Ball State University
17-12, 9-6MAC
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Western Michigan
18-11, 10-5MAC
Men's Hoops Falls At Western Michigan
March 02, 2011 | Men's Basketball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Ball State men's basketball team suffered a tough loss Wednesday night as the Cardinals dropped an 87-70 Mid-American Conference contest to Western Michigan at University Arena. The loss drops the Cardinals to 17-12 on the year and 9-6 in MAC play while the Broncos improve to 18-11 overall and 10-5 in league action to move into sole possession of first place in the MAC West Division.
Ball State trails Western Michigan for the top spot in the MAC West by one game with one game remaining in the regular season. The Cardinals can still clinch the MAC West Division and the number two seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament with a win Saturday over Northern Illinois and a WMU loss at Central Michigan.
"Our defensive effort tonight was obviously very poor throughout the game," head coach Billy Taylor said. "Our ball screen defense wasn't very good, our post defense allowed them to get the ball in the painted area and we didn't rebound the ball effectively. Additionally, when things get sticky on the road you need your big-time performers to have big-time games and we didn't have that tonight."
Western Michigan connected on 61.1 percent (33-of-54) from the field and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from three-point land in the victory. The Broncos connected on 65.4 percent (17-of-26) from the field in the second half and hit 4-of-5 (80%) from long range as they scored 47 points in the second half.
Ball State came out and went toe-to-toe with the Broncos in the early going taking a quick 6-4 lead with all six points coming in the paint. Western Michigan took the lead back as it hit two straight three-pointers as Nate Hutcheson and Mike Douglas each hit a long range shot.
The Cardinals kept within striking distance as junior guard Randy Davis (Plymouth, Ind./Plymouth) nailed a three-pointer off a screen to narrow the gap to 21-17. After a three-pointer from freshman Tyrae Robinson (Gary, Ind./Bowman Academy) pulled the Cardinals within three, Western Michigan posted a 10-2 run to take a 33-22 lead. The Broncos once again got a boost from the three-point shot as Hutcheson and Douglas notched two straight long range shots.
Ball State was able to cut into the lead and head into the locker room trailing 40-34 as Robinson hit a runner in the lane with 20.7 seconds left in the half. The Cardinals connected on 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the field in the first half but only went to the free throw line twice in the opening frame as WMU was called for just three fouls.
Freshman forward Matt Kamieniecki (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) scored six points off the bench for the Cardinals while Robinson added five points. Sophomore guard Jauwan Scaife (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) chipped in six points while Davis tallied five points as eight different Cardinals scored in the first half.
Western Michigan did most of its damage from long range as it hit 45.5 percent (5-of-11) from deep and 57.1 percent (16-of-28) from the field. Flenard Whitfield led the Broncos with 10 first half points while Juwan Howard Jr. added nine points of the bench. Hutcheson tallied nine in the first half as well as he hit a pair of three-pointers.
The Broncos came out of the halftime break and took a 44-39 lead. After a double technical situation was called after an on-court fracas, the Broncos posted a 17-6 run over the next six minutes to run the lead to double figures at 61-45. Douglas scored nine points during the run while Whitfield added a jumper immediately following the altercation.
Ball State finished the game shooting 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the field and 27.8 percent (5-of-18) from three-point land. Senior forward Malik Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia Lutheran) led the Cardinals with 13 points as he was 7-of-10 from the free throw line and 3-of-6 from the field. Jones added 10 points and seven rebounds while Scaife finished the night with 12 points.
Western Michigan was led by Douglas who scored a game-high 24 points as he hit 7-of-7 from the field, 3-of-3 from three-point land and 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Whitfield added 14 points and seven rebounds while Howard chipped in 13 points.
The Cardinals will close out the 2010-11 regular season Saturday afternoon as they host Northern Illinois on Senior Day at Worthen Arena. Ball State will honor Adrian Tucker (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) and Malik Perry (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia Lutheran) prior to the game's 2 p.m. tip-off.
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