Tuesday, January 16
Ypsilanti, MI
7:00 p.m.
Ball State University
9-8,1-4MAC
76
at
62
Eastern Michigan
8-9,1-4MAC
1
2
F
Ball St.
32
44
76
Eastern Mich.
29
33
62
Photo by: Jonathan Knight
Cardinals Earn Much-Needed Victory In 76-62 Road Triumph At EMU
January 16, 2024 | Men's Basketball
Ypsilanti, Mich. – Davion Bailey scored 21 points to lead four Ball State players in double figures on Tuesday as the Cardinals earned a timely road win at Eastern Michigan, 76-62. Jalin Anderson contributed 15 points, Basheer Jihad had 14 points and Mason Jones added 10.
Bailey hit four 3-pointers and tied his career scoring high. He also paced the Cardinals with a season-high seven rebounds and added a pair of steals to help Ball State earn its first victory in Mid-American Conference play.
The Cardinals (9-8, 1-4 MAC) snapped a six-game losing streak while handing the Eagles (8-9, 1-4 MAC) their third straight defeat. It was Ball State's first road win since beating Detroit Mercy on Dec. 6.
Ball State led by as many as 12 before an Eastern Michigan rally brought the Eagles within seven, 69-62, with 2:06 to play. Free throws down the stretch helped put the Cardinals ahead by double figures to stay.
Ball State took control midway through the second half with a 15-8 run after trailing 38-37. The Cardinals shot 60 percent in the second half to change fortunes shooting 40 percent in the first half. The Cardinals took a double-digit advantage on a deep 3-pointer by Anderson with 7:56 to play. Bailey extended the Cardinals lead to 12, 67-55, with a corner trey with 5:20 to play.
Ball State took advantage of 15 Eastern Michigan turnovers while securing 11 steals, their highest figure in the MAC. Anderson led the Cardinal thievery with five steals and also paced Ball State with six assists. Mickey Pearson added three thefts and eight points.
Ball State led 32-29 at halftime, outscoring EMU 13-10 over the last five minutes and leading by as many as six in the final minute. Both teams struggled shooting the basketball in the early going, and were a combined 5-of-22 from 3-point range in the first half.
Tyson Acuff, the leading scorer in the Mid-American Conference and ranked seventh nationally, led EMU with 21 points to match his season average, but the rest of the Eagles roster managed just 15-of-37 shooting (40%) and a combined 41 points.
After closing a two-game road swing, Ball State returns to Worthen Arena on Saturday to face the Miami Redhawks at 2:00 p.m.
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Bailey hit four 3-pointers and tied his career scoring high. He also paced the Cardinals with a season-high seven rebounds and added a pair of steals to help Ball State earn its first victory in Mid-American Conference play.
The Cardinals (9-8, 1-4 MAC) snapped a six-game losing streak while handing the Eagles (8-9, 1-4 MAC) their third straight defeat. It was Ball State's first road win since beating Detroit Mercy on Dec. 6.
Ball State led by as many as 12 before an Eastern Michigan rally brought the Eagles within seven, 69-62, with 2:06 to play. Free throws down the stretch helped put the Cardinals ahead by double figures to stay.
Ball State took control midway through the second half with a 15-8 run after trailing 38-37. The Cardinals shot 60 percent in the second half to change fortunes shooting 40 percent in the first half. The Cardinals took a double-digit advantage on a deep 3-pointer by Anderson with 7:56 to play. Bailey extended the Cardinals lead to 12, 67-55, with a corner trey with 5:20 to play.
Ball State took advantage of 15 Eastern Michigan turnovers while securing 11 steals, their highest figure in the MAC. Anderson led the Cardinal thievery with five steals and also paced Ball State with six assists. Mickey Pearson added three thefts and eight points.
Ball State led 32-29 at halftime, outscoring EMU 13-10 over the last five minutes and leading by as many as six in the final minute. Both teams struggled shooting the basketball in the early going, and were a combined 5-of-22 from 3-point range in the first half.
Tyson Acuff, the leading scorer in the Mid-American Conference and ranked seventh nationally, led EMU with 21 points to match his season average, but the rest of the Eagles roster managed just 15-of-37 shooting (40%) and a combined 41 points.
After closing a two-game road swing, Ball State returns to Worthen Arena on Saturday to face the Miami Redhawks at 2:00 p.m.
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Team Stats
BSU
EMU
FG%
.500
.404
3FG%
.368
.235
FT%
.773
.706
RB
31
37
TO
9
15
STL
11
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
7
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
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