
Photo by: Jacob Neary
Hill's Apparent Buzzer Beater Waived Off; Cardinals Fall 67-66 at Toledo
February 18, 2025 | Men's Basketball
TOLEDO, Ohio – Jermahri Hill appeared to make a game-winning layup at the buzzer, but the basket was waived off allowing Toledo to escape with a 67-66 win over the Ball State men's basketball team on Tuesday night at Savage Arena.
The Cardinals (13-13, 6-7 Mid-American Conference) got the ball with 12 seconds to play after Toledo (16-10, 9-4 MAC) made a pair of free throws to take the lead. Hill maneuvered the ball near the paint before laying it up with his right hand, and the ball bounced in right after the buzzer sounded. The officials deemed the ball didn't leave his hand until after the clock hit zeros, giving the win to the hosts.
Ball State led by as many as 11 points (33-22 at the 3:15 mark of the first half), taking a 35-28 lead into halftime. The Rockets scored the first nine points of the second half to take a lead and held a 54-46 advantage with 10 minutes to play, but the visitors responded by scoring 18 of the next 25 points to secure a 64-61 edge after a pair of Payton Sparks free throws at the 2:20 mark.
After Toledo's Bryce Ford made a layup, Ball State's Ethan Brittain-Watts hit two free throws for a 66-63 lead for the Cardinals with 1:13 on the clock. Ford hit a bucket with a minute to play to set up the events at the end of the game.
Hill (16 points, six assists, four rebounds) and Sparks (16 points, nine rebounds) led the Cardinals in scoring while Juanse Gorosito added 13 points. Brittain-Watts chipped in nine points, three rebounds and three assists for a Ball State team that entered Tuesday on a three-game winning streak.
Isaiah Adams had 18 points to pace the Rockets, who shot 45.2 percent (28-62) from the field, 21.4 percent (3-14) on 3-pointers and 66.7 percent (8-12) at the foul line. Toledo held an advantage in rebounding (32-30) and committed fewer turnovers (13-8).
Ball State went 48.9 percent (23-47) on field goals including 33.3 percent (5-15) from distance and made 88.2 percent (15-17) of its free throw attempts.
The Cardinals return home to host Buffalo at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Cardinals (13-13, 6-7 Mid-American Conference) got the ball with 12 seconds to play after Toledo (16-10, 9-4 MAC) made a pair of free throws to take the lead. Hill maneuvered the ball near the paint before laying it up with his right hand, and the ball bounced in right after the buzzer sounded. The officials deemed the ball didn't leave his hand until after the clock hit zeros, giving the win to the hosts.
Ball State led by as many as 11 points (33-22 at the 3:15 mark of the first half), taking a 35-28 lead into halftime. The Rockets scored the first nine points of the second half to take a lead and held a 54-46 advantage with 10 minutes to play, but the visitors responded by scoring 18 of the next 25 points to secure a 64-61 edge after a pair of Payton Sparks free throws at the 2:20 mark.
After Toledo's Bryce Ford made a layup, Ball State's Ethan Brittain-Watts hit two free throws for a 66-63 lead for the Cardinals with 1:13 on the clock. Ford hit a bucket with a minute to play to set up the events at the end of the game.
Hill (16 points, six assists, four rebounds) and Sparks (16 points, nine rebounds) led the Cardinals in scoring while Juanse Gorosito added 13 points. Brittain-Watts chipped in nine points, three rebounds and three assists for a Ball State team that entered Tuesday on a three-game winning streak.
Isaiah Adams had 18 points to pace the Rockets, who shot 45.2 percent (28-62) from the field, 21.4 percent (3-14) on 3-pointers and 66.7 percent (8-12) at the foul line. Toledo held an advantage in rebounding (32-30) and committed fewer turnovers (13-8).
Ball State went 48.9 percent (23-47) on field goals including 33.3 percent (5-15) from distance and made 88.2 percent (15-17) of its free throw attempts.
The Cardinals return home to host Buffalo at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Team Stats
BSU
UT
FG%
.489
.452
3FG%
.333
.214
FT%
.882
.667
RB
30
32
TO
13
8
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
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