Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, January 3
Buffalo, N.Y.
2 PM
Ball State University
4-10,0-2MAC
72
at
85
Buffalo
13-2,3-0MAC
1
2
F
Ball St.
25
47
72
Buffalo
41
44
85
Cardinals Fall at Buffalo Despite Second Half Rally
January 03, 2026 | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Devon Barnes scored a season-high 20 points and led a Ball State second half comeback effort, after overcoming a slow start, Saturday at Alumni Arena in Buffalo. Buffalo capitalized on its 16-point halftime advantage to close an 85-72 win over the Cardinals and remain unbeaten in the Mid-American Conference.
Buffalo (13-2, 3-0 MAC) extended its overall win streak to four games and ended a three-game slide against the Cardinals (4-10, 0-2 MAC). It was Buffalo's first home win over Ball State since February 2022.
Barnes scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half, and Armoni Ziegler managed 13 of his 15 points in the final frame, after the Bulls led 41-26 at intermission.
Barnes used three second-half 3-pointers and shot 9-of-10 at the foul stripe to mark his third straight game in double figures. He netted 10 against Miami, and added 17 earlier this week against Earlham.
Ball State never led after scoring the game's first basket and Buffalo scored 10 3-point baskets on 46 percent shooting beyond the arc. The Bulls shot 57 percent overall.
"We got off to a poor start and I thought we lacked physicality," said Cardinals coach Michael Lewis. "I thought they pushed us around early."
The Cardinals though, who had nine turnovers in the opening half, had just three the rest of the game, and rode the hot hands of Barnes and Ziegler, who combined to shoot 8-of-16 from the floor in the second half.
Davion Hill finished with 17 points and a team-high six rebounds for Ball State. Elmore James finished with 11 points on the strength of three 3-pointers. Mason Jones contributed a team-high five assists.
The Cardinals continue Mid-American Conference play on Tuesday when they host Eastern Michigan at Worthen Arena at 7:00 p.m. Single-game tickets for all Ball State basketball games are available at BallStateSports.com or by calling 1-888-BSU-TICKET.
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Buffalo (13-2, 3-0 MAC) extended its overall win streak to four games and ended a three-game slide against the Cardinals (4-10, 0-2 MAC). It was Buffalo's first home win over Ball State since February 2022.
Barnes scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half, and Armoni Ziegler managed 13 of his 15 points in the final frame, after the Bulls led 41-26 at intermission.
Barnes used three second-half 3-pointers and shot 9-of-10 at the foul stripe to mark his third straight game in double figures. He netted 10 against Miami, and added 17 earlier this week against Earlham.
Ball State never led after scoring the game's first basket and Buffalo scored 10 3-point baskets on 46 percent shooting beyond the arc. The Bulls shot 57 percent overall.
"We got off to a poor start and I thought we lacked physicality," said Cardinals coach Michael Lewis. "I thought they pushed us around early."
The Cardinals though, who had nine turnovers in the opening half, had just three the rest of the game, and rode the hot hands of Barnes and Ziegler, who combined to shoot 8-of-16 from the floor in the second half.
Davion Hill finished with 17 points and a team-high six rebounds for Ball State. Elmore James finished with 11 points on the strength of three 3-pointers. Mason Jones contributed a team-high five assists.
The Cardinals continue Mid-American Conference play on Tuesday when they host Eastern Michigan at Worthen Arena at 7:00 p.m. Single-game tickets for all Ball State basketball games are available at BallStateSports.com or by calling 1-888-BSU-TICKET.
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Team Stats
BSU
UB
FG%
.400
.569
3FG%
.360
.455
FT%
.826
.944
RB
28
30
TO
12
13
STL
11
9
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
9
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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