Saturday, November 9
Evansville, Ind.
6:00 PM CT (7:00 PM ET)
Ball State University
1-1,0-0MAC
75
at
79
Evansville
1-0,0-0MVC
1
2
F
Ball St.
18
57
75
Evansville
40
39
79
Photo by: Ball State Athletics
Spirited Rally Leaves Cardinals Tantalizingly Close at Evansville
November 09, 2019 | Men's Basketball
BSU shoots better than 70 percent after the break, nearly comes back from 25 down
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- There were plenty of things Ball State knew would be challenging in its first road game of the season Saturday night.
Â
Chief among them was a talented but largely unknown Evansville team featuring seven different players from the squad the Cardinals faced twice a year ago.
Â
Then there was the year's first trip to a hostile environment as Ball State works in its own healthy number of newcomers.
Â
But one challenge that was unanticipated and seemingly the most difficult to overcome: trailing by 25 points early in the second half.
Â
Ball State nearly handled all three. The Cardinals rallied their way to within one point in the final minute and gave themselves a real chance in front of more than 5,000 fans at the Ford Center. But the Purple Aces hung on to escape with a 79-75 victory in their season opener.
Â
If not for an ice cold start from the floor, Ball State may have snagged this early, in-state matchup. The Cardinals, rattled a bit in the early going, shot a paltry 24 percent in the first half but rebounded to shoot 71 percent after the break.
Â
"Some of those shots were the same ones we were taking in the first half," Ball State head coach James Whitford said. "It's just the nature of the game; sometimes they go, and sometimes they don't.Â
Â
"We got better shots in the second half by a significant margin, but we had enough good ones in the first half that should have gone. You have to be able to mentally handle those moments in the game."
Â
It goes without saying after an 18-point first half, but virtually all of Ball State's scorers did their damage after the break: 18 of Tahjai Teague's team-high 20 points, 13 of Ishmael El-Amin's 15, and all 10 of Jarron Coleman's.
Â
The Cardinals drained eight 3-pointers in the second half, including three from El-Amin and two from Coleman. Back-to-back 3's from that duo cut the deficit to single digits with 4:12 to play and put some doubt into the home crowd.
Â
Ball State eventually cut the lead all the way to one in the final minute on a 3-point play from Teague. The Cardinals then got a defensive stop and had the ball with a chance to go ahead, but El-Amin's 3 was off the mark.
Â
BSU had one last chance after two Evansville free throws when Teague was fouled on a home run inbounds pass. He made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose, but the Aces secured the rebound.
Â
It was an intentional miss, but it was one of nine misses on the night for Ball State, which made just 6-of-15 from the foul line.
Â
"We played with great effort in the second half," Whitford said. "As crazy as that game was, if we hit our free throws, we win the game."
Â
Kyle Mallers scored 11 points to give Ball State four in double figures. DeAndre Williams led Evansville with 26 points, while Sam Cunliffe added 17 and K.J. Riley had 14.Â
Â
Ball State will be back on the road Wednesday to visit UIC, the preseason No. 3 pick in the Horizon League. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT (8 ET) on ESPN+.
Â
Â
Â
Chief among them was a talented but largely unknown Evansville team featuring seven different players from the squad the Cardinals faced twice a year ago.
Â
Then there was the year's first trip to a hostile environment as Ball State works in its own healthy number of newcomers.
Â
But one challenge that was unanticipated and seemingly the most difficult to overcome: trailing by 25 points early in the second half.
Â
Ball State nearly handled all three. The Cardinals rallied their way to within one point in the final minute and gave themselves a real chance in front of more than 5,000 fans at the Ford Center. But the Purple Aces hung on to escape with a 79-75 victory in their season opener.
Â
If not for an ice cold start from the floor, Ball State may have snagged this early, in-state matchup. The Cardinals, rattled a bit in the early going, shot a paltry 24 percent in the first half but rebounded to shoot 71 percent after the break.
Â
"Some of those shots were the same ones we were taking in the first half," Ball State head coach James Whitford said. "It's just the nature of the game; sometimes they go, and sometimes they don't.Â
Â
"We got better shots in the second half by a significant margin, but we had enough good ones in the first half that should have gone. You have to be able to mentally handle those moments in the game."
Â
Fighting back here.
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 10, 2019
Tahj with the denial at the rim, leading to Josh's second long jumper of the second half.
The Evansville lead is 45-28. pic.twitter.com/z2D1eiXEU0
It goes without saying after an 18-point first half, but virtually all of Ball State's scorers did their damage after the break: 18 of Tahjai Teague's team-high 20 points, 13 of Ishmael El-Amin's 15, and all 10 of Jarron Coleman's.
Â
The Cardinals drained eight 3-pointers in the second half, including three from El-Amin and two from Coleman. Back-to-back 3's from that duo cut the deficit to single digits with 4:12 to play and put some doubt into the home crowd.
Â
Ball State eventually cut the lead all the way to one in the final minute on a 3-point play from Teague. The Cardinals then got a defensive stop and had the ball with a chance to go ahead, but El-Amin's 3 was off the mark.
Â
A 3-point play from Tahj after a Josh Thompson steal! Cards within 1! pic.twitter.com/IsTdLjIBOJ
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 10, 2019
BSU had one last chance after two Evansville free throws when Teague was fouled on a home run inbounds pass. He made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose, but the Aces secured the rebound.
Â
It was an intentional miss, but it was one of nine misses on the night for Ball State, which made just 6-of-15 from the foul line.
Â
"We played with great effort in the second half," Whitford said. "As crazy as that game was, if we hit our free throws, we win the game."
Â
Kyle Mallers scored 11 points to give Ball State four in double figures. DeAndre Williams led Evansville with 26 points, while Sam Cunliffe added 17 and K.J. Riley had 14.Â
Â
Ball State will be back on the road Wednesday to visit UIC, the preseason No. 3 pick in the Horizon League. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT (8 ET) on ESPN+.
Â
"It was a tale of two halves, obviously."
— Ball State Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 10, 2019
Coach Whit breaks down the tough start and the spirited rally tonight at Evansville. pic.twitter.com/DXhoO46lfr
Â
Team Stats
BSU
Evans
FG%
.462
.475
3FG%
.391
.474
FT%
.400
.857
RB
37
35
TO
10
17
STL
10
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball // Armoni Zeigler
Wednesday, September 10
Men's Basketball // Armoni Zeigler - Heart of the Cardinal Podcast
Tuesday, September 09
Men's Basketball // Jai Anthoni Bearden
Wednesday, August 20
Men's Basketball // Jai Anthoni Bearden - Heart of the Cardinal Podcast
Wednesday, August 20