Ball State University
4-6
Longwood
4-9
Men's Hoops Defeats Longwood, 69-64
December 28, 2014 | Men's Basketball
By Doug Zaleski
BallStateSports.com
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State took advantage of Longwood's tendency to lose blockout position on the boards Sunday to enjoy one of its best offensive rebounding performances in nearly a month.
The Cardinals came up with nine offensive boards — their highest total since Dec. 3 — and turned that effort into 13 second-chance points. The result helped fuel a 69-64 win for Ball State in Worthen Arena.
"That was a big deal for us because the way they play, they don't have blockout position," Cardinals coach James Whitford said. "We wanted to dominate, and we had 13 second-chance points to (their) 6. We're a pretty good rebounding team despite our size."
Franko House, a 6-foot-6 forward, showed that when he grabbed an offensive rebound on a missed inside shot by teammate Bo Calhoun. House put up a shot from the perimeter, was fouled, and converted both free throws to give the Cardinals a 52-45 lead with 6:20 remaining in the game.
House, second for Ball State (4-6) in offensive rebounds this year with 19, finished with a game-best nine overall boards.
He vowed to be more aggressive on the glass since a loss at home to James Madison on Dec. 17.
"I just brought a little more energy," House said. "We want to get as many offensive rebounds as we can. That's our job every time a shot goes up, and that's what I try to do."
Matt Kamieniecki, the Cardinals' top rebounder overall (7.2) and on the offensive glass (22) this season, said turning in a good performance on the boards was one of the top goals against Longwood (4-9).
"We talked before the game about having our 3, 4 and 5 (position players) crash the boards and be more aggressive," Kamieniecki said. "We did a good job of that today, and it showed."
Ball State's perimeter defense was taxed during the game by the Lancers' 3-point shooters. Longwood made 11-of-23 shots from the arc, including a combined 8-of-15 by Quincy Taylor and Ryan Badowski.
That forced the Cardinals to go down to the wire before clinching the victory.
Longwood made four 3-pointers in the final 3:40 and made 9-of-15 from the arc after halftime.
"They had an incredible barrage behind the arc in the second half," Whitford said. "We gave them a few looks I wish we wouldn't have given them, but one small mistake and they made us pay a deep price.
"I think they hit four NBA (3-point) shots in the second half, by my count. They hit some tough shots."
But the Cardinals were able to respond every time the Lancers cut into the lead.
In the final 1:51, Sean Sellers scored six of his team-high 15 points, Kamieniecki had four and Zavier Turner two.
Four of Sellers' points came on a 3-point shot and free throw at the 1:51 mark.
"I was fortunate that my man fell down, and Francis (Kiapway) did a good job of finding me," Sellers said of the 4-point play.
Kamieniecki and Kiapway each added 11 points for the Cardinals, who played without freshman guard Jeremie Tyler.
Tyler was suspended for what was termed a "team issue." He started each of the first nine games.
The Cardinals will play their final game before the start of the Mid-American Conference season when they take on Bethune-Cookman at 2 p.m. Jan. 3 at Worthen Arena.
