Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, December 18
Normal, Ill.
4 p.m.
Ball State University
4-6,0-0MAC
64
at
85
Illinois State
7-5,1-0MVC
1
2
F
Ball State
29
35
64
Illinois St.
37
48
85
Photo by: Chad Smith
Ball State Knocked Off by Illinois State on Saturday
December 18, 2021 | Men's Basketball
NORMAL, Ill. – Tyler Cochran led the Cardinals with 14 points and seven rebounds as the Ball State men's basketball team returned to the hardwood against Illinois State on Saturday. The Cardinals fell to 4-6 on the year, while the Redbirds improved to 7-5 as ISU defeated BSU 85-64.
Cochran produced his third-straight game in double figures and tallied his third game leading Ball State in rebounds. Demarius Jacobs led the squad with three assists. Kani Acree notched a team-high two steals. Mickey Pearson Jr. recorded the only block for the Cardinals. As a team, BSU collected 34 rebounds and 11 of the 13 players recorded at least one board. Payton Sparks was second on the team with eight points.
The Cardinals started the game slow and were down 8-0 early. Sparks ended the scoring drought and put BSU on the board with a second-chance jumper with 16:44 left in the first. Illinois State saw its biggest lead reach 13, 15-2, with 14:08 left in the first.
Ball State made its next two shots as Cochran and Jaylin Sellers each knocked down a 3-pointer. The Cardinals were able to cut the lead to five, 27-22, with 4:06 left in the half. Luke Bumbalough drained a 3-pointer as time was expiring in the first half.
The early 8-0 deficit was the difference as the Redbirds took a 37-29 lead into the half.
Ball State managed to pull within five points, 42-37, early in the second half. Unfortunately, the Redbirds went on a 12-0 run and took a 54-37 lead with 14:04 left in the stanza. With just under three minutes left in regulation, Illinois State saw its lead reach 30, 82-52.
Josiah Strong tallied a game-high 23 points to lead ISU. Antonio Reeves chipped in with 17 points, while Sy Chatman scored 10. Kendall Lewis brought down a game-high nine rebounds.
The Cardinals are back at home for the final time in 2021 on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Ball State will look to bounce back as BSU welcomes Eastern Illinois to Worthen Arena. Game time is scheduled for a 7 p.m. jump.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"They shot the ball really well and we unraveled. I told the team in the locker room, there are very few teams that have played as well and as poorly as us. We have to become tougher as a team when things don't go our way. If we don't get the calls we want or we're not getting shots to fall, we still need to stay focused. Without shooting at our normal level, we aren't good enough on defense to run. We are working on it."
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*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Cochran produced his third-straight game in double figures and tallied his third game leading Ball State in rebounds. Demarius Jacobs led the squad with three assists. Kani Acree notched a team-high two steals. Mickey Pearson Jr. recorded the only block for the Cardinals. As a team, BSU collected 34 rebounds and 11 of the 13 players recorded at least one board. Payton Sparks was second on the team with eight points.
The Cardinals started the game slow and were down 8-0 early. Sparks ended the scoring drought and put BSU on the board with a second-chance jumper with 16:44 left in the first. Illinois State saw its biggest lead reach 13, 15-2, with 14:08 left in the first.
Ball State made its next two shots as Cochran and Jaylin Sellers each knocked down a 3-pointer. The Cardinals were able to cut the lead to five, 27-22, with 4:06 left in the half. Luke Bumbalough drained a 3-pointer as time was expiring in the first half.
The early 8-0 deficit was the difference as the Redbirds took a 37-29 lead into the half.
Ball State managed to pull within five points, 42-37, early in the second half. Unfortunately, the Redbirds went on a 12-0 run and took a 54-37 lead with 14:04 left in the stanza. With just under three minutes left in regulation, Illinois State saw its lead reach 30, 82-52.
Josiah Strong tallied a game-high 23 points to lead ISU. Antonio Reeves chipped in with 17 points, while Sy Chatman scored 10. Kendall Lewis brought down a game-high nine rebounds.
The Cardinals are back at home for the final time in 2021 on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Ball State will look to bounce back as BSU welcomes Eastern Illinois to Worthen Arena. Game time is scheduled for a 7 p.m. jump.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"They shot the ball really well and we unraveled. I told the team in the locker room, there are very few teams that have played as well and as poorly as us. We have to become tougher as a team when things don't go our way. If we don't get the calls we want or we're not getting shots to fall, we still need to stay focused. Without shooting at our normal level, we aren't good enough on defense to run. We are working on it."
Follow the Cardinals
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Team Stats
BSU
ILSU
FG%
.393
.508
3FG%
.333
.480
FT%
.684
.684
RB
34
39
TO
15
11
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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