Saturday, February 26
Muncie, Ind.
3:30 p.m.
Ball State University
13-15,8-9MAC
75
vs
64
Eastern Michigan
10-19,5-13MAC
1
2
F
Eastern Mich.
32
32
64
Ball St.
32
43
75
Photo by: BSU Photo Services
Sparks Collected 10th Double-Double, Cardinals Soared Over Eagles
February 26, 2022 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team was back in action on Saturday for Mid-American Conference play against Eastern Michigan. Payton Sparks led the Cardinals with his 10th double-double of the season, as BSU (13-15, 8-9 MAC) defeated EMU (10-19, 5-13 MAC) 75-64.
Sparks led the Cardinals with 17 points and finished with a game-high 10 rebounds. He added two assists, a steal, and a block. Demarius Jacobs posted a 14-point performance with six rebounds, one steal, and an assist. Miryne Thomas and Jaylin Sellers each finished with 12 points. Thomas added six rebounds and three assists. Sellers tied for the team lead in blocks with one to go along with his four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Ball State started fast and went on a 12-4 run in the game's first 5:09. Eastern Michigan responded with a 13-5 run and tied the game at 17-17 with 7:39 left in the first half. It was a back-and-forth battle the remainder of the first stanza as the game went to intermission tied at 32-32.
The Cardinals came out of the break on a 12-3 run and gained a 44-35 lead. During the run, all three of EMU's points came from free throws. After the Eagles scored five unanswered points, Sellers notched the next eight points for the Cardinals as BSU went on an 8-5 run. The Cardinals held a 52-45 lead with 12:25 left on the clock.
The Eagles outscored the Cardinals 17-12 and were within two points, 64-62, with just under five minutes left in regulation. Ball State was unfazed and held Eastern Michigan to just two points for the final 4:18. BSU ended the game on an 11-2 run to secure a 75-64 victory.
Ball State led for 80.3 percent of the game. The Cardinals outrebounded the Eagles 42-38. BSU dominated the paint outscoring EMU 32-16 down low. The Ball State bench went for 19 points opposed to the 13 from Eastern Michigan.
Noah Farrakhan produced a game-high 27 points to go along with his six rebounds and two assists. Monty Scott was the only other Eagle in double figures with 15 points. Nate Scott paced Eastern Michigan with eight rebounds. Darion Spottsville posted a game-high three steals and added a team-high three assists.
Ball State returns to Worthen Arena on Tuesday, March 1, for the home finale against Akron. Prior to the game, the Cardinals will recognize this season's senior class for Senior Day. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. jump.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"It was a really good win. I didn't think we played our best in the first half. I thought the second half might have been one of the best halves all year. We didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but the shots that we took were great ones. We're locking in on ourselves right now. We're trying to get better and go in [to the conference tournament] with a ton of momentum. This is a great step in the right direction. I was glad we had the poise down the stretch. There was one moment where we got called for five fouls. It was one of the moments where you could lose it if you're not careful. We didn't, we kept our composure. I thought we played well."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Center #5 Payton Sparks
"When they were coming, I was looking for my teammates first. I feel like I had my shots too. I thought we played defense well as a team. I'm not perfect and I'm going to keep getting better. We all are going to keep working. I'm proud of him, Jaylin works hard. He's a heck of a player and he's going to keep growing. He's going to keep getting better, I can't wait for the future for him."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Guard #12 Jaylin Sellers
"Coach Khristian Smith challenged me to stop Noah Farrakhan down the stretch. I feel like I held my own. Respect goes out to him (Farrakhan). I feel like my teammates flared for me a couple times. After I hit one, they said okay get one more. Coach Whitford called out the play, so I came around, I already knew the play. I just ran through and got the steal."
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Sparks led the Cardinals with 17 points and finished with a game-high 10 rebounds. He added two assists, a steal, and a block. Demarius Jacobs posted a 14-point performance with six rebounds, one steal, and an assist. Miryne Thomas and Jaylin Sellers each finished with 12 points. Thomas added six rebounds and three assists. Sellers tied for the team lead in blocks with one to go along with his four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Ball State started fast and went on a 12-4 run in the game's first 5:09. Eastern Michigan responded with a 13-5 run and tied the game at 17-17 with 7:39 left in the first half. It was a back-and-forth battle the remainder of the first stanza as the game went to intermission tied at 32-32.
The Cardinals came out of the break on a 12-3 run and gained a 44-35 lead. During the run, all three of EMU's points came from free throws. After the Eagles scored five unanswered points, Sellers notched the next eight points for the Cardinals as BSU went on an 8-5 run. The Cardinals held a 52-45 lead with 12:25 left on the clock.
The Eagles outscored the Cardinals 17-12 and were within two points, 64-62, with just under five minutes left in regulation. Ball State was unfazed and held Eastern Michigan to just two points for the final 4:18. BSU ended the game on an 11-2 run to secure a 75-64 victory.
Ball State led for 80.3 percent of the game. The Cardinals outrebounded the Eagles 42-38. BSU dominated the paint outscoring EMU 32-16 down low. The Ball State bench went for 19 points opposed to the 13 from Eastern Michigan.
Noah Farrakhan produced a game-high 27 points to go along with his six rebounds and two assists. Monty Scott was the only other Eagle in double figures with 15 points. Nate Scott paced Eastern Michigan with eight rebounds. Darion Spottsville posted a game-high three steals and added a team-high three assists.
Ball State returns to Worthen Arena on Tuesday, March 1, for the home finale against Akron. Prior to the game, the Cardinals will recognize this season's senior class for Senior Day. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. jump.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"It was a really good win. I didn't think we played our best in the first half. I thought the second half might have been one of the best halves all year. We didn't shoot the ball particularly well, but the shots that we took were great ones. We're locking in on ourselves right now. We're trying to get better and go in [to the conference tournament] with a ton of momentum. This is a great step in the right direction. I was glad we had the poise down the stretch. There was one moment where we got called for five fouls. It was one of the moments where you could lose it if you're not careful. We didn't, we kept our composure. I thought we played well."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Center #5 Payton Sparks
"When they were coming, I was looking for my teammates first. I feel like I had my shots too. I thought we played defense well as a team. I'm not perfect and I'm going to keep getting better. We all are going to keep working. I'm proud of him, Jaylin works hard. He's a heck of a player and he's going to keep growing. He's going to keep getting better, I can't wait for the future for him."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Guard #12 Jaylin Sellers
"Coach Khristian Smith challenged me to stop Noah Farrakhan down the stretch. I feel like I held my own. Respect goes out to him (Farrakhan). I feel like my teammates flared for me a couple times. After I hit one, they said okay get one more. Coach Whitford called out the play, so I came around, I already knew the play. I just ran through and got the steal."
Follow the Cardinals
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Team Stats
EMU
BSU
FG%
.367
.419
3FG%
.273
.286
FT%
.846
.682
RB
38
42
TO
10
7
STL
3
3
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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