Monday, November 7
Muncie, Ind.
7 p.m.
Ball State University
1-0,0-0MAC
109
vs
39
Earlham
0-0,0-0HCAC
1
2
F
Earlham
19
20
39
Ball St.
55
54
109
Photo by: Bobby Ellis (Ball State Creative Services)
Ball State’s Offense Shines in Historic Season Opener
November 07, 2022 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team opened the 2022-23 campaign inside the friendly confines of Worthen Arena against Earlham on Monday night. Demarius Jacobs recorded a game-high 19 points as he led the Cardinals in a 109-39 victory.
Head Coach Michael Lewis earned his first win as a head coach as Ball State started the season 1-0, while Earlham opened the season 0-1.
Ball State made history tonight as it produced the largest margin of victory in a single game with the 70-point win. The previous record was 64 points against Cardinal Stritch in 1989. The Cardinals' 109 points is tied for the 13th most in program history and is the first time scoring over 105 points since February 18, 2017.
Payton Sparks made his presence felt early and often. Less than two minutes into the contest, Sparks came up with a big rejection with the score 4-3 in favor of Ball State.
Ball State would follow that with a 28-6 run, which included two monster jams, one by Jacobs and the other by Sparks.
The Cardinals ended the half on a 25-10 run and took a 55-19 lead into the break. At the break, Jacobs had a game-high 17 points, while Sparks added 13 points. The Ball State defense was stout and forced 11 Earlham turnovers. The biggest key of the first half, besides holding the Quakers to just 19 points, the Cardinals did not send the Quakers to the free-throw line in the half.
The intensity did not waiver to start the second half as BSU opened the frame with a 24-5 run. During the run, the Cardinal defense remained tough as it blocked multiple shots.
Ball State was able to utilize turnovers and covert the transition opportunities, one of which was when Jalen Windham found Ben Hendriks for the two-handed dunk.
The Cardinals kept the intensity and pressure on until the final seconds of the game. Kaiyem Cleary recorded a steal and went coast-to-coast for the one-handed slam.
Six different Ball State players scored in double digits, including Jacobs who had a game-high 19 points and added a game-high six assists. Mickey Pearson Jr. recorded a double-double with a career-high 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, the first of his career. Kaiyem Cleary produced 17 points, the most for him as an NCAA Division I player. Sparks finished with 15 points and eight boards. Basheer Jihad produced 13 points to go along with four rebounds. Windham ended the game with 10 points, six rebounds with a career-high five assists and a career-best four steals.
The Cardinals were strong from the field as they combined to shoot 61.2 percent to go along with a 71.9 percentage at the free-throw line. Ball State's defense recorded 10 blocked shots, which is tied for the fifth most in program history. The Cardinals outscored the Quakers 52-17 in bench points as well as more points in the paint, 66-20. BSU was strong on the glass as it took a 53-30 advantage in rebounds. Ball State played a pretty clean game as it limited Earlham to just six free-throw attempts.
Jaden Terry led the Quakers with 12 points as he was the lone EC player in double figures. Terry added two rebounds and one steal. Lokiron Anda led Earlham with four rebounds.
Ball State returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 12, for its first road contest of the season. The Cardinals make the trip to Terre Haute for a battle with the Indiana State Sycamores. 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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Head Coach Michael Lewis earned his first win as a head coach as Ball State started the season 1-0, while Earlham opened the season 0-1.
Ball State made history tonight as it produced the largest margin of victory in a single game with the 70-point win. The previous record was 64 points against Cardinal Stritch in 1989. The Cardinals' 109 points is tied for the 13th most in program history and is the first time scoring over 105 points since February 18, 2017.
Payton Sparks made his presence felt early and often. Less than two minutes into the contest, Sparks came up with a big rejection with the score 4-3 in favor of Ball State.
.@PaytonSparks6 with the rejection ??#ChirpChirp x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/ZPMVEKtKoA— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 8, 2022
Ball State would follow that with a 28-6 run, which included two monster jams, one by Jacobs and the other by Sparks.
.@jarron_coleman finds a cutting @_Demariusjacobs for the SLAM!!!#ChirpChirp x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/PUeyKjZRC8— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 8, 2022
.@PaytonSparks6 with the emphatic JAM??#ChirpChirp x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/lyTUHHh2h0— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 8, 2022
The Cardinals ended the half on a 25-10 run and took a 55-19 lead into the break. At the break, Jacobs had a game-high 17 points, while Sparks added 13 points. The Ball State defense was stout and forced 11 Earlham turnovers. The biggest key of the first half, besides holding the Quakers to just 19 points, the Cardinals did not send the Quakers to the free-throw line in the half.
The intensity did not waiver to start the second half as BSU opened the frame with a 24-5 run. During the run, the Cardinal defense remained tough as it blocked multiple shots.
.@Mickeypearson24 with the BLOCK!!!#ChirpChirp x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/qS7pTyDmEx— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 8, 2022
Ball State was able to utilize turnovers and covert the transition opportunities, one of which was when Jalen Windham found Ben Hendriks for the two-handed dunk.
.@Gohamjdub in transition finds a @BigBenHendriks5 for the two-handed SLAM!!!#ChirpChirp x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/oVpn5ExTYq— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 8, 2022
The Cardinals kept the intensity and pressure on until the final seconds of the game. Kaiyem Cleary recorded a steal and went coast-to-coast for the one-handed slam.
.@KaiyemC9 with the steal and goes coast-to-coast for the JAM????#ChirpChirp x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/7uvRqYHWZy— Ball State Men's Basketball (@BallStateMBB) November 8, 2022
Six different Ball State players scored in double digits, including Jacobs who had a game-high 19 points and added a game-high six assists. Mickey Pearson Jr. recorded a double-double with a career-high 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds, the first of his career. Kaiyem Cleary produced 17 points, the most for him as an NCAA Division I player. Sparks finished with 15 points and eight boards. Basheer Jihad produced 13 points to go along with four rebounds. Windham ended the game with 10 points, six rebounds with a career-high five assists and a career-best four steals.
The Cardinals were strong from the field as they combined to shoot 61.2 percent to go along with a 71.9 percentage at the free-throw line. Ball State's defense recorded 10 blocked shots, which is tied for the fifth most in program history. The Cardinals outscored the Quakers 52-17 in bench points as well as more points in the paint, 66-20. BSU was strong on the glass as it took a 53-30 advantage in rebounds. Ball State played a pretty clean game as it limited Earlham to just six free-throw attempts.
Jaden Terry led the Quakers with 12 points as he was the lone EC player in double figures. Terry added two rebounds and one steal. Lokiron Anda led Earlham with four rebounds.
Ball State returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 12, for its first road contest of the season. The Cardinals make the trip to Terre Haute for a battle with the Indiana State Sycamores. 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).
Follow the Cardinals
Team Stats
Earl
BSU
FG%
.246
.612
3FG%
.211
.235
FT%
.500
.719
RB
30
53
TO
22
10
STL
2
14
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
5
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