Ball State University
6-3
Loyola Chicago
5-4
Clutch Cardinals Close out Loyola Chicago, 75-69
December 06, 2018 | Men's Basketball
Ball State wins fifth straight behind game-high 22 points from K.J. Walton
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Wednesday's 75-69 victory at Loyola Chicago may not have come against a top-10 team, but it did come against one that, despite losing some key players from a year ago, was coming off a run to the Final Four. It wasn't as dramatic a finish, but it was just as satisfying.
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The Cardinals (6-3) are showing they are comfortable in big environments and clutch situations. BSU saw Loyola rally from 13 points down to grab a lead late in the game but responded with big plays down the stretch to run its winning streak to five games.
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K.J. Walton continued his incredibly efficient offensive production, scoring a game-high 22 points on 11-for-14 shooting. Zach Gunn knocked down four more 3-pointers on his way to 12 points. Those two have been among the Cardinals' hottest players of late, and they certainly didn't show any drop off against the Ramblers (5-4).
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ÂK.J. Walton rises and rocks the rim after yet another find from Trey Moses!
— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 6, 2018
Walton already with a career-high 22 points. Cardinals leading 61-56 here in the second half at Loyola.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #BSUvsLUC pic.twitter.com/7fkxFs2UpY
Tayler Persons scored 12 points, all in the second half, and handed out five assists against the Missouri Valley Conference favorite. Ball State is now 3-0 against the MVC this season.
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"I thought our players showed a lot of poise," Ball State head coach James Whitford said. "I thought Tayler made big plays for us, as he often does. He really did a good job of getting the other guys involved and trying to stick with it because they're good on defense. He didn't lose his mind, and he kept staying with it. I thought his leadership on the court was a big difference."
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But after leading the majority of the game, Ball State found itself trailing 68-67 as the clock ticked under two minutes to play. That's when Trey Moses and Tahjai Teague combined on the key play of the game.
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Loyola leading scorer Marques Townes was attacking the basket on a fastbreak, looking to push the lead to three. But Moses was in position, stood his ground, and blocked the shot. Teague picked up the ball, raced down the floor, hit a shot in the lane and was fouled. When he converted the 3-point play, Ball State had a lead it never lost again.
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ÂTrey Moses says, "I don't think so!"
— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 6, 2018
Tahjai Teague finishes at the other end with a 3-point play! Cardinals now leading 72-68 after a Moses bucket with 1:18 to play.#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #BSUvsLUC pic.twitter.com/P4zL2jSFPu
Teague scored 14 points, pulled down nine rebounds and also provided a strong defensive effort. Moses scored nine points and dished out five assists, passing out of double teams in the post to find open shooters and drivers.
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"I thought Tahjai's help (on defense) was great," Whitford said., "He's such a smart player, and I thought he was in the right spot to help a lot. We needed him, and he really helped us win the game on both ends."
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Ball State took control of the game in the first half with a 15-2 run, keyed by three of Gunn's 3-pointers, turning a tie score into a 31-18 lead. The Cardinals led 37-30 at the break, but Loyola chipped away and finally stormed ahead by one with an 8-0 spurt before the Cardinals regrouped for the stretch run.
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Loyola big man Cameron Krutwig scored 19 points, while Townes had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Ball State held the Ramblers' top two scorers – Townes and MVC Preseason Player of the Year Clayton Custer – to a combined 8-for-22 shooting.
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Ball State is off to a 2-0 start on its four-game road stretch. The Cardinals will travel to play Sunday at Evansville with a 2 p.m. CT (3 ET) tipoff on ESPN+. The teams met just two weeks ago at Worthen Arena, with the Cardinals winning 82-72.
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Â"I thought Tayler's leadership on the court was a big difference."
— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 6, 2018
Coach Whitford breaks down the contributions from Tayler Persons and Tahjai Teague in tonight's win at Loyola Chicago. pic.twitter.com/iO8DzPWTGA
Â"They were a Final Four Team last year, so we knew they were going to bring it."@Kj_Walton1 on tonight's win at Loyola Chicago. pic.twitter.com/vvdW17TzDe
— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 6, 2018
Â"We just believed in our guys to make the right plays."@leroyohboy on the way the Cardinals responded after Loyola took the lead. pic.twitter.com/eGoqrusGD8
— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) December 6, 2018
