Wednesday, November 16
Omaha, Neb.
8:37 p.m. ET
Ball State University
2-1,0-0MAC
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61
Omaha
1-3,0-0Summit League
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Ball St.
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Omaha
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Photo by: Samantha Blankenship / Ball State University
Windham Paces Cardinals in Strong Road Win Against Mavericks
November 16, 2022 | Men's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. – The Ball State men's basketball team returned to the court for a Wednesday night contest against Omaha. Jalen Windham led the Cardinals with a game-high 15 points as a total of four Cardinals scored in double figures in a 71-61 victory.
Ball State improved to 2-1 on the season, while Omaha fell to 1-3. Windham led the way for the Cardinals with a season-high 15 points as he shot 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the 3-point line. Demarius Jacobs recorded his third-straight game in double figures as he notched 12 points to go along with his team-high four assists and his three steals. Jaylin Sellers produced his first game in double digits with an 11-point effort, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Sellers added three steals. Jarron Coleman led the team with nine rebounds and added 11 points with three steals.
The game started out slow for the Cardinals as they were held to just three points in the first five minutes of play. The Mavericks utilized that to their advantage and jumped out to an early 9-3 lead.
Ball State started to get the ball inside and saw lots of success as the team's next six points came on layups. Jacobs converted a big and-1 opportunity to cut the Omaha lead to 12-10 with 12:44 left in the first half.
With 11:34 left in the first stanza, Coleman drained a 3-pointer to pull the Cardinals within one, 14-13. Jacobs gave Ball State its first lead on the next possession with a layup.
Windham knocked down a 3-pointer with just over eight minutes left to play in the half. The Cardinals went on to end the half on an 18-8 run as BSU took a 37-27 lead into halftime.
Ball State came out strong in the second half and started the stanza on a 12-4 run as the Cardinal lead grew to 49-31 with 15:31 left in regulation.
Omaha went on a 17-8 run and cut the Ball State lead down to nine, 57-48, with 6:13 left in the game. The game was a back-and-forth battle the remainder of the contest as the Cardinals leave Nebraska with a 71-61 victory. Ball State relied on 9-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line, despite not scoring a field goal the final 4:11 of the game.
"I was really pleased with how we played the first half," said Head Coach Michael Lewis. "Now the second half, we have a lot to learn from. We're trying to build this program and get them to understand what it takes to win games. We had four turnovers in the first half and two of those were offensive fouls. We had 13 turnovers in the second half. We've got to continue to work on those things. Like I told the guys, we didn't splinter, they stayed together, and you always want to celebrate road wins. I'm really happy that we were able to come away with a win. We've got to continue to improve."
The Cardinals finished the game shooting 94.1 percent from the free-throw line. Ball State held Omaha to 35 percent from the field. The Cardinals held the Mavericks' leading scorer, Frankie Fidler, to just six points after he came into the game averaging 15.7 points.
JJ White led the Mavericks with 15 points and a team-high five assists. Marquel Sutton was the only other Omaha player to finish in double digits with 10 points. Kennedy Brown paced the Mavericks with a game-high 10 rebounds.
Ball State returns to the friendly confines of Worthen Arena on Saturday, Nov. 19, for a matchup with IU-South Bend. Tip is slated for 2 p.m.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
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Ball State improved to 2-1 on the season, while Omaha fell to 1-3. Windham led the way for the Cardinals with a season-high 15 points as he shot 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the 3-point line. Demarius Jacobs recorded his third-straight game in double figures as he notched 12 points to go along with his team-high four assists and his three steals. Jaylin Sellers produced his first game in double digits with an 11-point effort, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Sellers added three steals. Jarron Coleman led the team with nine rebounds and added 11 points with three steals.
The game started out slow for the Cardinals as they were held to just three points in the first five minutes of play. The Mavericks utilized that to their advantage and jumped out to an early 9-3 lead.
Ball State started to get the ball inside and saw lots of success as the team's next six points came on layups. Jacobs converted a big and-1 opportunity to cut the Omaha lead to 12-10 with 12:44 left in the first half.
.@_Demariusjacobs with the driving layup and draws the foul!! He converts the and-1 opportunity!!#ChirpChirp x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/xEixxXDSEb
— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 17, 2022
With 11:34 left in the first stanza, Coleman drained a 3-pointer to pull the Cardinals within one, 14-13. Jacobs gave Ball State its first lead on the next possession with a layup.
Windham knocked down a 3-pointer with just over eight minutes left to play in the half. The Cardinals went on to end the half on an 18-8 run as BSU took a 37-27 lead into halftime.
Ball State came out strong in the second half and started the stanza on a 12-4 run as the Cardinal lead grew to 49-31 with 15:31 left in regulation.
Omaha went on a 17-8 run and cut the Ball State lead down to nine, 57-48, with 6:13 left in the game. The game was a back-and-forth battle the remainder of the contest as the Cardinals leave Nebraska with a 71-61 victory. Ball State relied on 9-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line, despite not scoring a field goal the final 4:11 of the game.
"I was really pleased with how we played the first half," said Head Coach Michael Lewis. "Now the second half, we have a lot to learn from. We're trying to build this program and get them to understand what it takes to win games. We had four turnovers in the first half and two of those were offensive fouls. We had 13 turnovers in the second half. We've got to continue to work on those things. Like I told the guys, we didn't splinter, they stayed together, and you always want to celebrate road wins. I'm really happy that we were able to come away with a win. We've got to continue to improve."
The Cardinals finished the game shooting 94.1 percent from the free-throw line. Ball State held Omaha to 35 percent from the field. The Cardinals held the Mavericks' leading scorer, Frankie Fidler, to just six points after he came into the game averaging 15.7 points.
JJ White led the Mavericks with 15 points and a team-high five assists. Marquel Sutton was the only other Omaha player to finish in double digits with 10 points. Kennedy Brown paced the Mavericks with a game-high 10 rebounds.
Ball State returns to the friendly confines of Worthen Arena on Saturday, Nov. 19, for a matchup with IU-South Bend. Tip is slated for 2 p.m.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
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Team Stats
BSU
UNO
FG%
.415
.350
3FG%
.278
.300
FT%
.786
.619
RB
37
38
TO
17
17
STL
11
6
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
11
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Players Mentioned
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