Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, November 26
Nassau, The Bahamas
Noon
Ball State University
4-2,0-0MAC
67
vs
64
Missouri State
2-3,0-0MVC
1
2
F
Missouri St.
38
26
64
Ball St.
35
32
67
Payton Sparks throws down a thunderous left-handed dunk
Photo by: Chad Smith
Sparks’ Career Game Lifts Cardinals Over Bears
November 26, 2022 | Men's Basketball
NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Ball State men's basketball team was back at the Baha Mar Convention Center for day two of the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship for a matchup with Missouri State. Payton Sparks led the Cardinals with a double-double behind a career high in points as BSU took down MSU 67-64.
The Cardinals improved to 4-2 on the season, while Missouri State fell to 2-3 on the year.
"That's part of the progression of our program to get into games like this that are difficult," said Head Coach Michael Lewis. "We did a really good job of executing offensively in the second half. Our defense tightened up in the second half. You've got an opportunity to win when you defend like that. We had some guys make some plays. It wasn't perfect, but it could have got away at the end, but they figured it out. We can show some really positive things and some things at the end execution wise. I'm really proud of those guys to get the win today."
Sparks produced his first double-double of the season with a career-high 24 points and game-high 12 rebounds. Sparks shot 8-of-10 from the field, including 1-of-1 from behind the 3-point line. He finished tied for the team lead with two steals to go along with his one block. Demarius Jacobs recorded double-digit points for the fifth time this season with his 10-point effort. Jacobs added three assists, one steal, and one block. Jarron Coleman notched his fifth-straight game with double digits with 10 points. Coleman brought down eight rebounds with two assists and two steals. Luke Bumbalough tied for a team-best three assists to go along with his eight points.
Ball State and Missouri State traded buckets to start the game. With the scored tied at 4-4 with 16:13 on the clock, the Bears went on an 11-4 run and took a 15-8 lead with just under 13 minutes left in the first stanza. After Ball State cut the deficit to four, 15-11, Missouri State scored four unanswered to take an eight-point lead, 19-11.
The Cardinals were resilient and responded with a 10-0 run. The run gave Ball State a 21-19 lead with 8:17 left in the half.
The Bears took a 38-27 lead with just 1:48 left on the clock as they saw their largest lead of the game. Ball State ended the first half on an 8-0 run and cut the deficit to 38-35 at the break. Basheer Jihad hit Sparks with a perfect pass on an in-bound play for Sparks to hit a 3-pointer as time expired in the half.
Missouri State saw a 44-37 lead with 17:39 left in regulation. The Cardinals were unfazed and climbed back to tie the contest 47-47 with 13:50 on the clock. MSU was able to extend its lead to as much as four, but once again BSU battled back to tie it at 52-52 with 9:19 left to play.
The Cardinals' defense was stout in the second half as Ball State held Missouri State without a made field goal from 11:06, with the Bears going on a field goal drought from 11:59 to 0:53 in the second half. BSU held a 66-56 lead, its largest of the game, with 58 seconds left in the game. Missouri State made things tough down the stretch, but Ball State kept its composure and claimed a 67-64 victory.
Chance Moore led the Bears with 14 points and brought down one rebound. Alston Mason went for 12 points and three rebounds. Jonathan Mogbo led Missouri State with two blocks.
The Cardinals return to action on Sunday, Nov. 27, for their final game in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. Ball State will battle San Jose State with the jump coming at 2:30 p.m.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
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The Cardinals improved to 4-2 on the season, while Missouri State fell to 2-3 on the year.
"That's part of the progression of our program to get into games like this that are difficult," said Head Coach Michael Lewis. "We did a really good job of executing offensively in the second half. Our defense tightened up in the second half. You've got an opportunity to win when you defend like that. We had some guys make some plays. It wasn't perfect, but it could have got away at the end, but they figured it out. We can show some really positive things and some things at the end execution wise. I'm really proud of those guys to get the win today."
Sparks produced his first double-double of the season with a career-high 24 points and game-high 12 rebounds. Sparks shot 8-of-10 from the field, including 1-of-1 from behind the 3-point line. He finished tied for the team lead with two steals to go along with his one block. Demarius Jacobs recorded double-digit points for the fifth time this season with his 10-point effort. Jacobs added three assists, one steal, and one block. Jarron Coleman notched his fifth-straight game with double digits with 10 points. Coleman brought down eight rebounds with two assists and two steals. Luke Bumbalough tied for a team-best three assists to go along with his eight points.
Ball State and Missouri State traded buckets to start the game. With the scored tied at 4-4 with 16:13 on the clock, the Bears went on an 11-4 run and took a 15-8 lead with just under 13 minutes left in the first stanza. After Ball State cut the deficit to four, 15-11, Missouri State scored four unanswered to take an eight-point lead, 19-11.
The Cardinals were resilient and responded with a 10-0 run. The run gave Ball State a 21-19 lead with 8:17 left in the half.
The Bears took a 38-27 lead with just 1:48 left on the clock as they saw their largest lead of the game. Ball State ended the first half on an 8-0 run and cut the deficit to 38-35 at the break. Basheer Jihad hit Sparks with a perfect pass on an in-bound play for Sparks to hit a 3-pointer as time expired in the half.
Missouri State saw a 44-37 lead with 17:39 left in regulation. The Cardinals were unfazed and climbed back to tie the contest 47-47 with 13:50 on the clock. MSU was able to extend its lead to as much as four, but once again BSU battled back to tie it at 52-52 with 9:19 left to play.
The Cardinals' defense was stout in the second half as Ball State held Missouri State without a made field goal from 11:06, with the Bears going on a field goal drought from 11:59 to 0:53 in the second half. BSU held a 66-56 lead, its largest of the game, with 58 seconds left in the game. Missouri State made things tough down the stretch, but Ball State kept its composure and claimed a 67-64 victory.
Chance Moore led the Bears with 14 points and brought down one rebound. Alston Mason went for 12 points and three rebounds. Jonathan Mogbo led Missouri State with two blocks.
The Cardinals return to action on Sunday, Nov. 27, for their final game in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. Ball State will battle San Jose State with the jump coming at 2:30 p.m.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
Follow the Cardinals
Team Stats
MOST
BSU
FG%
.426
.451
3FG%
.429
.444
FT%
.563
.619
RB
31
32
TO
14
14
STL
8
7
Game Leaders
Pts
24
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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