Ball State University
Delaware State
Ball State Looks Ready for MAC Play After Dominating Win over Delaware State
December 29, 2018 | Men's Basketball
Josh Thompson leads eight Cardinals in double figures with a career-high 19 points
The Cardinals (9-4), winners of eight of their past nine games, set a Worthen Arena scoring record and program record for points against a Division I opponent. The previous mark of 115 against a D-I opponent came against Eastern Michigan in 2016 and Georgia State in 1984. BSU's 59-point margin of victory Saturday was also its most ever against a D-I foe.
Eight Ball State players scored in double figures, led by a career-high 19 points from junior guard Josh Thompson. Blake Huggins (10) also finished with a personal high in points, while Austin Nehls (12) racked up a season high. Thompson and Nehls combined to shoot a perfect 8-for-8 from 3-point range.
Kevin Larkin, the most recent Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week, notched a game-high 26 points for Delaware State (3-10) but needed 28 shots to get there.
"I thought our defense started the game, and we really played unselfish throughout," Ball State head coach James Whitford said.
Even though Ball State's offense was blistering hot throughout the contest, it was defense that quickly titled the game in the Cardinals' favor. The Hornets opened the scoring on a Larkin layup at 18:33 but then went scoreless for nearly 11 minutes. Ball State rolled off 31 straight points during that stretch to take command.
The Cardinals scored a season-high 61 points in the opening half, shot 30 free throws before the break, held a 61-17 lead at intermission and eventually led by as many as 60 points.
TP with the no look tap to Tahj for the high-rising SLAM! ?? ??
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 29, 2018
Cardinals now leading 45-8 (4:00, 1st)#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #SCtop10 | #BSUvsDSU pic.twitter.com/Fvuj5F5Z5T
Ball State's final field goal of the game, a Zach Gunn 3-pointer with 1:29 remaining, set the new Worthen Arena record for points, surpassing the 2016 Eastern Michigan game. The Cardinals shot better than 50 percent from the floor (55.7) for the sixth time in the last seven outings and also finished a season-best 50 percent (11-of-22) from 3-point range.
Tayler Persons and Tahjai Teague scored 16 points each, while K.J. Walton finished with 13. Trey Moses had 12, and Kyle Mallers added 10. Gunn, the only BSU player to see action without reaching double-figures, scored eight.
BSU 107, DSU 47 (6:21, 2nd)
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 29, 2018
K.J. Walton makes it six Cardinals in double figures with his 13 points. Blake Huggins' block on one end leads to this K.J. slam on the other ??#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #BSUvsDSU pic.twitter.com/mdhKZ52G6V
Persons handed out a game-high seven assists, as Ball State racked up 25 of them on 34 made baskets while only turning the ball over eight times. The Cardinals also dominated the glass, 52-30, led by Moses' nine boards.
The Cardinals will now turn their sights to Mid-American Conference play. Ball State opens its MAC schedule at Toledo on Friday night, Jan. 4. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network beginning at 7 p.m.
"I thought our defense really started the game and then we played unselfish."
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 29, 2018
Coach Whitford breaks down the win over Delaware State and gives his thoughts on the non-conference season.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #BSUvsDSU pic.twitter.com/XoNYIDz5Z7
"I remember I used to watch, cheer on my teammates, barely know if I would get in the game."
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 29, 2018
He's in the game now.@_JCT4 talks about his career performance today and his journey at Ball State.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #BSUvsDSU pic.twitter.com/EZtCjeDs8K
"We were firing on all cylinders."@leroyohboy on the Cardinals' record-setting performance against Delaware State.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #BSUvsDSU pic.twitter.com/gGAOBMoyxJ
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 29, 2018
