Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, February 7
Monroe, La.
3 PM ET / 2 PM CT
Ball State University
8-15,3-7MAC
73
at
68
Louisiana Monroe
4-21,1-11Sun Belt
1
2
F
Ball St.
36
37
73
ULM
27
41
68
Photo by: Louisiana Monroe Athletics
Balanced Offensive Attack Leads Cardinals to 73-68 Win at Louisiana Monroe
February 07, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Cardinals Sweep MAC-Sun Belt Challenge
MONROE, La. – The Ball State men's basketball team got out to a strong start and rode a balanced offensive attack to a 73-68 win at Louisiana Monroe on Saturday afternoon at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.
The Cardinals led 22-7 midway through the first half after a Juwan Maxey 3-pointer, and Kayden Fish hit a layup in the closing seconds of the opening period to give the visitors a 36-27 advantage going into halftime.
Ball State (8-15) held at least a four-point lead for the balance of the second half, but the Warhawks (4-21) stayed within single digits in the late stages of the contest. Fish, Devon Barnes, Davion Hill and Juwan Maxey made free throws for the Cardinals in the final five minutes to help maintain the lead.
The Cardinals swept the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge after previously topping Louisiana 75-64 in the season opener back on Nov. 3.
Fish posted a team and career high 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field and 5-for-6 at the free throw line while collecting six rebounds. Hill tallied 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and three assists. Elmore James IV (13 points, two steals) and Armoni Zeigler (11 points, six rebounds, two assists) were the other two in a quartet of Cardinals in double figures scoring.
James IV made all four of his field goal attempts in the second half, including a jumper at the 7:07 mark to put the visitors ahead 62-52.
Maxey hit a pair of triples on the afternoon and finished with seven points, and Barnes contributed six points, including going 4-for-4 at the foul line in the final minutes of the contest, and six rebounds.
Ball State won the rebounding battle 37-33 and held edges in points in the paint (40-26) and second chance points (16-12). The Cardinals committed two more turnovers (14-12) than the Warhawks but enjoyed a 38-6 edge in bench points led by Fish and Hill.
The visitors went 43.5 percent (27-62) from the field, 31.3 percent (5-16) from distance and 77.8 percent (14-18) on free throws. Louisiana Monroe made 37.5 percent (18-48) of its free throw attempts including 11.1 percent (2-18) on 3-pointers while going 83.3 percent (30-36) at the foul line.
Ball State returns home to host Buffalo on Wednesday night following the three-game road swing.
The Cardinals led 22-7 midway through the first half after a Juwan Maxey 3-pointer, and Kayden Fish hit a layup in the closing seconds of the opening period to give the visitors a 36-27 advantage going into halftime.
Ball State (8-15) held at least a four-point lead for the balance of the second half, but the Warhawks (4-21) stayed within single digits in the late stages of the contest. Fish, Devon Barnes, Davion Hill and Juwan Maxey made free throws for the Cardinals in the final five minutes to help maintain the lead.
The Cardinals swept the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge after previously topping Louisiana 75-64 in the season opener back on Nov. 3.
Fish posted a team and career high 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field and 5-for-6 at the free throw line while collecting six rebounds. Hill tallied 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and three assists. Elmore James IV (13 points, two steals) and Armoni Zeigler (11 points, six rebounds, two assists) were the other two in a quartet of Cardinals in double figures scoring.
James IV made all four of his field goal attempts in the second half, including a jumper at the 7:07 mark to put the visitors ahead 62-52.
Maxey hit a pair of triples on the afternoon and finished with seven points, and Barnes contributed six points, including going 4-for-4 at the foul line in the final minutes of the contest, and six rebounds.
Ball State won the rebounding battle 37-33 and held edges in points in the paint (40-26) and second chance points (16-12). The Cardinals committed two more turnovers (14-12) than the Warhawks but enjoyed a 38-6 edge in bench points led by Fish and Hill.
The visitors went 43.5 percent (27-62) from the field, 31.3 percent (5-16) from distance and 77.8 percent (14-18) on free throws. Louisiana Monroe made 37.5 percent (18-48) of its free throw attempts including 11.1 percent (2-18) on 3-pointers while going 83.3 percent (30-36) at the foul line.
Ball State returns home to host Buffalo on Wednesday night following the three-game road swing.
Team Stats
BSU
ULM
FG%
.435
.375
3FG%
.313
.111
FT%
.778
.833
RB
37
33
TO
14
12
STL
9
10
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
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