Ball State University Athletics
Friday, November 28
Easton, Pa.
2 PM
Ball State University
2-4,0-0MAC
73
vs
80
Monmouth
3-3,0-0CAA
1
2
F
Ball St.
29
44
73
Monmouth
35
45
80
Photo by: Isaiah Green
Men's Basketball Rallies Late but Falls to Monmouth in Lafayette Classic Opener
November 28, 2025 | Men's Basketball
EASTON, Pa. – The Ball State men's basketball team made late runs but couldn't complete a comeback as Monmouth won 80-73 on Friday afternoon at the Kirby Sports Center.
The Cardinals (2-4) trailed 35-29 at halftime but used an 8-0 run on a pair of 3-pointers by Davion Hill and a driving layup from Devon Barnes to take a 53-51 lead with 11:04 to play.
The Hawks (3-3) scored the next nine points and built the lead to as many as 13 points, but Ball State cut its deficit to five after back-to-back layups from Hill made the score 78-73 with 1:08 on the clock. Monmouth made two free throws in the final minute for the final scoring in the opener of the Lafayette Classic.
Hill went for a game-high 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting and added two assists and two steals. Armoni Zeigler contributed 14 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Cardinals, while Juwan Maxey tallied 13 points and two assists.
Elmore James IV (11 points, two assists) rounded out the Cardinals in double figures scoring. Mason Jones posted four points, four rebounds and a career high six assists. Hill (five 3-pointers) and Maxey (three) had season-bests shooting performances from beyond the arc.
Monmouth won the rebounding battle 40-29 and held an advantage in second chance points (14-6). Andrew Ball led the Hawks with 16 points.
Ball State shot 45.3 percent (29-64) from the field including 36.7 percent (11-30) from distance and made 4 of 6 free throw attempts. Monmouth went 49.2 percent (29-59) on field goals, 42.9 percent (9-21) on 3-pointers and 68.4 percent (13-19) at the foul line.
The Cardinals play again Saturday against Lafayette at 4:30 p.m.
The Cardinals (2-4) trailed 35-29 at halftime but used an 8-0 run on a pair of 3-pointers by Davion Hill and a driving layup from Devon Barnes to take a 53-51 lead with 11:04 to play.
The Hawks (3-3) scored the next nine points and built the lead to as many as 13 points, but Ball State cut its deficit to five after back-to-back layups from Hill made the score 78-73 with 1:08 on the clock. Monmouth made two free throws in the final minute for the final scoring in the opener of the Lafayette Classic.
Hill went for a game-high 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting and added two assists and two steals. Armoni Zeigler contributed 14 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Cardinals, while Juwan Maxey tallied 13 points and two assists.
Elmore James IV (11 points, two assists) rounded out the Cardinals in double figures scoring. Mason Jones posted four points, four rebounds and a career high six assists. Hill (five 3-pointers) and Maxey (three) had season-bests shooting performances from beyond the arc.
Monmouth won the rebounding battle 40-29 and held an advantage in second chance points (14-6). Andrew Ball led the Hawks with 16 points.
Ball State shot 45.3 percent (29-64) from the field including 36.7 percent (11-30) from distance and made 4 of 6 free throw attempts. Monmouth went 49.2 percent (29-59) on field goals, 42.9 percent (9-21) on 3-pointers and 68.4 percent (13-19) at the foul line.
The Cardinals play again Saturday against Lafayette at 4:30 p.m.
Team Stats
BSU
MU
FG%
.453
.492
3FG%
.367
.429
FT%
.667
.684
RB
29
40
TO
10
9
STL
5
7
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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