Friday, March 7
Oxford, Ohio
6 PM
Ball State University
66
at
79
Miami (OH)
Photo by: Miami University Athletics
Men's Basketball Concludes Season with 79-66 Setback at Miami
March 07, 2025 | Men's Basketball
OXFORD, Ohio – The Ball State men's basketball team couldn't overcome an early deficit and fell 79-66 at Miami (OH) Friday night at Millett Hall.
The Cardinals trailed 11-0 early against the RedHawks (23-8, 14-4 Mid-American Conference), who enter next week's MAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed.
Ball State used a 9-0 scoring run capped off by a Jermahri Hill layup to get within 37-23 in the final minute of the first half, but Miami scored the last four points of the opening period to take a 41-23 lead into the break and would lead by double figures for the balance of the second half.
Hill paced the Cardinals with 18 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Joey Hart had a career-high 14 points and collected four rebounds. TJ Burch chipped in 12 points, five assists and three boards.
Payton Sparks (eight points, 11 rebounds) and Mickey Pearson Jr. (four points, 11 rebounds) each had double digit boards in their final collegiate game. Kody Clancy scored his first career points on an and-1 in the closing minutes of the second half.
Kam Craft (19 points) and Dan Luers (18) led a Miami offense that shot 42.9 percent (30-70) from the field and 36.1 percent (13-36) on 3-pointers.
Ball State went 38.8 percent (26-67) on field goals including 14.3 percent (3-21) from distance and 64.7 percent (11-17) at the foul line. The Cardinals outrebounded the RedHawks 47-40 but committed more turnovers (14-9).
The Cardinals conclude the 2024-25 season with a 14-17 (7-11 MAC) record.
The Cardinals trailed 11-0 early against the RedHawks (23-8, 14-4 Mid-American Conference), who enter next week's MAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed.
Ball State used a 9-0 scoring run capped off by a Jermahri Hill layup to get within 37-23 in the final minute of the first half, but Miami scored the last four points of the opening period to take a 41-23 lead into the break and would lead by double figures for the balance of the second half.
Hill paced the Cardinals with 18 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Joey Hart had a career-high 14 points and collected four rebounds. TJ Burch chipped in 12 points, five assists and three boards.
Payton Sparks (eight points, 11 rebounds) and Mickey Pearson Jr. (four points, 11 rebounds) each had double digit boards in their final collegiate game. Kody Clancy scored his first career points on an and-1 in the closing minutes of the second half.
Kam Craft (19 points) and Dan Luers (18) led a Miami offense that shot 42.9 percent (30-70) from the field and 36.1 percent (13-36) on 3-pointers.
Ball State went 38.8 percent (26-67) on field goals including 14.3 percent (3-21) from distance and 64.7 percent (11-17) at the foul line. The Cardinals outrebounded the RedHawks 47-40 but committed more turnovers (14-9).
The Cardinals conclude the 2024-25 season with a 14-17 (7-11 MAC) record.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballBall State Men's Basketball // Coach Lewis Season Preview
Tuesday, September 30
Men's Basketball // Season Preview with Head Coach Michael Lewis
Monday, September 29
This Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Jeff Mitchell, Brady Sallee, and Michael Lewis
Thursday, September 25
Men's Basketball // Armoni Zeigler
Wednesday, September 10