Tuesday, January 24
Ypsilanti, MI
9:00 PM ET
Ball State University
13-7, 4-3MAC
88
at
80
Eastern Michigan
12-8, 4-3MAC
1
2
F
Ball State
38
50
88
Eastern Michigan
30
50
80
Photo by: Jimmy Mitchell
Cardinals Show Grit in Win at Eastern Michigan
January 25, 2017 | Men's Basketball
Ball State wins for fourth time in five games behind six double-figure scorers
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- In a matchup of teams picked first and second in the Mid-American Conference West Division preseason poll, Ball State controlled the action Tuesday in an 88-80 win at Eastern Michigan.
The Cardinals (13-7, 4-3 MAC) defeated the Eagles (12-8, 4-3 MAC) twice last season behind strong 3-point shooting efforts, including a school-record 18 long balls in Muncie.
Tuesday was a different story. The Cardinals demonstrated a level of toughness that excited head coach James Whitford, out-scoring EMU 36-20 in the paint, holding a 42-34 rebounding advantage and going hard for key loose balls.
Ball State won for the fourth time in its past five games and moved into a share of first place in the MAC West.
"This was our grittiest, toughest performance by a significant margin in my eyes," Whitford said.
Franko House led six Cardinals in double figures with 17 points to go with nine rebounds, while Trey Moses recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 boards.
The post players also did a number on Eastern Michigan big man James Thompson. They held Thompson to six points (eight below his average) on 3-of-8 shooting.
"We did a great job on him defensively because he's a load," Whitford said. "He's really strong and really physical. Most of his shots were mid-range shots. He didn't get a lot of shots around the rim, and that was the key."
Jeremie Tyler added 14 points for Ball State, while Tayler Persons (11), Tahjai Teague (10) and Ryan Weber (10) also scored double figures.
Ball State led by as many as 10 points on two occasions in the first half and took a 38-30 lead into the locker room. The Cardinals built the lead largely on the defensive end of the floor, holding the Eagles to 31 percent shooting over the opening 20 minutes.
In the second half, Ball State's bigs went to work, feeding each other from the high post. The trio of House, Moses and Teague combined for five dunks, all after halftime. The Cardinals executed so well against Eastern Michigan's zone defense that the Eagles abandoned it for man-to-man down the stretch, something they never do.
"Trey and Franko are both good passers," Whitford said. "They're well suited for that well. They're able to play in tight spaces."
Ball State withstood Eastern Michigan's biggest push when the Eagles went on an 11-2 run to cut the lead to 59-56 with 10 minutes to go in the game.
But there was no panic on the Cardinals' bench when Whitford called a timeout to regroup. They came out of the huddle and scored the next 11 points. When Teague slammed one home and Weber followed with a 3 to cap the run, it was a commanding lead again at 70-56.
Eastern Michigan rallied to cut the lead to six in the final minute, but Ball State was able to seal the win at the free throw line.
"I couldn't be more proud of the way we won," Whitford said. "We won it with a lot of gritty plays, things we hadn't been doing enough of. With our guards rebounding, with hustle plays. The way we won was really meaningful to me."
Ball State will return home Saturday to celebrate 25 Years of Worthen Arena. The Cardinals will host Western Michigan for a 1 p.m. tipoff, and the women's team will follow against Northern Illinois.
The doubleheader will feature commemorative programs, customized cups and specially priced items at the concession stands, a student T-shirt giveaway and free cupcakes for fans courtesy of Gigi's Cupcakes while supplies last. Fans will want to be in their seats before the games start to see a video highlighting memorable games, concerts and events from the past 25 years.
Five championship basketball teams will be honored throughout the day – the 1980-81 men's team, the 1981-82 men's team, the 1985-86 men's team, the 2001-02 men's team and the 2006-07 women's team. Old uniforms, programs and other artifacts from the past 25 years will be on display on the concourse as well.
The Cardinals (13-7, 4-3 MAC) defeated the Eagles (12-8, 4-3 MAC) twice last season behind strong 3-point shooting efforts, including a school-record 18 long balls in Muncie.
Tuesday was a different story. The Cardinals demonstrated a level of toughness that excited head coach James Whitford, out-scoring EMU 36-20 in the paint, holding a 42-34 rebounding advantage and going hard for key loose balls.
Ball State won for the fourth time in its past five games and moved into a share of first place in the MAC West.
"This was our grittiest, toughest performance by a significant margin in my eyes," Whitford said.
Franko House led six Cardinals in double figures with 17 points to go with nine rebounds, while Trey Moses recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 boards.
The post players also did a number on Eastern Michigan big man James Thompson. They held Thompson to six points (eight below his average) on 3-of-8 shooting.
"We did a great job on him defensively because he's a load," Whitford said. "He's really strong and really physical. Most of his shots were mid-range shots. He didn't get a lot of shots around the rim, and that was the key."
Jeremie Tyler added 14 points for Ball State, while Tayler Persons (11), Tahjai Teague (10) and Ryan Weber (10) also scored double figures.
Ball State led by as many as 10 points on two occasions in the first half and took a 38-30 lead into the locker room. The Cardinals built the lead largely on the defensive end of the floor, holding the Eagles to 31 percent shooting over the opening 20 minutes.
In the second half, Ball State's bigs went to work, feeding each other from the high post. The trio of House, Moses and Teague combined for five dunks, all after halftime. The Cardinals executed so well against Eastern Michigan's zone defense that the Eagles abandoned it for man-to-man down the stretch, something they never do.
"Trey and Franko are both good passers," Whitford said. "They're well suited for that well. They're able to play in tight spaces."
Ball State withstood Eastern Michigan's biggest push when the Eagles went on an 11-2 run to cut the lead to 59-56 with 10 minutes to go in the game.
But there was no panic on the Cardinals' bench when Whitford called a timeout to regroup. They came out of the huddle and scored the next 11 points. When Teague slammed one home and Weber followed with a 3 to cap the run, it was a commanding lead again at 70-56.
Eastern Michigan rallied to cut the lead to six in the final minute, but Ball State was able to seal the win at the free throw line.
"I couldn't be more proud of the way we won," Whitford said. "We won it with a lot of gritty plays, things we hadn't been doing enough of. With our guards rebounding, with hustle plays. The way we won was really meaningful to me."
Ball State will return home Saturday to celebrate 25 Years of Worthen Arena. The Cardinals will host Western Michigan for a 1 p.m. tipoff, and the women's team will follow against Northern Illinois.
The doubleheader will feature commemorative programs, customized cups and specially priced items at the concession stands, a student T-shirt giveaway and free cupcakes for fans courtesy of Gigi's Cupcakes while supplies last. Fans will want to be in their seats before the games start to see a video highlighting memorable games, concerts and events from the past 25 years.
Five championship basketball teams will be honored throughout the day – the 1980-81 men's team, the 1981-82 men's team, the 1985-86 men's team, the 2001-02 men's team and the 2006-07 women's team. Old uniforms, programs and other artifacts from the past 25 years will be on display on the concourse as well.
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Team Stats
BSU
EMU
FG%
.475
.397
3FG%
.300
.474
FT%
.867
.850
RB
42
34
TO
19
13
STL
7
10
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
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