Tuesday, January 18
Toledo, Ohio
7 p.m.
Ball State University
7-10,2-4MAC
70
at
83
Toledo
14-4,6-1MAC
1
2
F
Ball St.
35
35
70
Toledo
38
45
83
Photo by: Chad Smith
Cardinals Fall on the Road Against Toledo
January 18, 2022 | Men's Basketball
TOLEDO, Ohio – Payton Sparks led the Ball State men's basketball team with his third straight double-double, behind 17 points and 14 rebounds. The Cardinals fell to the Toledo Rockets 83-70 on Tuesday.
With the loss, the Cardinals are 7-10 overall and 2-4 in the MAC, while the Rockets improved to 14-4 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
Sparks recorded a team-high 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. He added one block. Tyler Cochran produced his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Miryne Thomas tallied 13 points and added seven rebounds, one block, one steal, and an assist. Luke Bumbalough posted 12 points with three assists, and three rebounds. Demarius Jacobs led the team with two blocks and brought down seven boards.
The game started out as a back-and-forth battle and was tied at 11-11 wit 14:58 in the opening stanza. The Cardinals went on a 6-0 run behind a 3-pointers from Bumbalough and Thomas. The Rockets answered with a 16-0 run and took a 30-20 lead with 5:55 left in the half. Ball State was resilient and clawed back to within three, 38-35, as the game went to the half.
After Sparks stared the second half with a layup, the Rockets extended their lead to 45-37 with seven unanswered points. Toledo started to take control of the game and went on a 36-17 run, which resulted in the Rockets' largest lead, 81-54.
Ball State did not give up and fought until the end. The Cardinals ended the game on a 16-2 run, led by Jaylin Sellers with six points. The early deficit was too much for BSU to overcome as the game ended 83-70 in favor of UT.
The Cardinals defense held the nation's leading 3-point shooter to just one 3-pointer and held him to 20.0 percent from behind the arc. BSU outrebounded UT 49-37. The Cardinal bench had a slight 13-12 advantage over the Rocket bench.
Ryan Rollins led Toledo with a game-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds for a double-double. RayJ Dennis finished with a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. TJ Shumate notched 16 points and had a game-high four blocks. Setric Millner Jr. went for 15 points and seven rebounds.
Ball State remains on the road for a contest with Central Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"We gave up huge runs. I thought that was the difference in the game. I thought we got a little overwhelmed in moments like that. When the game was going hard for us you could see a dip in our energy level and our toughness. That's what I was referring to. You've got to be able to play with that competitive character when the game is going well and when it's not going well. Toledo is a good team."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Center #5 Payton Sparks
"Just really playing harder, digging deep, and pushing through the fatigue when I'm out there. I just want to win. I want to do anything I can to help the team win. I think we need to come together more when things are falling apart and come closer as a team. Toledo is a really smart team and they're a tough team to play. It was a good test for us."
Follow the Cardinals
Twitter
Instagram
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
With the loss, the Cardinals are 7-10 overall and 2-4 in the MAC, while the Rockets improved to 14-4 overall and 6-1 in conference play.
Sparks recorded a team-high 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. He added one block. Tyler Cochran produced his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Miryne Thomas tallied 13 points and added seven rebounds, one block, one steal, and an assist. Luke Bumbalough posted 12 points with three assists, and three rebounds. Demarius Jacobs led the team with two blocks and brought down seven boards.
The game started out as a back-and-forth battle and was tied at 11-11 wit 14:58 in the opening stanza. The Cardinals went on a 6-0 run behind a 3-pointers from Bumbalough and Thomas. The Rockets answered with a 16-0 run and took a 30-20 lead with 5:55 left in the half. Ball State was resilient and clawed back to within three, 38-35, as the game went to the half.
After Sparks stared the second half with a layup, the Rockets extended their lead to 45-37 with seven unanswered points. Toledo started to take control of the game and went on a 36-17 run, which resulted in the Rockets' largest lead, 81-54.
Ball State did not give up and fought until the end. The Cardinals ended the game on a 16-2 run, led by Jaylin Sellers with six points. The early deficit was too much for BSU to overcome as the game ended 83-70 in favor of UT.
The Cardinals defense held the nation's leading 3-point shooter to just one 3-pointer and held him to 20.0 percent from behind the arc. BSU outrebounded UT 49-37. The Cardinal bench had a slight 13-12 advantage over the Rocket bench.
Ryan Rollins led Toledo with a game-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds for a double-double. RayJ Dennis finished with a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. TJ Shumate notched 16 points and had a game-high four blocks. Setric Millner Jr. went for 15 points and seven rebounds.
Ball State remains on the road for a contest with Central Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"We gave up huge runs. I thought that was the difference in the game. I thought we got a little overwhelmed in moments like that. When the game was going hard for us you could see a dip in our energy level and our toughness. That's what I was referring to. You've got to be able to play with that competitive character when the game is going well and when it's not going well. Toledo is a good team."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Center #5 Payton Sparks
"Just really playing harder, digging deep, and pushing through the fatigue when I'm out there. I just want to win. I want to do anything I can to help the team win. I think we need to come together more when things are falling apart and come closer as a team. Toledo is a really smart team and they're a tough team to play. It was a good test for us."
Follow the Cardinals
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Team Stats
BSU
UT
FG%
.366
.448
3FG%
.286
.458
FT%
.667
.800
RB
49
37
TO
13
6
STL
3
7
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ 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