Tuesday, January 4
Muncie, Ind.
7 p.m.
Ball State University
6-7,1-1MAC
65
vs
66
Kent State
7-6,2-1MAC
1
2
F
Kent St.
28
38
66
Ball St.
28
37
65
Photo by: BSU Photo Services
Cardinals Fall to Golden Flashes on Last-Second Shot
January 04, 2022 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team was back inside Worthen Arena for a Mid-American Conference matchup with Kent State on Tuesday. Tyler Cochran recorded the most points of his Cardinal career with 23, but the Cardinals fell to the Golden Flashes 66-65.
Much like Ball State's first MAC game this season, the game would be decided by a last second shot attempt. The Cardinals and Golden Flashes battled back-and-forth the entire game. Neither team was able to gain a lead larger than four. Ball State saw its largest lead, 24-20, with 3:01 left in the first, while Kent State's biggest lead of 14-11, came at 10:24 in the first.
Cochran came up big for BSU with 22 seconds left on the clock with a running floater in the paint to tie the game at 64-64 and was sent to the free-throw line after being fouled on the shot. He converted the and-1 to put the Cardinals on top, 65-64.
The Golden Flashes answered with a Justyn Hamilton layup off an offensive rebound to give Kent State a 66-65 edge with 10 seconds left. Ball State was able to get a shot up as time was expiring, but just could not get it to fall.
Cochran finished with a team-high 23 points, which were the most for him in a BSU uniform. Demarius Jacobs recorded the most points of his Cardinal career with 16. With his 12 points, Payton Sparks has recorded double digits in three straight and four of the last five games. Cochran and Sparks tied for a game-high nine rebounds. Miryne Thomas notched a team-best four assists and he added nine points. On the defensive end, Sparks, Jaylin Sellers, and Basheer Jihad each produced a blocked shot. Cochran, Sparks, and Mickey Pearson Jr. picked up one steal each.
Sincere Carry notched a game-high 26 points for the Golden Flashes and had a game-high six assists. He added seven rebounds and three steals. Malique Jacobs and Hamilton each added 11 points for Kent State. Hamilton led the team with eight boards and a game-high two blocks.
The Cardinals fell to 6-7 overall and 1-1 in the MAC, while the Golden Flashes improved to 7-6 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
Ball State looks to regroup and turn focus to the Eagles. The Cardinals take to the road for a Saturday MAC contest at Eastern Michigan. Tip is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. from Ypsilanti.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"We played well enough to win. I should have done better on the final possession. I should have put them in a better position. I felt we competed and played hard. We couldn't get stops on Sincere Carry at the end. He's the best pick-and-roll player in the league. My biggest regret was not getting a better possession on the final one. We did a better job defensively, and yet I still think we have a lot of room to grow. I thought we did a better job, but in the crunch time we couldn't get stops. We were having issues with fouls. Luke Bumbalough, Tyler Cochran, and Demarius Jacobs, all had four fouls. I think it's important to get points in the paint. Every team has different strengths and weaknesses. We need to have the ability to score inside and out. Some games it will be easier to do one more than the other. If you don't have the ability to do both, then they can take the one part away. I thought that was a positive for us tonight, was both Payton Sparks' ability to score inside and us kicking out on drives. They (Kent State) got too many points in the paint."
From the Student-Athletes – Sophomore Guard #23 Tyler Cochran
"We played hard. I think we played a solid 40 minutes. There were just a few things as a team that we can come back and fix at practice. If we can master each day and get better at the little stuff on offensive and defensive side, we can be pretty good. Give credit to DJ (Demarius Jacobs), when he's talking, he gets everyone motivated and gets everyone to do more. Talking is a huge part, it helps everyone on the court. When we talk, we can be a great team."
