the stretch and Myron Green, another freshman, hitting big free throws in the final seconds. It was a total team victory tonight."
Ball State rallied from nine points down in the second half and closed regulation with a 14-4 run to force its first overtime contest of the season. Sophomore forward Jarrod Jones (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City) led the Cardinals with 21 points and 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Jones's 21 points are a season-high and ties his career-high mark set in his first career contest (Eastern Illinois). Freshman guard Myron Green Jr. (Long Beach, Calif./Dominguez) iced the victory with four free throws in the final 13.5 seconds.
Freshman guard Jauwan Scaife (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) finished the night with 11 points, including an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Cardinals the lead for good in the second overtime with 44.0 seconds remaining in the game.
The two teams battled back-and-forth for most of the first half with the RedHawks taking an 18-14 lead just over 12 minutes into the game. The Cardinals responded with eight straight points to take a 22-18 lead as Jones scored four points in the stretch and BSU hit six consecutive free throws. Miami was able to close the first half on a 9-2 run to take a 27-24 lead into the locker room.
Ball State connected on 38.9 percent (7-of-18) from the field in the first half, but hit 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the free throw line. Jones led all scorers in the opening frame with 10 points in 13 minutes as he was 4-of-5 from the line and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. Miami hit 38.5 percent (10-of-26) from the field in the first half, including two three-pointers.
The Cardinals came out of the break and posted a modest 6-0 run to take a 32-29 lead with 16:47 left in regulation. Scaife started the run as he nailed the Cardinals' lone three-pointer of the game. Miami responded as it scored 11 straight points on its way to a 15-3 run as the RedHawks took a 44-35 lead with just over nine minutes left in the half.
Ball State buckled down and showed its mettle down the stretch as they Cardinals posted a 9-2 run and closed the half on a 14-4 run to force the game into overtime. Jones was the offensive catalyst as he scored seven points in the decisive run, including the game-tying basket with 18.1 seconds left to knot the game at 48-48. Ball State's defense held strong on the final possession as Kenny Hayes got off a closely contested 18-foot jump shot that glanced off the front of the rim as time expired in regulation.
Miami (6-13, 3-3 MAC) took the lead in the first overtime as it scored on back-to-back possessions to take a 52-49 lead with 2:43 left in the extra frame. Jones pulled the Cardinals within one as he scored on a thunderous dunk off of a feed from sophomore guard Pierre Sneed (Chicago, Ill./Simeon). The RedHawks re-took a three-point lead as forward Julian Mavunga hit two free throws.
Ball State once again answered the call on the ensuing possession as sophomore guard Randy Davis (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) drove into the paint and dished an assist to senior forward Terrence Watson (Detroit, Mich./Univ. of Mississippi). Watson was able to convert an old-fashioned three-point play with a layup and a free throw to tie the game once again at 54-54. Miami once again had the final shot in the period as Nick Winbush had a three-pointer fall off the mark as time expired in the first overtime.
The teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of the second overtime before Scaife hit two free throws to take a 58-56 lead with 2:06 remaining. The RedHawks tied the game with 57.4 seconds as Mavunga nailed a pair of free throws.
Ball State took the lead for good as Davis was able to penetrate the lane and found Scaife curling off a screen. Scaife was able to hit a mid-range jump shot while being fouled. He calmly hit his ensuing free throw to give the Cardinals a 61-58 lead with 44 seconds remaining.
Hayes quickly drove the length of the court and got fouled but he only hit one of two free throws to keep it a two-point contest. The RedHawks chose to foul Green Jr. with 13.5 seconds remaining and the rookie calmly hit both free throws to make it a two possession game, sealing the Cardinals' come-from-behind victory.
Ball State finished the game shooting 38.8 percent (19-of-49) from the field, including 44.4 percent (4-of-9) in the overtime periods. The Cardinals also finished the night shooting 70.3 percent (26-of-37) from the free throw line and iced the game by hitting 90 percent (9-of-10) in the overtime periods, including all seven in the second overtime.
Junior forward Malik Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia Lutheran) battled all game long and finished with seven points and eight rebounds while playing 33 minutes off of the bench. Watson added seven points and five rebounds in the victory while Sneed finished with six points and four assists.
The Cardinals finished the night with just 12 turnovers while handing out 15 assists on 19 field goals. Davis ran the offense efficiently as he handed out a season-high nine assists, while only committing three turnovers.
Miami finished the night shooting 32.2 percent (19-of-59) from the field and just 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from three-point land. The RedHawks were strong from the free throw line as they hit 84.2 percent (16-of-19) in the loss. Mavunga led Miami with 14 points in just 29 minutes as he hit all six of his free throws. Winbush added 10 points while Hayes was limited to just nine points in the loss.
Ball State returns to action in less than 48 hours as the Cardinals hit the road to face Buffalo Thursday night at 7 p.m.
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