Ball State University
9-4
Chicago State
4-12
Men's Hoops Moves to 9-4 with Win over Chicago State
December 31, 2015 | Men's Basketball
By Doug Zaleski
BallStateSports.com
MUNCIE, Ind. -- For all the improvement made by the Ball State men's basketball team this season – a lengthy winning streak, depth of personnel, a record to be proud of, among them – it showed Thursday afternoon that work remains as it heads into Mid-American Conference play.
The Cardinals struggled in various areas, particularly against Chicago State's full-court pressure, for about three quarters of the game. Eventually, they smoothed out some of the rough spots and rolled in the final 10 minutes to claim a 73-48 victory in Worthen Arena.
“The game started off a little sloppy, and we were kind of killing ourselves with our decision making,” Cardinals forward Ryan Weber said. “I dribbled off my foot out of bounds, I stepped out of bounds; we were throwing the ball around like it was no big deal.”
Ball State managed only a six-point lead at 38-32 with 13:52 remaining in the game. It spurted ahead by 17 points in the next four minutes, and whatever anxious moments might have been felt before that evaporated.
Chicago State proved to be a willing partner in helping the Cardinals (9-4) feel a little better about themselves coming out of the game than they might have as the second half got under way.
The style of play by the Cougars (4-12) to run it up and gun it up resulted in the worst shooting performance by a Ball State opponent this season.
Chicago State hit only 27.7 percent of its field goal attempts and 20.7 percent of its 29 attempts from the 3-point line. Both percentages were season lows against the Cardinals in their first 13 games.
Ball State also struggled with its shooting, hitting only 37 percent in the first half while dealing with a full-court press and variety of changing half-court defenses by the Cougars. But the Cardinals settled down in the second half when they made 55.6 percent of their shots.
“We forced them to miss a lot, and the best thing we do is play off missed shots,” Ball State coach James Whitford said. “If you're not locked in on finding our shooters in transition, then it can be hard for you because those guys can get keyed up.”
Francis Kiapway, Weber and Bo Calhoun each hit three 3-pointers during the game. In all, the Cardinals were 11-of-23 (.478) from the arc.
Their season high for made 3's in a game is 12 against Eastern Kentucky.
“We moved the ball around a lot to find our shooters,” Kiapway said. “We knocked them down.”
Kiapway made two of his 3's in the second half, and converted three free throws after being fouled on another 3-point attempt with 17:48 left in the game.
“Coming out in the second half, these guys told me to shoot the ball if I get it, and I came out with that mindset,” he said. “I feel like I had good looks. Once they started to go in, we started rolling in the second half.
“We figured out their defense. They were switching defenses in the middle of possessions and that was kind of awkward in the first half. I feel like in the second half we caught on to it.”
Kiapway's 3-pointer with 15:34 remaining gave the Cardinals an 11-point lead. Chicago State cut the margin to six with 13:52 remaining, but Ball State rolled after that to the 25-point margin of victory.
“They play a lot of changing defenses and it took a while for us to adjust to it,” Whitford said. “We turned the ball over like crazy. While that was frustrating, we stayed solid on the defensive end while trying to get our offense figured out.
“Eventually, we broke their spirit … and really were able to get out in transition and make plays.”
Turnovers against the Cougars' pressure defense were a problem as the Cardinals had 11 in the first half and a season-worst 19 for the game.
“We struggled in the first half (as) they were changing defenses all the time,” Whitford said. “That exposed us a little bit.”
Added point guard Naiel Smith, who had six assists and three turnovers: “It was tough. Any team that presses the whole game and has little guards like that is very difficult.”
The Cardinals' balance on offense overcame their ball handling issues.
Weber led with 14 points, Kiapway and Franko House had 12 each, and Bo Calhoun chipped in 11. Together, they made 17-of-33 field goals.
Trey Moses, who earned his third straight start at center, had a season-high seven rebounds and blocked three shots. House and Calhoun each had six rebounds.
Ball State will begin MAC play at home at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Toledo. The Cardinals' nine victories before the MAC season are their most in the past 23 years.
