Tuesday, January 7
Muncie, Ind.
7 PM
Ball State University
7-7,1-1MAC
72
vs
80
Miami (OH)
10-4,2-0MAC
1
2
F
Miami (OH)
38
42
80
Ball St.
33
39
72
Photo by: Samantha Blankenship / Ball State University
Cardinals Fall to RedHawks to Snap Winning Streak
January 07, 2025 | Men's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team got 20 points and 16 rebounds from Payton Sparks but couldn't overcome an efficient Miami (OH) offense in an 80-72 win for the RedHawks on Tuesday night at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals (7-7, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) used a 7-0 run early in the second half after trailing 38-33 at the halftime break to get within a point of the RedHawks (10-4, 2-0 MAC) at 41-40, but the visitors scored the next six points to claim a 47-40 edge with 16 minutes to play.
Ball State's Jermahri Hill made a layup at the 6:32 mark of the second half to cut Miami's advantage to 57-55, but Kam Craft scored four of his game-high 28 points in the next minute, and the RedHawks would lead by at least four points for the remainder of the game.
Sparks tied his career-best in rebounds for the second time in three games and added two assists while going 8-for-9 from the field. Hill joined him with a team-best 20 points while dishing out three assists. Mickey Pearson Jr. (12 points) and Jeremiah Hernandez (11 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals) were the others in double-figures scoring for Ball State, which saw its four-game winning streak snapped with the setback.
Craft led a Miami offensive attack that shot 55.4 percent (31-56) from the field, 30 percent (6-20) on 3-pointers and 75 percent (12-16) on free throws. Ball State went 43.4 percent (23-53) from the field, 23.8 percent (5-21) from distance and 70 percent (21-30) at the foul line.
The hosts outrebounded Miami 37-26 and had a 12-2 edge in second chance points, but the visitors had six fewer turnovers (13-7) to enjoy a 15-6 advantage in points off turnovers. Ball State held a 38-14 spread in bench points led by Sparks and Pearson.
The Cardinals stay home to play Bowling Green at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The Cardinals (7-7, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) used a 7-0 run early in the second half after trailing 38-33 at the halftime break to get within a point of the RedHawks (10-4, 2-0 MAC) at 41-40, but the visitors scored the next six points to claim a 47-40 edge with 16 minutes to play.
Ball State's Jermahri Hill made a layup at the 6:32 mark of the second half to cut Miami's advantage to 57-55, but Kam Craft scored four of his game-high 28 points in the next minute, and the RedHawks would lead by at least four points for the remainder of the game.
Sparks tied his career-best in rebounds for the second time in three games and added two assists while going 8-for-9 from the field. Hill joined him with a team-best 20 points while dishing out three assists. Mickey Pearson Jr. (12 points) and Jeremiah Hernandez (11 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals) were the others in double-figures scoring for Ball State, which saw its four-game winning streak snapped with the setback.
Craft led a Miami offensive attack that shot 55.4 percent (31-56) from the field, 30 percent (6-20) on 3-pointers and 75 percent (12-16) on free throws. Ball State went 43.4 percent (23-53) from the field, 23.8 percent (5-21) from distance and 70 percent (21-30) at the foul line.
The hosts outrebounded Miami 37-26 and had a 12-2 edge in second chance points, but the visitors had six fewer turnovers (13-7) to enjoy a 15-6 advantage in points off turnovers. Ball State held a 38-14 spread in bench points led by Sparks and Pearson.
The Cardinals stay home to play Bowling Green at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Team Stats
Miami
BSU
FG%
.554
.434
3FG%
.300
.238
FT%
.750
.700
RB
26
37
TO
7
13
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
20
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
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