Tuesday, February 28
Akron, Ohio
7 p.m.
Ball State University
20-10,11-6MAC
83
at
87
Akron
21-9,13-4MAC
1
2
F
Ball St.
41
42
83
Akron
36
51
87
Ball State Drops Final Road Game to Akron
February 28, 2023 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – The Ball State men's basketball team traveled for the final road game of the regular season against Akron on Tuesday. Jalen Windham recorded a career-high 19 points, but the Cardinals fell to the Zips 87-83.
Ball State fell to 20-10 overall and 11-6 in Mid-American Conference play, while Akron improved to 21-9 overall and 13-4 in league games.
"I'm not into morality wins, but I'm as proud of them tonight, with their fight, their effort, their grit after this loss, as I am with any of the games we won," said Head Coach Michael Lewis. "You play like that and you're going to give yourselves a chance in Cleveland."
Windham led the Cardinals with a career-high 19 points. He added three rebounds and three assists. Basheer Jihad produced a career-high 17 points to go along with three boards. Demarius Jacobs closed out the double-digit scorers with 16 points. Jacobs tied for a game-high two steals. Jacobs and Luke Bumbalough tied for a game-high four assists. Payton Sparks led the team with nine rebounds and added one block with eight points. Jaylin Sellers tied for a game-high two steals to go along with nine points, six rebounds, and one block.
The game started as a back-and-forth battle. Ball State and Akron were both 3-for-4 from the field as the game was tied with 16:47 left in the opening half. The Cardinals were able to get a little space between them with a 6-2 run, led by back-to-back 3-pointers, one from Jihad and the other by Sellers.
After the Zips cut the deficit to one, 12-11, the Cardinals outscored the Zips 11-6 and extended the lead to 23-4 with 11:37 left in the half. Ball State added a 7-2 run to extend the lead to the largest of the half, 30-19, with 8:26 left in the stanza.
Akron cut the deficit to five, 30-25, with a 6-0 run with 5:33 left until the break. The two squads traded baskets the remainder of the half as the Cardinals took a 41-36 lead into the break.
The Cardinals opened the second half on a 10-4 run and extended their lead to 51-40 with just over 15 minutes left to play. The Zips answered with a 12-4 run and cut the Cardinal lead to 55-52 with just over 11 minutes left in regulation.
Ball State outscored Akron 8-4 over the next 2:32 of action and extended its lead to 63-56. The Zips went on a 12-0 run and took a 68-63 lead with just over five minutes left in regulation. The Cardinals responded and scored the game's next five points and tied the game at 68-68.
Akron took a 75-70 lead, before Sparks knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit to three, 75-72, with 1:45 left to play. The Zips went 9-for-9 at the free-throw line and outscored the Cardinals 12-11, in the game's final minute and a half. Akron knocked of Ball State 87-83.
Xavier Castaneda recorded a game-high 29 points and went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. He added three rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Sammy Hunter posted 25 points, six rebounds, and one steal. Enrique Freeman collected a double-double behind 24 points and a game-high 12 boards.
Ball State closes out the 2022-23 season at home against Toledo on Friday, March 3. Prior to the 6 p.m. tip, the Cardinals will recognize the seniors for Senior Day. Friday's contest will also be the annual Muncie Out.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
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Ball State fell to 20-10 overall and 11-6 in Mid-American Conference play, while Akron improved to 21-9 overall and 13-4 in league games.
"I'm not into morality wins, but I'm as proud of them tonight, with their fight, their effort, their grit after this loss, as I am with any of the games we won," said Head Coach Michael Lewis. "You play like that and you're going to give yourselves a chance in Cleveland."
Windham led the Cardinals with a career-high 19 points. He added three rebounds and three assists. Basheer Jihad produced a career-high 17 points to go along with three boards. Demarius Jacobs closed out the double-digit scorers with 16 points. Jacobs tied for a game-high two steals. Jacobs and Luke Bumbalough tied for a game-high four assists. Payton Sparks led the team with nine rebounds and added one block with eight points. Jaylin Sellers tied for a game-high two steals to go along with nine points, six rebounds, and one block.
The game started as a back-and-forth battle. Ball State and Akron were both 3-for-4 from the field as the game was tied with 16:47 left in the opening half. The Cardinals were able to get a little space between them with a 6-2 run, led by back-to-back 3-pointers, one from Jihad and the other by Sellers.
After the Zips cut the deficit to one, 12-11, the Cardinals outscored the Zips 11-6 and extended the lead to 23-4 with 11:37 left in the half. Ball State added a 7-2 run to extend the lead to the largest of the half, 30-19, with 8:26 left in the stanza.
Akron cut the deficit to five, 30-25, with a 6-0 run with 5:33 left until the break. The two squads traded baskets the remainder of the half as the Cardinals took a 41-36 lead into the break.
The Cardinals opened the second half on a 10-4 run and extended their lead to 51-40 with just over 15 minutes left to play. The Zips answered with a 12-4 run and cut the Cardinal lead to 55-52 with just over 11 minutes left in regulation.
Ball State outscored Akron 8-4 over the next 2:32 of action and extended its lead to 63-56. The Zips went on a 12-0 run and took a 68-63 lead with just over five minutes left in regulation. The Cardinals responded and scored the game's next five points and tied the game at 68-68.
Akron took a 75-70 lead, before Sparks knocked down two free throws to cut the deficit to three, 75-72, with 1:45 left to play. The Zips went 9-for-9 at the free-throw line and outscored the Cardinals 12-11, in the game's final minute and a half. Akron knocked of Ball State 87-83.
Xavier Castaneda recorded a game-high 29 points and went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. He added three rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Sammy Hunter posted 25 points, six rebounds, and one steal. Enrique Freeman collected a double-double behind 24 points and a game-high 12 boards.
Ball State closes out the 2022-23 season at home against Toledo on Friday, March 3. Prior to the 6 p.m. tip, the Cardinals will recognize the seniors for Senior Day. Friday's contest will also be the annual Muncie Out.
For general and season ticket information, please click here or call 1-888-BSU-TICKET (756-285-1474).
Follow the Cardinals
Team Stats
BSU
UA
FG%
.517
.441
3FG%
.480
.387
FT%
.818
.852
RB
32
32
TO
9
9
STL
5
5
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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