Ball State University Athletics
The Week That Was in Ball State Basketball
December 12, 2017 | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
Looking back on an historic week for the men’s and women’s programs
MUNCIE, Ind. -- From big wins and buzzer beaters to school records and national adulation, the last week of Ball State basketball was one for the books on both the men's and women's sides.
Here's a look back at what went down day-by-day …
Monday, Dec. 4
Women's Basketball Wins at Big Ten Foe Purdue
It may have been a four-point game in the final minute, but make no mistake … Ball State controlled this one throughout. The Cardinals outscored the Big Ten's Boilermakers 30-16 in the middle two quarters and led for more than 38 minutes of the game on the way to a 66-60 victory. Moriah Monaco scored a game-high 18 points, and Ball State held off a fourth-quarter charge from the Boilers. Coach Brady Sallee's Cardinals improved to 7-0 for the first time ever by beating their second power conference opponent of the season (Vanderbilt was the first). It was Ball State's first win over Purdue since 1979.
Tuesday, Dec. 5
Men's Basketball Knocks off No. 8 Notre Dame on Persons 3
Ball State was in control of this one, too, even if it did eventually take a clutch 3-pointer from Tayler Persons to seal the win. Sean Sellers "did everything right for 40 minutes," according to head coach James Whitford, to lead a gritty team effort. The Cardinals led by nine in the second half on the road against the nation's eighth-ranked team before Notre Dame rallied to tie the score with 21 seconds left.
Persons already had 21 points, but his next three would give Ball State national exposure. The junior point guard drained a trey with 1.7 seconds remaining as the Cardinals posted their first-ever true road win over a top-10 team with an 80-77 victory. The Irish were the highest-ranked team defeated by a MAC opponent since Ball State handed No. 4 Kansas and No. 3 UCLA losses in the 2001 Maui Invitational.
Thursday, Dec. 7
Women's Basketball Moves to 8-0
Ball State remained unbeaten with a 69-56 victory over Southeast Missouri. Former Cardinals associate head coach Rekha Patterson made her return to Muncie as head coach of the Redhawks. Ball State led 39-19 at the half and stretched the lead to as many as 27. Monaco had 17 points, while Carmen Grande – second in the nation in assists – had 10 helpers.
Saturday, Dec. 9
Persons Does It Again as Men's Basketball Tops Valpo
As if one game-winning 3 wasn't enough, Persons did it again … from virtually the same spot on the floor. It was a second half of runs, with Ball State leading by as many as 11 and Valparaiso leading by as many as seven. But when the Cardinals got the ball down two with 14 seconds to play, it was time for more magic.
Persons' drive to the lane was cut off, but he stepped back and buried a 3 with 3.3 seconds left as the Cardinals won 71-70 for another victory over a top-100 team. The Crusaders were No. 72 in the RPI and No. 87 in the Ken Pomeroy ratings. Persons scored 23, while Kyle Mallers, Trey Moses and Jeremie Tyler added 10 each in front of more than 5,000 fans at Worthen Arena. It was the team's fifth straight win.
Sunday, Dec. 10
Women's Basketball Sets Single-Game Scoring Record
Ball State broke the clock and then some, scoring the most points in school history in a 126-55 victory over Division II Oakland City. Seven players scored in double figures, led by Oshlynn Brown with 17, as the Cardinals went 3-0 for the week to move to 9-0 on the year and continue their best start ever. That led to Ball State receiving votes in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll.
After all that excitement, both teams turn their attention to final exams this week with no games. The action was thrilling, riveting, historic. But mostly, it was … just a normal week …
Here's a look back at what went down day-by-day …
Monday, Dec. 4
Women's Basketball Wins at Big Ten Foe Purdue
It may have been a four-point game in the final minute, but make no mistake … Ball State controlled this one throughout. The Cardinals outscored the Big Ten's Boilermakers 30-16 in the middle two quarters and led for more than 38 minutes of the game on the way to a 66-60 victory. Moriah Monaco scored a game-high 18 points, and Ball State held off a fourth-quarter charge from the Boilers. Coach Brady Sallee's Cardinals improved to 7-0 for the first time ever by beating their second power conference opponent of the season (Vanderbilt was the first). It was Ball State's first win over Purdue since 1979.
Tonight. 7pm. @BallStateWBB returns home.
— Ball State Sports (@BallStateSports) December 7, 2017
Will you be there? pic.twitter.com/Rc9FxW8ae8
Tuesday, Dec. 5
Men's Basketball Knocks off No. 8 Notre Dame on Persons 3
Ball State was in control of this one, too, even if it did eventually take a clutch 3-pointer from Tayler Persons to seal the win. Sean Sellers "did everything right for 40 minutes," according to head coach James Whitford, to lead a gritty team effort. The Cardinals led by nine in the second half on the road against the nation's eighth-ranked team before Notre Dame rallied to tie the score with 21 seconds left.
Persons already had 21 points, but his next three would give Ball State national exposure. The junior point guard drained a trey with 1.7 seconds remaining as the Cardinals posted their first-ever true road win over a top-10 team with an 80-77 victory. The Irish were the highest-ranked team defeated by a MAC opponent since Ball State handed No. 4 Kansas and No. 3 UCLA losses in the 2001 Maui Invitational.
ICYMI, here's the game-winning shot by @TaylerPersons8 last night in @BallStateMBB's 80-77 win at No. 8 Notre Dame. #WeFly #ChirpChirp pic.twitter.com/DvC3FhPwTY
— Ball State Sports (@BallStateSports) December 6, 2017
Thursday, Dec. 7
Women's Basketball Moves to 8-0
Ball State remained unbeaten with a 69-56 victory over Southeast Missouri. Former Cardinals associate head coach Rekha Patterson made her return to Muncie as head coach of the Redhawks. Ball State led 39-19 at the half and stretched the lead to as many as 27. Monaco had 17 points, while Carmen Grande – second in the nation in assists – had 10 helpers.
Saturday, Dec. 9
Persons Does It Again as Men's Basketball Tops Valpo
As if one game-winning 3 wasn't enough, Persons did it again … from virtually the same spot on the floor. It was a second half of runs, with Ball State leading by as many as 11 and Valparaiso leading by as many as seven. But when the Cardinals got the ball down two with 14 seconds to play, it was time for more magic.
Persons' drive to the lane was cut off, but he stepped back and buried a 3 with 3.3 seconds left as the Cardinals won 71-70 for another victory over a top-100 team. The Crusaders were No. 72 in the RPI and No. 87 in the Ken Pomeroy ratings. Persons scored 23, while Kyle Mallers, Trey Moses and Jeremie Tyler added 10 each in front of more than 5,000 fans at Worthen Arena. It was the team's fifth straight win.
[VIDEO] @TaylerPersons did it again! @BallStateMBB takes down its second Top 100 team this week, 71-70, beating Valpo! #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/1OuEhXMfkC
— Ball State Sports (@BallStateSports) December 9, 2017
Sunday, Dec. 10
Women's Basketball Sets Single-Game Scoring Record
Ball State broke the clock and then some, scoring the most points in school history in a 126-55 victory over Division II Oakland City. Seven players scored in double figures, led by Oshlynn Brown with 17, as the Cardinals went 3-0 for the week to move to 9-0 on the year and continue their best start ever. That led to Ball State receiving votes in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll.
After all that excitement, both teams turn their attention to final exams this week with no games. The action was thrilling, riveting, historic. But mostly, it was … just a normal week …
Normal week...#WeFly pic.twitter.com/U4kQhBvbXO
— Ball State Sports (@BallStateSports) December 7, 2017
Players Mentioned
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