From the Student-Athletes – Junior Guard #1 Demarius Jacobs
"We talked about it before the game. We knew it was going to be a game of runs. I think we need to figure out a few little things with our defense. Once we figure those little things out, we will be a better defensive team. We had some good and bad moments tonight. We need to get better defensively. The offense will come with the defense. We just need to lock in and be all in together."
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Much like Ball State's first MAC game this season, the game would be decided by a last second shot attempt. The Cardinals and Golden Flashes battled back-and-forth the entire game. Neither team was able to gain a lead larger than four. Ball State saw its largest lead, 24-20, with 3:01 left in the first, while Kent State's biggest lead of 14-11, came at 10:24 in the first.
Cochran came up big for BSU with 22 seconds left on the clock with a running floater in the paint to tie the game at 64-64 and was sent to the free-throw line after being fouled on the shot. He converted the and-1 to put the Cardinals on top, 65-64.
The Golden Flashes answered with a Justyn Hamilton layup off an offensive rebound to give Kent State a 66-65 edge with 10 seconds left. Ball State was able to get a shot up as time was expiring, but just could not get it to fall.
Cochran finished with a team-high 23 points, which were the most for him in a BSU uniform. Demarius Jacobs recorded the most points of his Cardinal career with 16. With his 12 points, Payton Sparks has recorded double digits in three straight and four of the last five games. Cochran and Sparks tied for a game-high nine rebounds. Miryne Thomas notched a team-best four assists and he added nine points. On the defensive end, Sparks, Jaylin Sellers, and Basheer Jihad each produced a blocked shot. Cochran, Sparks, and Mickey Pearson Jr. picked up one steal each.
Sincere Carry notched a game-high 26 points for the Golden Flashes and had a game-high six assists. He added seven rebounds and three steals. Malique Jacobs and Hamilton each added 11 points for Kent State. Hamilton led the team with eight boards and a game-high two blocks.
The Cardinals fell to 6-7 overall and 1-1 in the MAC, while the Golden Flashes improved to 7-6 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
Ball State looks to regroup and turn focus to the Eagles. The Cardinals take to the road for a Saturday MAC contest at Eastern Michigan. Tip is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. from Ypsilanti.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"We played well enough to win. I should have done better on the final possession. I should have put them in a better position. I felt we competed and played hard. We couldn't get stops on Sincere Carry at the end. He's the best pick-and-roll player in the league. My biggest regret was not getting a better possession on the final one. We did a better job defensively, and yet I still think we have a lot of room to grow. I thought we did a better job, but in the crunch time we couldn't get stops. We were having issues with fouls. Luke Bumbalough, Tyler Cochran, and Demarius Jacobs, all had four fouls. I think it's important to get points in the paint. Every team has different strengths and weaknesses. We need to have the ability to score inside and out. Some games it will be easier to do one more than the other. If you don't have the ability to do both, then they can take the one part away. I thought that was a positive for us tonight, was both Payton Sparks' ability to score inside and us kicking out on drives. They (Kent State) got too many points in the paint."
From the Student-Athletes – Sophomore Guard #23 Tyler Cochran
"We played hard. I think we played a solid 40 minutes. There were just a few things as a team that we can come back and fix at practice. If we can master each day and get better at the little stuff on offensive and defensive side, we can be pretty good. Give credit to DJ (Demarius Jacobs), when he's talking, he gets everyone motivated and gets everyone to do more. Talking is a huge part, it helps everyone on the court. When we talk, we can be a great team."
From the Student-Athletes – Junior Guard #1 Demarius Jacobs
"We talked about it before the game. We knew it was going to be a game of runs. I think we need to figure out a few little things with our defense. Once we figure those little things out, we will be a better defensive team. We had some good and bad moments tonight. We need to get better defensively. The offense will come with the defense. We just need to lock in and be all in together."
Follow the Cardinals
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Team Stats
KentSt
BSU
FG%
.417
.400
3FG%
.167
.310
FT%
.684
.800
RB
35
38
TO
8
13
STL
8
3
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
10
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's Basketball
F
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