Cardinals Complete 18-Point Comeback in 74-73 Overtime Win over UMass

Tuesday, February 24

Muncie, Ind.

7 PM

Ball State University

9-19,4-11MAC

UMass

15-14,6-10MAC

OT 1

Massachusetts

Ball St.

Photo by: Bobby Ellis/Ball State University

Cardinals Complete 18-Point Comeback in 74-73 Overtime Win over UMass

February 24, 2026 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State men's basketball team overcame an 18-point deficit with 12 minutes to go in the second half to force overtime, and Armoni Zeigler hit the game-winning shot in the closing seconds of a 74-73 win over UMass on Tuesday night at Worthen Arena.

Davion Hill led the second half comeback for the Cardinals, as he had 18 of his game-high 26 points in the second period. The guard added five points in the extra session, and Zeigler had five as well, including the go-ahead floater with 16 seconds to play. Ball State forced an off-balanced shot from UMass on the ensuing possession to clinch the comeback win.

Trailing 53-35 after a bucket from the visitors with 12:12 to play in regulation, Hill made a triple and an and-one to begin the rally. The redshirt sophomore later made a pair of free throws to get Ball State within four points at 58-54 with 4:05 left on the clock. Mason Jones next hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to cut the deficit to 58-57 at the 2:35 mark of the second half, and Hill drained two more free throws to put the hosts ahead for the first time in the game at 59-58 with 1:32 to go.

Kayden Fish made a tip-in with 45 seconds left, but Isaiah Placide hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds to go that tied the score at 61-61. The Cardinals had two looks in the closing seconds that didn't fall and forced the first overtime game for the team this season.

Fish and Hill provided the offense for Ball State (9-19, 4-11 Mid-American Conference) early in the extra period, including a free throw from Fish that gave the hosts a 72-67 edge with about 80 seconds to play. Placide, who led the Minutemen with 18 points, converted on an and-one and made a triple to put UMass (15-14, 6-10 MAC) back in front 73-72 with 36 seconds left before Zeigler scored the final basket of the game.

Hill added four rebounds and two assists to his season and game-high 26 points on the night, while the Cardinals got 10 points each from Zeigler (seven rebounds, five assists), Fish (five rebounds), Elmore James IV (four rebounds, two assists, two steals) and Juwan Maxey. Jones chipped in five points and six rebounds, and Preston Copeland tallied three points, nine rebounds and two steals before fouling out late in the second half. Hill made all 11 free throws he attempted.

The Minutemen had more rebounds (49-41), but Ball State collected more points in the paint (38-30) on the night. The Cardinals committed four fewer turnovers (14-10) for the game and scored two more points off turnovers (12-10) than UMass.

Ball State shot 35.7 percent (25-70) from the field including 21.4 percent (6-28) from distance and 81.8 percent (18-22) at the foul line. The Minutemen went 37.7 percent (26-69) on field goals, 29.6 percent (8-27) on 3-pointers and 81.3 percent (13-16) on free throws.

The 18-point comeback was the largest of the season for the Cardinals.

Next up for Ball State is a road game at Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon.