Friday, January 14
Muncie, Ind.
6 p.m.
Ball State University
7-9,2-3MAC
68
vs
74
Buffalo
9-6,3-2MAC
1
2
F
Buffalo
34
40
74
Ball St.
30
38
68
Tyler Cochran recorded a career-high 28 points.
Photo by: BSU Photo Services
Cardinals Drop Tough One at Home Against Bulls
January 14, 2022 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team returned to the friendly confines of Worthen Arena on Tuesday. Buffalo made the trip to Muncie for some Mid-American Conference action in front of the biggest crowd of the 2021-22 season. Tyler Cochran produced a career-high 28 points to lead all scorers.
Cochran has seen a lot of success against Buffalo. Last season, he went for a career-high 26 points against the Bulls as a member of Northern Illinois' squad. Cochran once again had a strong outing as he recorded a career-high 28 points and added nine rebounds. Payton Sparks continued where he left off against Akron, as he posted his second-straight game with a double-double, behind 18 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Sparks also notched a steal and a block. Luke Bumbalough collected double digits with 10 points to go along with two assists and a steal.
The game started with a back-and-forth battle as neither team was able to gain a comfortable lead. In the game's first 8:03 of play, both teams had 17 points. During the stretch, Ball State was 7-of-12 from the field, while Buffalo was 6-of-12. The large majority of the first half was the same, as the game saw a 28-28 score with just 1:28 left before the break. The Bulls ended the half on a 6-2 run and took a 34-30 lead into the half.
The first two minutes of the second half started the same as the game did. Both teams scored seven points, but Buffalo still had the advantage, 41-37. During the stretch, Cochran accounted for four points, while Sparks had the other three.
The Bulls held a 46-37 lead with 15:18 left in the game. The Cardinals were resilient and responded with an 11-2 run to tie the game at 48-48, with 13:25 left. The two squads continued to trade baskets and the game remained tied 56-56 with 9:25 left.
Buffalo added an 8-2 run, which ended at 6:58 on the clock and gave the Bulls a 64-58 lead. Both teams hit a scoring drought as neither team was able to score from the field until the 3:45 mark. Cochran ended the drought from the field with a layup, which pulled the Cardinals within three, 64-61.
The Bulls ended the game on a 10-7 run to hold off the Cardinals for a 74-68 win.
Jeenathan Williams led Buffalo with 20 points and added four rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. David Skogman finished with a double-double, with 16 points and a team-high 11 boards. Ronaldo Segu added 14 points, while Maceo Jack chipped in with 10 points.
With the loss, Ball State fell to 7-9 overall and 2-3 in the MAC, while Buffalo improved to 9-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The Cardinals take to the road for a MAC contest at Toledo on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"I thought it was a great college basketball game. Both teams really competed and played hard. Buffalo came ready and I thought we came ready. I thought we played well enough to win. We were a couple of plays away and it was a tough shooting night, which is unfortunate. We've been on the other side of it plenty of times this year, but it wasn't our night tonight. Our guys really battled and that was good to see. It's a good sign to see us compete. I was going through our scouting report, and we had nine guys projected to play for them. Seven of which are seniors. Five of the nine guys for us are freshmen. I thought we really played well and competed. Payton is getting better every game. We're close, but it didn't happen tonight. We're going through the hardest part of our schedule, and we just have to stay poised. I have a lot of respect for Buffalo."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Center #5 Payton Sparks
"It's a good sign, we're going in the right direction. We're in all these games. We just have to learn how to finish. When things go bad, we have to have the next play mentality. I like this team. We've been trying all season long to get better rebounding. I wanted to help the team and I try to grab every board I can. I think we're really good in transition. When we push the ball, we're scoring. When we push, I think we're in good hands."
From the Student-Athlete – Sophomore Guard #23 Tyler Cochran
"Coach made a great point about Buffalo being a great team. Seven of the nine guys that played are seniors. We play with five freshmen. We're young and we're inexperienced with a lot of transfers and we're still trying to get to know each other. We've got to come back even hungrier. We work on the physicality every day in practice. Everybody has so much confidence in everyone's ability."
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Cochran has seen a lot of success against Buffalo. Last season, he went for a career-high 26 points against the Bulls as a member of Northern Illinois' squad. Cochran once again had a strong outing as he recorded a career-high 28 points and added nine rebounds. Payton Sparks continued where he left off against Akron, as he posted his second-straight game with a double-double, behind 18 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Sparks also notched a steal and a block. Luke Bumbalough collected double digits with 10 points to go along with two assists and a steal.
The game started with a back-and-forth battle as neither team was able to gain a comfortable lead. In the game's first 8:03 of play, both teams had 17 points. During the stretch, Ball State was 7-of-12 from the field, while Buffalo was 6-of-12. The large majority of the first half was the same, as the game saw a 28-28 score with just 1:28 left before the break. The Bulls ended the half on a 6-2 run and took a 34-30 lead into the half.
The first two minutes of the second half started the same as the game did. Both teams scored seven points, but Buffalo still had the advantage, 41-37. During the stretch, Cochran accounted for four points, while Sparks had the other three.
The Bulls held a 46-37 lead with 15:18 left in the game. The Cardinals were resilient and responded with an 11-2 run to tie the game at 48-48, with 13:25 left. The two squads continued to trade baskets and the game remained tied 56-56 with 9:25 left.
Buffalo added an 8-2 run, which ended at 6:58 on the clock and gave the Bulls a 64-58 lead. Both teams hit a scoring drought as neither team was able to score from the field until the 3:45 mark. Cochran ended the drought from the field with a layup, which pulled the Cardinals within three, 64-61.
The Bulls ended the game on a 10-7 run to hold off the Cardinals for a 74-68 win.
Jeenathan Williams led Buffalo with 20 points and added four rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. David Skogman finished with a double-double, with 16 points and a team-high 11 boards. Ronaldo Segu added 14 points, while Maceo Jack chipped in with 10 points.
With the loss, Ball State fell to 7-9 overall and 2-3 in the MAC, while Buffalo improved to 9-6 overall and 3-2 in conference play. The Cardinals take to the road for a MAC contest at Toledo on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"I thought it was a great college basketball game. Both teams really competed and played hard. Buffalo came ready and I thought we came ready. I thought we played well enough to win. We were a couple of plays away and it was a tough shooting night, which is unfortunate. We've been on the other side of it plenty of times this year, but it wasn't our night tonight. Our guys really battled and that was good to see. It's a good sign to see us compete. I was going through our scouting report, and we had nine guys projected to play for them. Seven of which are seniors. Five of the nine guys for us are freshmen. I thought we really played well and competed. Payton is getting better every game. We're close, but it didn't happen tonight. We're going through the hardest part of our schedule, and we just have to stay poised. I have a lot of respect for Buffalo."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Center #5 Payton Sparks
"It's a good sign, we're going in the right direction. We're in all these games. We just have to learn how to finish. When things go bad, we have to have the next play mentality. I like this team. We've been trying all season long to get better rebounding. I wanted to help the team and I try to grab every board I can. I think we're really good in transition. When we push the ball, we're scoring. When we push, I think we're in good hands."
From the Student-Athlete – Sophomore Guard #23 Tyler Cochran
"Coach made a great point about Buffalo being a great team. Seven of the nine guys that played are seniors. We play with five freshmen. We're young and we're inexperienced with a lot of transfers and we're still trying to get to know each other. We've got to come back even hungrier. We work on the physicality every day in practice. Everybody has so much confidence in everyone's ability."
Follow the Cardinals
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Team Stats
UB
BSU
FG%
.406
.350
3FG%
.355
.160
FT%
.647
.786
RB
45
39
TO
13
11
STL
7
3
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
9
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
3
FGM
1
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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