Saturday, November 13
Muncie, Ind.
Noon
Ball State University
1-1,0-0MAC
73
vs
69
Omaha
1-1,0-0Summit L
1
2
F
Omaha
21
48
69
Ball State
44
29
73
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Cardinals Hold Off Surging Mavericks in Worthen
November 13, 2021 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Jalen Windham led the Cardinals with a career-high 14 points on Saturday inside Worthen Arena. The Ball State men's basketball team (1-1) came away with a 73-69 victory over Omaha (1-1) in the first meeting between the two programs.
The Cardinals are now 8-1 in home openers under Head Coach James Whitford. For the second-straight game, Ball State finished with three players in double-digit points.
Ball State came out of the gates swinging and scored the game's first seven points. Demarius Jacobs got the run started with a turnover on the defensive end and took it coast-to-coast for the fast-break layup. Payton Sparks added a layup before Luke Bumbalough drained a 3-pointer.
After Omaha scored its first points of the game with 15:46 left in the half, Ball State went on another big run. The Cardinals outscored the Mavericks 10-4 and extended their lead to 17-6 with 12:34 left in the first half. BSU produced a 10-2 run and extended its lead to 27-8 with 8:47 left in the half.
With the BSU lead at 27-10, the Cardinals started to heat up from behind the arc as Bumbalough, Jacobs, and Windham made three-straight 3-pointers.
The two sides traded baskets and with 2:10 left in the half, Windham hit from behind the arc for the third time and put Ball State on top 44-15. The Cardinals held a 29-point lead, the largest of the game. The Mavericks ended the half on a 6-0 run and cut the Cardinal lead to 44-21.
In the first five minutes of the second half, the Cardinals and Mavericks went shot-for-shot as each team scored nine points.
With 14:36 left in regulation, momentum started to shift in favor of Omaha. UNO went on a 13-2 run, which made the score 58-43 with 9:28 left in the game. Windham hit a corner 3-pointer after a made free throw to end the 13-2 run by UNO. The Mavericks answered with a 21-3 run and pulled within one of the Cardinals.
With just over two minutes left in regulation, Sparks came up huge with two made free throws and put Ball State up, 67-64. Tyler Cochran added two more clutch free throws to extend the BSU lead to 69-64 with 1:40 left in the game. After Omaha hit a 3-pointer, Sparks converted on a layup to put the Cardinals up 71-67.
The Mavericks did not go away quietly and made a layup to cut the lead to just two points. Omaha had a chance to tie the game with three tenths of a second left on the clock. Jacobs was fouled and sent to the free-throw line. Jacobs made both free throws to make the final score 73-69.
Windham posted a career-high 14 points behind a huge 4-for-5 game from 3-point range. His four made 3's is also a career best. Windham added three rebounds and two assists. Sparks recorded his first double-digit performance with a 13-point effort, which is a career best. He led the team with five free-throws made. Sparks brought down five rebounds and notched the team's only block of the game. Jacobs finished with 10 points, tied for a game-high six rebounds, added four assists, and one steal. His 10 points is a career high in a Cardinal jersey. Bumbalough facilitated a personal-best eight assists. Cochran tied for the team lead with six boards.
As a team, the Cardinals shot 45.8 percent from behind the arc and 41.8 percent from the field. Ball State held the advantage in rebounds, 39-37. The transition game was effective as the Cardinals tallied 14 fast-break points. BSU held the 11-7 edge in points off turnovers. The Cardinals were stout defensively from long range as they held the Mavericks to just 27.3 percent from 3-point range.
Frankie Fidler led the Mavericks with 13 points, three assists, and two steals. Kyle Luedtke was the only other Omaha player in double digits with 10 points and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler tied for a team-high six boards. The Mavericks finished the game 90.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Ball State returns to the hardwood for the Jersey Mike's Classic in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday, Nov. 18. The Cardinals open the classic against FIU with tip scheduled for 8 p.m.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"Excited to get our first win. I'm pleased with two things in the game. I thought the way we started the game was really exciting for me. The way we started on defense, the intensity set the tone. Set the stage for who we can be. I thought the final four minutes we defended right. I thought we got some key stops even though they came all the way back and we felt rattled. I thought those were the real positives. Like I said to the team, the first 15 minutes is who we can be, the last 15 minutes is who we are. Just a young team that hasn't been together long. We have to turn the 18-20 into 40, and I think that is the challenge. It's really important. The pressure you feel out there, no one gets it but the players. Staying focused and playing laser-like basketball through all the lights and pressure from fans is difficult. To me, I don't think a lot of high school players understand it until they get to college. This is as real as real gets. Our pick n roll defense was tested tonight. Every time we get tested on it, we get better. In that way, it made us better."
From the Student-Athletes – Freshman Center #5 Payton Sparks
"It opens up a lot getting the ball in the post. I like to pass the ball to get the guards involved and then if I'm open, I'm taking it. I think it opens up the offense a lot. It's definitely different from high school and coming here to the Division I level. I think I'm adapting well. I can do a lot better in everything, especially defense. I just have to keep playing hard. I have to keep coming to practice and practicing hard."
From the Student-Athletes – Junior Guard #24 Jalen Windham
"It's good for me. My job is to come in and bring energy off the bench. Last year, I kind of struggled, I was in and out. Finally getting the opportunity to be out there and practices are obviously helping me now. It's big right now for me, confidence wise. At the end of the day, I just want to win. Movement without the ball is very important. You're not going to get a lot of touches by not moving without the ball. I know I make our team better if I continue to move and do the right things out there. It definitely helps already having a year under my belt. Understanding what I can get better from, especially from last year."
