Friday, March 4
Kalamazoo, Mich.
6 p.m.
Ball State University
14-16,9-10MAC
64
at
63
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Western Michigan
8-23,4-16MAC
1
2
F
Ball St.
34
30
64
Western Mich.
34
29
63
Photo by: Chad Smith
Cardinals End Regular Season on High Note with Win Over Broncos
March 04, 2022 | Men's Basketball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Ball State men's basketball team ended the regular season on a high note with a 64-63 victory at Western Michigan on Friday. Jaylin Sellers had a career night to lead the Cardinals.
The Cardinal defense was stout as it held the MAC's leading scorer, Lamar Norman Jr., to just 10 points.
Sellers had a career-high 16 points with five rebounds, and one assist. Payton Sparks tallied his 11th double-double of the season behind 13 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Sparks tied with Luke Bumbalough for a team-high three assists. Demarius Jacobs posted a 13-point performance with eight rebounds, one block, and one assist. Miryne Thomas finished in double figures with 10 points along with a team-high four steals and one assist.
The game started as a back-and-forth battle. The first half saw 10 lead changes and five ties. The Broncos' largest lead of the half came at 13:55 with a four-point lead, 13-9. With 9:05 left in the first half the Cardinals held a 22-15 lead, their largest of the half. Both teams went on several runs and two free throws by Jacobs sent the game tied at the break.
The second half was much like the first half as the teams traded blows. Western Michigan held a five-point lead, 63-58, with 3:51 left in regulation. The Cardinals were resilient and went on a 6-0 run, which led to a 64-63 victory. Ball State held Western Michigan scoreless for the final 3:51 of the game.
As a team, BSU outrebounded WMU, 36-34. Ball State also held the advantage in points in the paint, 28-24. The Cardinals finished the game shooting 42 percent from the field.
Mack Smith led WMU in scoring and tied for a game-high 16 points. Markeese Hastings picked up a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Norman was held to 10 points, despite averaging 20.1 coming into tonight's contest.
The Cardinals return to action on Thursday, March 10, for the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament inside the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Ball State earned the No. 6 seed and will play Ohio the No. 3 seed in the final game of day one. Tickets in Ball State's allocation can be purchased through Wednesday by calling 888.BSU.TICKET or 765.285.1474.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"I thought we really played well. They shot 31 percent from 3 and they shot 29 3's and I thought all 29 were challenged. I felt like they were making some tough ones. I thought our guys really played resilient. I thought we really stayed composed, we played together and played all the way through. It was a good win. Really good team win for us."
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*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
The Cardinal defense was stout as it held the MAC's leading scorer, Lamar Norman Jr., to just 10 points.
Sellers had a career-high 16 points with five rebounds, and one assist. Payton Sparks tallied his 11th double-double of the season behind 13 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. Sparks tied with Luke Bumbalough for a team-high three assists. Demarius Jacobs posted a 13-point performance with eight rebounds, one block, and one assist. Miryne Thomas finished in double figures with 10 points along with a team-high four steals and one assist.
The game started as a back-and-forth battle. The first half saw 10 lead changes and five ties. The Broncos' largest lead of the half came at 13:55 with a four-point lead, 13-9. With 9:05 left in the first half the Cardinals held a 22-15 lead, their largest of the half. Both teams went on several runs and two free throws by Jacobs sent the game tied at the break.
The second half was much like the first half as the teams traded blows. Western Michigan held a five-point lead, 63-58, with 3:51 left in regulation. The Cardinals were resilient and went on a 6-0 run, which led to a 64-63 victory. Ball State held Western Michigan scoreless for the final 3:51 of the game.
As a team, BSU outrebounded WMU, 36-34. Ball State also held the advantage in points in the paint, 28-24. The Cardinals finished the game shooting 42 percent from the field.
Mack Smith led WMU in scoring and tied for a game-high 16 points. Markeese Hastings picked up a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Norman was held to 10 points, despite averaging 20.1 coming into tonight's contest.
The Cardinals return to action on Thursday, March 10, for the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament inside the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Ball State earned the No. 6 seed and will play Ohio the No. 3 seed in the final game of day one. Tickets in Ball State's allocation can be purchased through Wednesday by calling 888.BSU.TICKET or 765.285.1474.
From the Coach – Head Coach James Whitford
"I thought we really played well. They shot 31 percent from 3 and they shot 29 3's and I thought all 29 were challenged. I felt like they were making some tough ones. I thought our guys really played resilient. I thought we really stayed composed, we played together and played all the way through. It was a good win. Really good team win for us."
Follow the Cardinals
*For tickets call 1-888-BSU-TICKET or 765-285-1474, or click here.
Team Stats
BSU
WMU
FG%
.423
.411
3FG%
.280
.310
FT%
.684
.615
RB
36
34
TO
16
15
STL
8
9
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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/ Men's BasketballThis Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Mike Uremovich, Tayler Persons, and Andy Stoots
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