Tuesday, January 23
Buffalo, NY
7:00 p.m.
Ball State University
10-9,2-5MAC
87
at
59
Buffalo
2-16,1-5MAC
1
2
F
Ball St.
45
42
87
Buffalo
31
28
59
Photo by: Buffalo Athletics
Late First Half Rally Propels Men's Basketball to Blowout Win at Buffalo
January 23, 2024 | Men's Basketball
17-point Scoring Run Set a New Best vs a Division I Foe this Year
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Ball State men's basketball team went on a 17-0 scoring run late in the first half on Tuesday night at Alumni Arena to pull away from Buffalo and cruise to an 87-59 win.
The Cardinals (10-9, 2-5 MAC) trailed 11-0 early, but used a 10-2 scoring run to quickly close the gap against the Bulls (2-16, 1-5 MAC). The visitors would take their first lead on a Trent Middleton Jr. 3-pointer to pull ahead 20-18 at the 11:45 mark. The 17-point rally, Ball State's best against a Division I opponent this season, spanned almost seven minutes and allowed the Cardinals to go into halftime up 45-31.
Ball State continued to expand the advantage to as much as the final margin of 28 thanks to Basheer Jihad's 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists and a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double by Mickey Pearson Jr. It was Pearson Jr.'s second straight double-double performance.
Also scoring in double figures for the Cardinals were Jalin Anderson (12 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals) and Ben Hendriks, who had 10 points in front of a crowd of friends and family from the nearby Toronto area.
The winning margin was the largest of the season so far against a Division I opponent and second-best overall (101-40 over Goshen College on Nov. 7).
The visitors shot 50.8 percent (31-61) from the field, including 43.5 percent (10-23) from distance and 78.9 percent (15-19) at the free throw line, while limiting the Bulls to 32.8 percent (20-61) shooting and 30.3 percent (10-33) on 3-pointers.
Buffalo got a game-high 27 points from Sy Chatman, but he was the only Bull to score at least 10 points. Ball State dominated the points off turnovers (20-2), points in the paint (40-20) and fastbreak points (28-10) categories while controlling the glass to the tune of a 46-27 advantage in rebounds.
The Cardinals host Northern Illinois at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Worthen Arena in the first of back-to-back home games.
The Cardinals (10-9, 2-5 MAC) trailed 11-0 early, but used a 10-2 scoring run to quickly close the gap against the Bulls (2-16, 1-5 MAC). The visitors would take their first lead on a Trent Middleton Jr. 3-pointer to pull ahead 20-18 at the 11:45 mark. The 17-point rally, Ball State's best against a Division I opponent this season, spanned almost seven minutes and allowed the Cardinals to go into halftime up 45-31.
Ball State continued to expand the advantage to as much as the final margin of 28 thanks to Basheer Jihad's 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists and a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double by Mickey Pearson Jr. It was Pearson Jr.'s second straight double-double performance.
Also scoring in double figures for the Cardinals were Jalin Anderson (12 points, four rebounds, four assists and five steals) and Ben Hendriks, who had 10 points in front of a crowd of friends and family from the nearby Toronto area.
The winning margin was the largest of the season so far against a Division I opponent and second-best overall (101-40 over Goshen College on Nov. 7).
The visitors shot 50.8 percent (31-61) from the field, including 43.5 percent (10-23) from distance and 78.9 percent (15-19) at the free throw line, while limiting the Bulls to 32.8 percent (20-61) shooting and 30.3 percent (10-33) on 3-pointers.
Buffalo got a game-high 27 points from Sy Chatman, but he was the only Bull to score at least 10 points. Ball State dominated the points off turnovers (20-2), points in the paint (40-20) and fastbreak points (28-10) categories while controlling the glass to the tune of a 46-27 advantage in rebounds.
The Cardinals host Northern Illinois at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Worthen Arena in the first of back-to-back home games.
Team Stats
BSU
UB
FG%
.508
.328
3FG%
.435
.313
FT%
.789
.750
RB
46
27
TO
15
13
STL
10
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
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