Tuesday, January 14
Athens, Ohio
7 PM
Ball State University
8-8,2-2MAC
71
at
86
Ohio
10-6,4-0MAC
1
2
F
Ball St.
35
36
71
Ohio
45
41
86
Photo by: Clay Stark
Men's Basketball Falls at League-Leading Ohio
January 14, 2025 | Men's Basketball
ATHENS, Ohio – The Ball State men's basketball team got a big first half and game-high in scoring from Mickey Pearson Jr., but couldn't keep up with Ohio in an 86-71 setback on Tuesday night at the Convocation Center.
Pearson scored the first five points of the game on a 3-pointer and layup to put the Cardinals (8-8, 2-2 Mid-American Conference) ahead 5-0 only a minute into the game. The forward finished the game with 19 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Ohio (10-6, 4-0 MAC) responded to Ball State's early burst with a 10-0 rally of its own before taking a 45-35 edge into the halftime break. Seventeen of Pearson's points were scored in the opening period including a triple in the final minute that was the final offense of the half.
The Cardinals cut the deficit to seven points on two occasions in the second half, including at 62-55 with 10:44 to play, but the Bobcats went on a 7-0 scoring run to provide separation.
Jermahri Hill (14 points, five rebounds, three assists) joined Pearson in double figures scoring while Payton Sparks, Jeremiah Hernandez and Juanse Gorosito added eight points each for the Cardinals. Sparks collected 12 rebounds, and Mason Jones (seven points), Joey Hart (five) and Ben Hendriks (two) were also in the scoring column.
The Bobcats had four players with at least a dozen points as part of an offense that shot 54.8 percent (34-62) from the field including 36.4 percent (8-22) from distance. Ball State went 42.9 percent (24-56) on field goals, 50 percent (10-20) on 3-pointers and 68.4 percent (13-19) at the foul line.
Ball State won the rebounding battle 34-29 but committed more turnovers (15-5).
The Cardinals return home to host Toledo at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Worthen Arena.
Pearson scored the first five points of the game on a 3-pointer and layup to put the Cardinals (8-8, 2-2 Mid-American Conference) ahead 5-0 only a minute into the game. The forward finished the game with 19 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Ohio (10-6, 4-0 MAC) responded to Ball State's early burst with a 10-0 rally of its own before taking a 45-35 edge into the halftime break. Seventeen of Pearson's points were scored in the opening period including a triple in the final minute that was the final offense of the half.
The Cardinals cut the deficit to seven points on two occasions in the second half, including at 62-55 with 10:44 to play, but the Bobcats went on a 7-0 scoring run to provide separation.
Jermahri Hill (14 points, five rebounds, three assists) joined Pearson in double figures scoring while Payton Sparks, Jeremiah Hernandez and Juanse Gorosito added eight points each for the Cardinals. Sparks collected 12 rebounds, and Mason Jones (seven points), Joey Hart (five) and Ben Hendriks (two) were also in the scoring column.
The Bobcats had four players with at least a dozen points as part of an offense that shot 54.8 percent (34-62) from the field including 36.4 percent (8-22) from distance. Ball State went 42.9 percent (24-56) on field goals, 50 percent (10-20) on 3-pointers and 68.4 percent (13-19) at the foul line.
Ball State won the rebounding battle 34-29 but committed more turnovers (15-5).
The Cardinals return home to host Toledo at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Worthen Arena.
Team Stats
BSU
Ohio
FG%
.429
.548
3FG%
.500
.364
FT%
.684
.625
RB
34
29
TO
15
5
STL
1
11
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's BasketballMen's Basketball // Jai Anthoni Bearden
Wednesday, August 20
Men's Basketball // Jai Anthoni Bearden - Heart of the Cardinal Podcast
Wednesday, August 20
Men's Basketball // Heart of the Cardinal Podcast // Meet Preston Copeland
Thursday, August 07
Men's Basketball // Preston Copeland
Thursday, August 07