Sunday, December 10
Muncie, IN
2:00 p.m.
Ball State University
8-2,0-0MAC
83
vs
71
SIUE
6-5,0-0OVC
1
2
F
SIUE
38
33
71
Ball St.
42
41
83
Cardinals Handle Cougars to Improve to 7-0 at Home
December 10, 2023 | Men's Basketball
Dynamic Duo of Anderson and Jihad Lead the Way
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team concluded its home nonconference slate undefeated with an 83-71 win over SIUE on Sunday afternoon at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals (8-2) beat the Cougars (6-5) largely thanks to the duo of Jalin Anderson and Basheer Jihad, who combined for 50 points.
Ball State led for the entirety of the contest after a Mason Jones 3-pointer 39 seconds into the game, but SIUE stayed within striking distance for the balance of the afternoon to force the Cardinals to earn win No. 7 at home this season.
Jihad posted another double-double, his fourth in the last five games, and established a new career-high in scoring with 27 points and 10 rebounds while adding two assists and two blocks. Anderson went for 23 points, five assists and four rebounds, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range to set a season-best and tie a career-high in 3-pointers made.
Leading by as many as nine points on two occasions in the opening period, the Cardinals went into halftime up 42-38. SIUE made a run to get within three points at 51-48, but Mickey Pearson Jr. and Trent Middleton Jr. hit back-to-back triples to extend Ball State's edge to 57-48 with 11:44 to play. The Cougars would not get within one possession the rest of the way.
Pearson Jr., Middleton Jr., and Ben Hendriks tallied 10 points each, with Hendriks adding six rebounds and three assists. The Cardinals shot 45.5 percent (25-55) from the field including 52.4 percent (11-21) from beyond the arc and 84.6 percent (22-26) at the line while limiting SIUE to 43.1 percent (25-58) from the field and 36.8 percent (7-19) from distance.
Ball State won the rebounding battle 36 to 34 after trailing 22-13 at halftime and had a 2.5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio (15 assists, 6 turnovers) for the game. The Cougars got 21 points and 12 rebounds from guard Damarco Minor, but it wasn't enough to overcome a Cardinals program that has won 19 straight home nonconference matchups.
The Cardinals take on Finals Week before playing Indiana State at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indy Classic powered by Gainbridge.
The Cardinals (8-2) beat the Cougars (6-5) largely thanks to the duo of Jalin Anderson and Basheer Jihad, who combined for 50 points.
Ball State led for the entirety of the contest after a Mason Jones 3-pointer 39 seconds into the game, but SIUE stayed within striking distance for the balance of the afternoon to force the Cardinals to earn win No. 7 at home this season.
Jihad posted another double-double, his fourth in the last five games, and established a new career-high in scoring with 27 points and 10 rebounds while adding two assists and two blocks. Anderson went for 23 points, five assists and four rebounds, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range to set a season-best and tie a career-high in 3-pointers made.
Leading by as many as nine points on two occasions in the opening period, the Cardinals went into halftime up 42-38. SIUE made a run to get within three points at 51-48, but Mickey Pearson Jr. and Trent Middleton Jr. hit back-to-back triples to extend Ball State's edge to 57-48 with 11:44 to play. The Cougars would not get within one possession the rest of the way.
Pearson Jr., Middleton Jr., and Ben Hendriks tallied 10 points each, with Hendriks adding six rebounds and three assists. The Cardinals shot 45.5 percent (25-55) from the field including 52.4 percent (11-21) from beyond the arc and 84.6 percent (22-26) at the line while limiting SIUE to 43.1 percent (25-58) from the field and 36.8 percent (7-19) from distance.
Ball State won the rebounding battle 36 to 34 after trailing 22-13 at halftime and had a 2.5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio (15 assists, 6 turnovers) for the game. The Cougars got 21 points and 12 rebounds from guard Damarco Minor, but it wasn't enough to overcome a Cardinals program that has won 19 straight home nonconference matchups.
The Cardinals take on Finals Week before playing Indiana State at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the Indy Classic powered by Gainbridge.
Team Stats
SIUE
BSU
FG%
.431
.455
3FG%
.368
.524
FT%
.667
.846
RB
34
36
TO
7
6
STL
4
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
11
Pts
23
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
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