Tuesday, November 26
Muncie, Ind.
6:00 PM ET
Ball State University
4-3,0-0MAC
62
vs
69
Western Illinois
2-4,0-0Summit League
1
2
F
Western Ill.
34
35
69
Ball St.
23
39
62
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Cardinals Rally Comes Up Just Short in 69-62 Loss to Western Illinois
November 26, 2019 | Men's Basketball
El-Amin scores career-high 21 points, Teague posts double-double
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State was hot and cold from the floor Tuesday night in Worthen Arena. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, there was a little too much from the cold side in a 69-62 loss to Western Illinois.
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Fresh off a record-setting 3-point shooting performance against Howard on Saturday, Ball State (4-3) came out ice cold from beyond the arc versus Western Illinois (2-4). The Cardinals missed their first 13 attempts from beyond the arc, allowing Western Illinois to race out to a 32-12 lead in the first half.
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"I thought Billy (Wright) and his staff did a great job of preparing for us," Ball State head coach James Whitford said. "They played a great game, especially defensively. They gave us a lot of problems."
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Ishmael El-Amin finally connected from long range with 2:22 remaining in the opening half. That play seemed to ignite the Ball State offense, as Brachen Hazen and El-Amin hit two more 3-pointers before halftime to help the Cardinals slash the deficit to 34-23 at the break.
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Western Illinois pushed its lead back to 16, 51-35, eight minutes into second half, but the Cardinals would not go away. El-Amin and Kyle Mallers hit back-to-back 3-pointers a few minutes later, and suddenly Ball State found itself within five points of WIU, 53-48. Two more El-Amin trifectas had the home crowd on its feet and the Cardinals only a point behind the Leathernecks with 6:19 left, 55-54.
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Ball State eventually leveled the score at 59 on another Mallers 3-pointer with 3:49 showing on the clock. Western Illinois put a halt to the rally with 3-pointers from C.J. Duff and Kobe Webster on its next two possessions. Following the big 3-pointer from Mallers, the Cardinals missed their final six shots from the floor.
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"There's no excuse for us," Whitford said. "I thought we unraveled in the first 15 minutes, and we unraveled in the final three. It's disappointing. We've got to be better than that. "
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El-Amin posted career highs in points (21) and 3-pointers (5) to lead all players. Tahjai Teague chipped in with his 17th career double-double. He tied his personal high with 14 rebounds.
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Webster led four Western Illinois players in double figures with 18 points. Zion Young and James Claar each posted double-doubles.
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This was the first meeting between the two schools since 1993.
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Ball State is back in action next Tuesday, Dec. 3, with a home game against Loyola Chicago. The contest will air on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.Â
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Fresh off a record-setting 3-point shooting performance against Howard on Saturday, Ball State (4-3) came out ice cold from beyond the arc versus Western Illinois (2-4). The Cardinals missed their first 13 attempts from beyond the arc, allowing Western Illinois to race out to a 32-12 lead in the first half.
Â
"I thought Billy (Wright) and his staff did a great job of preparing for us," Ball State head coach James Whitford said. "They played a great game, especially defensively. They gave us a lot of problems."
Â
Ishmael El-Amin finally connected from long range with 2:22 remaining in the opening half. That play seemed to ignite the Ball State offense, as Brachen Hazen and El-Amin hit two more 3-pointers before halftime to help the Cardinals slash the deficit to 34-23 at the break.
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Maybe this one got the lid off.
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 26, 2019
Ish drains a 3-ball, the first of three of them in the closing minutes of the half (two from Ish, one from Brachen).
We're headed to the break:
Leathernecks 34, Cardinals 23 pic.twitter.com/Zsfixw8K6q
Western Illinois pushed its lead back to 16, 51-35, eight minutes into second half, but the Cardinals would not go away. El-Amin and Kyle Mallers hit back-to-back 3-pointers a few minutes later, and suddenly Ball State found itself within five points of WIU, 53-48. Two more El-Amin trifectas had the home crowd on its feet and the Cardinals only a point behind the Leathernecks with 6:19 left, 55-54.
Â
Ball State eventually leveled the score at 59 on another Mallers 3-pointer with 3:49 showing on the clock. Western Illinois put a halt to the rally with 3-pointers from C.J. Duff and Kobe Webster on its next two possessions. Following the big 3-pointer from Mallers, the Cardinals missed their final six shots from the floor.
Â
"There's no excuse for us," Whitford said. "I thought we unraveled in the first 15 minutes, and we unraveled in the final three. It's disappointing. We've got to be better than that. "
Â
El-Amin posted career highs in points (21) and 3-pointers (5) to lead all players. Tahjai Teague chipped in with his 17th career double-double. He tied his personal high with 14 rebounds.
Â
Webster led four Western Illinois players in double figures with 18 points. Zion Young and James Claar each posted double-doubles.
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This was the first meeting between the two schools since 1993.
Â
Ball State is back in action next Tuesday, Dec. 3, with a home game against Loyola Chicago. The contest will air on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.Â
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"I give credit to Western Illinois. I thought they played a great game."
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 27, 2019
— Coach Whit breaks down tonight's struggles pic.twitter.com/fLjoWoPa1T
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Team Stats
WIU
BSU
FG%
.387
.344
3FG%
.421
.281
FT%
1.000
.579
RB
41
41
TO
12
16
STL
6
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
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