Saturday, December 14
Louisville, Ky.
3 PM
Ball State University
4-6,0-0MAC
86
at
82
Bellarmine
3-8,0-0ASUN
1
2
F
Ball St.
47
39
86
Bellarmine
42
40
82
Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics
Cardinals Triumph 86-82 at Bellarmine
December 14, 2024 | Men's Basketball
Clutch Free Throw Shooting by Pearson Jr. and Seven 3-Pointers from Gorosito Propels Men's Basketball to Victory
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Ball State men's basketball team rode a high-efficiency shooting performance and clutch free throws to an 86-82 win at Bellarmine Saturday afternoon at Knights Hall.
The Cardinals (4-6) held an 11-point advantage at two occasions late in the second half, but the Knights (3-8) fought back to within three points at 79-76 with 2:30 to play and 83-80 with 1:18 left. Mason Jones made one of two free throws with 15 seconds to go on the clock before Mickey Pearson Jr. clinched the road win for Ball State with a pair of free throws with 6.2 seconds to play and the Cardinals up 84-82.
Ball State shot 54.2 percent (26-48) from the field for the game including 52.6 percent (10-19) from distance and 75 percent (24-32) on free throws. Juanse Gorosito tied his career-high with seven 3-pointers for 21 points while adding four assists, three rebounds and three steals. Pearson Jr. went a perfect 12-for-12 at the foul line on his way to 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Ben Hendriks made his first start of the season and scored on a hook shot for the game's first points while Jeremiah Hernandez (10 points and four rebounds) and Jones (four points and three rebounds) started their third game each of the campaign.
Bellarmine led for much of the first half but a 10-0 Ball State rally featuring two triples by Gorosito propelled the Cardinals to a 36-30 advantage with four minutes left in the first half. Ball State had its highest offensive output in a first half of the season to take a 47-42 lead into the break.
Bellarmine's Billy Smith went 6-for-8 on 3-pointers on his way to 33 points, but the Knights were limited to 18.2 percent (2-11) shooting from distance in the second half to prevent them from completing a comeback. For the game, the hosts shot 47.5 percent (29-61) on field goals, 37.9 percent (11-29) on triples and 86.7 percent (13-15) on free throws.
Ball State led 35-11 in bench points primarily from Pearson Jr. and Payton Sparks (12 points, four rebounds), while Joey Hart put up five points including a 3-pointer from the left wing with 5:24 to go to extend the visitors' edge to 75-65.
Up next for the Cardinals is a 2 p.m. home game against Evansville next Saturday. It will be the first game for Ball State at Worthen Arena since Nov. 20.
The Cardinals (4-6) held an 11-point advantage at two occasions late in the second half, but the Knights (3-8) fought back to within three points at 79-76 with 2:30 to play and 83-80 with 1:18 left. Mason Jones made one of two free throws with 15 seconds to go on the clock before Mickey Pearson Jr. clinched the road win for Ball State with a pair of free throws with 6.2 seconds to play and the Cardinals up 84-82.
Ball State shot 54.2 percent (26-48) from the field for the game including 52.6 percent (10-19) from distance and 75 percent (24-32) on free throws. Juanse Gorosito tied his career-high with seven 3-pointers for 21 points while adding four assists, three rebounds and three steals. Pearson Jr. went a perfect 12-for-12 at the foul line on his way to 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Ben Hendriks made his first start of the season and scored on a hook shot for the game's first points while Jeremiah Hernandez (10 points and four rebounds) and Jones (four points and three rebounds) started their third game each of the campaign.
Bellarmine led for much of the first half but a 10-0 Ball State rally featuring two triples by Gorosito propelled the Cardinals to a 36-30 advantage with four minutes left in the first half. Ball State had its highest offensive output in a first half of the season to take a 47-42 lead into the break.
Bellarmine's Billy Smith went 6-for-8 on 3-pointers on his way to 33 points, but the Knights were limited to 18.2 percent (2-11) shooting from distance in the second half to prevent them from completing a comeback. For the game, the hosts shot 47.5 percent (29-61) on field goals, 37.9 percent (11-29) on triples and 86.7 percent (13-15) on free throws.
Ball State led 35-11 in bench points primarily from Pearson Jr. and Payton Sparks (12 points, four rebounds), while Joey Hart put up five points including a 3-pointer from the left wing with 5:24 to go to extend the visitors' edge to 75-65.
Up next for the Cardinals is a 2 p.m. home game against Evansville next Saturday. It will be the first game for Ball State at Worthen Arena since Nov. 20.
Team Stats
BSU
BU
FG%
.542
.475
3FG%
.526
.379
FT%
.750
.867
RB
27
32
TO
9
10
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
7
FTM
0
Pts
18
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
12
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballC
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