Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
13-8 (4-4MAC)
Akron
17-4 (6-2MAC)
Men's Hoops Drops 73-64 Decision to Akron
January 30, 2016 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- A matchup between two of the top 3-point shooting teams in the Mid-American Conference delivered what it promised Saturday with 22 combined treys.
But Ball State's inability to contain MAC East preseason favorite Akron during a key stretch of the second half left the Cardinals on the wrong end of a 73-64 decision at Worthen Arena.
"I credit Akron; they're a really good team," Ball State coach James Whitford said. "The thing that stands out when we play them is their incredible size. They're so big in the front court. I thought the depth of their talent and the depth of their size overwhelmed us on the defensive end."
Jeremie Tyler led Ball State (13-8, 4-4 MAC) with a season-high 18 points, while Bo Calhoun scored 15 and Sean Sellers had nine. That trio combined to make 10 of the Cardinals' 12 3-pointers.
As the game reached a crucial juncture in the second half, Ball State had three consecutive possessions trailing 58-53 and looking to cut further into what was once a 13-point Akron lead. But the Cardinals turned it over twice and missed a jumper on the third trip.
Isaiah Johnson converted a 3-point play the next time down the floor for Akron (17-4, 6-2 MAC), beginning an 11-0 run that put the Zips in control heading into the closing minutes. Noah Robotham and Jake Kretzer nailed two of Akron's 10 3's on the day during that stretch.
Reggie McAdams hit three treys in the game and led Akron with 15 points, while Antino Jackson scored 14 and Johnson had 13. Robotham handed out seven assists.
"We did not defend to the level that we need to defend to beat a team like Akron," Whitford said. "If there's one thing I have real concern about it's that we have not defended recently to the level we're capable of. (Defense) is why we were making significant strides this season. We've let that slide, and we have to get it back."
Both teams finished the game shooting better than 50 percent and scored the same number of points from the floor (62). The foul line accounted for the final nine-point differential. Akron's ability to get the ball inside led to 15 free throw attempts, of which it made 11. Ball State was just 2 for 5.
The Cardinals shared the ball well on offense, recording 20 assists on 25 baskets, but they also turned the ball over 18 times.
"The way Akron was playing us on defense was very high risk, high reward," Whitford said. "There were times they pressed us and gave up a layup to Bo underneath. The reason we made 12 3's was because of the way they were playing us. But they put us in a lot of scramble scenarios, and we didn't make great decisions in that area."
Ball State will return to action Tuesday with a 7 p.m. tip at Bowling Green as the conference schedule reaches its midway point.