Follow the Cardinals
Twitter
Instagram
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
The Cardinals are now 8-1 in home openers under Head Coach James Whitford. For the second-straight game, Ball State finished with three players in double-digit points.
Ball State came out of the gates swinging and scored the game's first seven points. Demarius Jacobs got the run started with a turnover on the defensive end and took it coast-to-coast for the fast-break layup. Payton Sparks added a layup before Luke Bumbalough drained a 3-pointer.
After Omaha scored its first points of the game with 15:46 left in the half, Ball State went on another big run. The Cardinals outscored the Mavericks 10-4 and extended their lead to 17-6 with 12:34 left in the first half. BSU produced a 10-2 run and extended its lead to 27-8 with 8:47 left in the half.
With the BSU lead at 27-10, the Cardinals started to heat up from behind the arc as Bumbalough, Jacobs, and Windham made three-straight 3-pointers.
The two sides traded baskets and with 2:10 left in the half, Windham hit from behind the arc for the third time and put Ball State on top 44-15. The Cardinals held a 29-point lead, the largest of the game. The Mavericks ended the half on a 6-0 run and cut the Cardinal lead to 44-21.
In the first five minutes of the second half, the Cardinals and Mavericks went shot-for-shot as each team scored nine points.
With 14:36 left in regulation, momentum started to shift in favor of Omaha. UNO went on a 13-2 run, which made the score 58-43 with 9:28 left in the game. Windham hit a corner 3-pointer after a made free throw to end the 13-2 run by UNO. The Mavericks answered with a 21-3 run and pulled within one of the Cardinals.
With just over two minutes left in regulation, Sparks came up huge with two made free throws and put Ball State up, 67-64. Tyler Cochran added two more clutch free throws to extend the BSU lead to 69-64 with 1:40 left in the game. After Omaha hit a 3-pointer, Sparks converted on a layup to put the Cardinals up 71-67.
The Mavericks did not go away quietly and made a layup to cut the lead to just two points. Omaha had a chance to tie the game with three tenths of a second left on the clock. Jacobs was fouled and sent to the free-throw line. Jacobs made both free throws to make the final score 73-69.
Windham posted a career-high 14 points behind a huge 4-for-5 game from 3-point range. His four made 3's is also a career best. Windham added three rebounds and two assists. Sparks recorded his first double-digit performance with a 13-point effort, which is a career best. He led the team with five free-throws made. Sparks brought down five rebounds and notched the team's only block of the game. Jacobs finished with 10 points, tied for a game-high six rebounds, added four assists, and one steal. His 10 points is a career high in a Cardinal jersey. Bumbalough facilitated a personal-best eight assists. Cochran tied for the team lead with six boards.
As a team, the Cardinals shot 45.8 percent from behind the arc and 41.8 percent from the field. Ball State held the advantage in rebounds, 39-37. The transition game was effective as the Cardinals tallied 14 fast-break points. BSU held the 11-7 edge in points off turnovers. The Cardinals were stout defensively from long range as they held the Mavericks to just 27.3 percent from 3-point range.
Frankie Fidler led the Mavericks with 13 points, three assists, and two steals. Kyle Luedtke was the only other Omaha player in double digits with 10 points and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler tied for a team-high six boards. The Mavericks finished the game 90.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Ball State returns to the hardwood for the Jersey Mike's Classic in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday, Nov. 18. The Cardinals open the classic against FIU with tip scheduled for 8 p.m.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"Excited to get our first win. I'm pleased with two things in the game. I thought the way we started the game was really exciting for me. The way we started on defense, the intensity set the tone. Set the stage for who we can be. I thought the final four minutes we defended right. I thought we got some key stops even though they came all the way back and we felt rattled. I thought those were the real positives. Like I said to the team, the first 15 minutes is who we can be, the last 15 minutes is who we are. Just a young team that hasn't been together long. We have to turn the 18-20 into 40, and I think that is the challenge. It's really important. The pressure you feel out there, no one gets it but the players. Staying focused and playing laser-like basketball through all the lights and pressure from fans is difficult. To me, I don't think a lot of high school players understand it until they get to college. This is as real as real gets. Our pick n roll defense was tested tonight. Every time we get tested on it, we get better. In that way, it made us better."
From the Student-Athletes – Freshman Center #5 Payton Sparks
"It opens up a lot getting the ball in the post. I like to pass the ball to get the guards involved and then if I'm open, I'm taking it. I think it opens up the offense a lot. It's definitely different from high school and coming here to the Division I level. I think I'm adapting well. I can do a lot better in everything, especially defense. I just have to keep playing hard. I have to keep coming to practice and practicing hard."
From the Student-Athletes – Junior Guard #24 Jalen Windham
"It's good for me. My job is to come in and bring energy off the bench. Last year, I kind of struggled, I was in and out. Finally getting the opportunity to be out there and practices are obviously helping me now. It's big right now for me, confidence wise. At the end of the day, I just want to win. Movement without the ball is very important. You're not going to get a lot of touches by not moving without the ball. I know I make our team better if I continue to move and do the right things out there. It definitely helps already having a year under my belt. Understanding what I can get better from, especially from last year."
Follow the Cardinals
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Team Stats
UNO
BSU
FG%
.422
.418
3FG%
.273
.458
FT%
.900
.593
RB
37
39
TO
9
11
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballThis Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Mike Uremovich, Tayler Persons, and Andy Stoots
Thursday, October 30
Sports Link: Meet the Cards (Mason Jones)
Wednesday, October 29
Sports Link: Meet the Cards (Joey Hart)
Tuesday, October 28
Sports Link: Meet the Cards (Armoni Zeigler)
Monday, October 27