Friday, November 2
Muncie, Ind.
7:00 PM ET
Ball State University
92
vs
76
UIndy (Exhibition)
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Cardinals Pull Away for Exhibition Win over UIndy
November 02, 2018 | Men's Basketball
Kyle Mallers leads the way with 25 points
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Kyle Mallers made five 3-pointers and scored a game-high 25 points Friday night to lead the Ball State men's basketball team past UIndy, 92-76, in the Cardinals' exhibition contest at Worthen Arena.
Ball State pulled away in the second half after an even opening 20 minutes against a UIndy squad coming off an exhibition win at Valparaiso a night earlier. The Cardinals opened up a 71-63 lead midway through the second half and shook off the Greyhounds down the stretch.
"UIndy's a good team," Ball State head coach James Whitford said. "I don't think what you're seeing from them against Valpo or against us is a fluke. They don't have the type of size our league is going to have, but they remind of the nightmare team you don't want to play in the NCAA tournament because of the way their big guys can shoot it. They're a hard team to play against."
Tahjai Teague scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Cardinals, while K.J. Walton added 15 points in his BSU debut after sitting out last season as a transfer from Missouri. Fellow transfer Brachen Hazen (six points) and freshman Jarron Coleman (nine) also saw their first action for the Cardinals.
Mallers finished 8-for-10 from the floor, 5-for-7 from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. His 25 points were seven more than his regular season career high of 18.
"I think what you're going to see with us is we're going to be a team that has multiple guys in double figures, and it's very rarely going to be the same guys," Whitford said. "We're going to have to embrace that and make sure we recognize this is about winning. I think you'll see different guys come up big on different nights for us."
Both teams blistered the nets for better than 50 percent shooting in an opening half that saw 102 combined points. Ball State maintained its production in the second half, while UIndy dropped off to 31 percent.
Trevor Lakes led the way for UIndy with 15 points. Tye Wilburn, who spent his freshman season at Ball State in 2014-15, scored 10 points for the Greyhounds, all in the first half.
Ball State will host its season opener in just four days against Indiana State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN+.
Ball State pulled away in the second half after an even opening 20 minutes against a UIndy squad coming off an exhibition win at Valparaiso a night earlier. The Cardinals opened up a 71-63 lead midway through the second half and shook off the Greyhounds down the stretch.
"UIndy's a good team," Ball State head coach James Whitford said. "I don't think what you're seeing from them against Valpo or against us is a fluke. They don't have the type of size our league is going to have, but they remind of the nightmare team you don't want to play in the NCAA tournament because of the way their big guys can shoot it. They're a hard team to play against."
Tahjai Teague scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Cardinals, while K.J. Walton added 15 points in his BSU debut after sitting out last season as a transfer from Missouri. Fellow transfer Brachen Hazen (six points) and freshman Jarron Coleman (nine) also saw their first action for the Cardinals.
Mallers finished 8-for-10 from the floor, 5-for-7 from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. His 25 points were seven more than his regular season career high of 18.
"I think what you're going to see with us is we're going to be a team that has multiple guys in double figures, and it's very rarely going to be the same guys," Whitford said. "We're going to have to embrace that and make sure we recognize this is about winning. I think you'll see different guys come up big on different nights for us."
Both teams blistered the nets for better than 50 percent shooting in an opening half that saw 102 combined points. Ball State maintained its production in the second half, while UIndy dropped off to 31 percent.
Trevor Lakes led the way for UIndy with 15 points. Tye Wilburn, who spent his freshman season at Ball State in 2014-15, scored 10 points for the Greyhounds, all in the first half.
Ball State will host its season opener in just four days against Indiana State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN+.
.@kmallers14 for 3! @BallStateMBB and @UIndyMBB locked in a close one near the half.
— Ball State Sports Link (@bsusportslink) November 2, 2018
?? https://t.co/ygpn2GyJS3 #WeFly | #ChirpChirp pic.twitter.com/4VG7C6ZKgm
.@Kj_Walton1 to the hoop for 2! @BallStateMBB leads @UIndyMBB by 10.
— Ball State Sports Link (@bsusportslink) November 3, 2018
?? https://t.co/ygpn2GyJS3 #WeFly | #ChirpChirp pic.twitter.com/Y9KS8tOAMx
Coach Whitford discusses the depth of scoring options on this year's team and the three guys who scored double-figures in tonight's win. pic.twitter.com/aj4BWgNOQP
— BallStateMBB (@BallStateMBB) November 3, 2018
.@kmallers14 talks about getting the defense right in the second half of tonight's exhibition win over UIndy. pic.twitter.com/wEOYp0uZNE
— BallStateMBB (@BallStateMBB) November 3, 2018
Players Mentioned
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