Tuesday, November 21
Muncie, IN
7:00 p.m.
Ball State University
4-1,0-0MAC
75
vs
58
USC Upstate
2-4,0-0Big South
1
2
F
USC Upstate
25
33
58
Ball St.
32
43
75
Photo by: Heather Parker
Pearson's Career Night Leads to 75-58 Win over USC Upstate
November 21, 2023 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Mickey Pearson Jr. and his career-best 24 points led the Ball State men's basketball team to a 75-58 win over USC Upstate on Tuesday night at Worthen Arena in the Midwest Madness: Cardinal Classic.
After the Trojans' (2-4) Justin Bailey scored the first points of the game, Ball State (4-1) went on an 18-3 scoring run highlighted Ben Hendriks, who scored six early in his first start of the year. The redshirt junior big man tallied seven points, six rebounds and four blocks on the night, providing a spark to a Cardinals team looking for one after a tough loss at Evansville Saturday.
Pearson Jr. went 9-for-14 from the field (1-2 on 3-pointers) and a perfect 5 of 5 at the free throw line for the best offensive output of his collegiate career. The redshirt junior added six rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Other Cardinals in double figures scoring were Basheer Jihad (12 points, five rebounds, three assists), Davion Bailey (11 points, five rebounds, two assists) and Jalin Anderson (10 points, six assists, four rebounds).
Upstate got 14 points out of Trae Broadnax and 13 from Justin Bailey, but the visiting Spartans could not climb all the way back from the early deficit, as they got to within three points at 36-33 (17:22) and four points at 53-49 (8:54) in the second half, but would get no closer.
Ball State won the battle of the boards 42-24 and points in the paint 38-28. The hosts shot 48.3 percent (28-58) to the Spartans 42.1 percent (24-57) and shot 83.3 percent (15-18) at the charity stripe to cruise to victory before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Cardinals are back in action at 2 p.m. on Friday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the finale of the Cardinal Classic. The women's basketball team hosts Notre Dame right after at 5 p.m., and a ticket for either game is good for admission to the other.
After the Trojans' (2-4) Justin Bailey scored the first points of the game, Ball State (4-1) went on an 18-3 scoring run highlighted Ben Hendriks, who scored six early in his first start of the year. The redshirt junior big man tallied seven points, six rebounds and four blocks on the night, providing a spark to a Cardinals team looking for one after a tough loss at Evansville Saturday.
Pearson Jr. went 9-for-14 from the field (1-2 on 3-pointers) and a perfect 5 of 5 at the free throw line for the best offensive output of his collegiate career. The redshirt junior added six rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Other Cardinals in double figures scoring were Basheer Jihad (12 points, five rebounds, three assists), Davion Bailey (11 points, five rebounds, two assists) and Jalin Anderson (10 points, six assists, four rebounds).
Upstate got 14 points out of Trae Broadnax and 13 from Justin Bailey, but the visiting Spartans could not climb all the way back from the early deficit, as they got to within three points at 36-33 (17:22) and four points at 53-49 (8:54) in the second half, but would get no closer.
Ball State won the battle of the boards 42-24 and points in the paint 38-28. The hosts shot 48.3 percent (28-58) to the Spartans 42.1 percent (24-57) and shot 83.3 percent (15-18) at the charity stripe to cruise to victory before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Cardinals are back in action at 2 p.m. on Friday against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the finale of the Cardinal Classic. The women's basketball team hosts Notre Dame right after at 5 p.m., and a ticket for either game is good for admission to the other.
Team Stats
USCU
BSU
FG%
.421
.483
3FG%
.238
.250
FT%
.714
.833
RB
24
42
TO
10
10
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
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