Pregame Notes:
Ball State
-Ball State is trying to recover from Saturday's 20 point home loss against Buffalo.
-Jontrell Walker was suspended indefinitely just hours before the Buffalo game. Has Ball State moved on mentally?
-If Ball State has the lead late, Ohio is in trouble. Ball State is shooting 75% from the line as a team. Ranked 54th nationally.
-This is Ball State's first Road Game in more than a month. The Cardinals now have six of their next eight on the road in MAC play.
-Ball State has now won nine out of ten following the loss to Buffalo on Saturday.
Ohio
-Ohio comes in feeling good after a win on Saturday over Northern Illinois 78-68.
-Ohio has picked up significant home wins this year, including a surprise win over At Large contender Western Kentucky on Dec. 10th
-Ohio is still hurting. Preseason All-MAC East Jason Carter remains out with a lower leg injury and has already missed 11 games. Also hurt is frontcourt Frosh Ben Vander Plas who figures to redshirt.
-Mike Laster is coming off of an outstanding performance against NIU where he had 31 Points on 10-12 FG shooting, including 5-6 from 3 Pt. range!
The main reason I am covering this game is to see how legitimate Ball State's NCAA hopes are. Tyler Persons was the hero in the upset over Notre Dame, but hasn't played as well lately. Let's see if the Cardinals get back in the win column tonight.
1st Half Notes:
-Sweet dish from Teyvion Kirk (Ohio) to Jordan Darvis for three to open the scoring.
-Trey Moses (Ball St) answers with a nifty layup down low.
-Another three for the Bobcats, this time from recently red hot Mike Laster.
-Nice steal and drive to draw a foul by Teyvion Kirk (Ohio).
First Media Timeout: Ohio 8, Ball State 4
-Nice offensive rebound and put-back by Kevin Mickle (Ohio)
-Trey Moses answers down low for the Cards.
-Sweet 16-footer is a swish for Laster, shot it in rhythm with his feet set before he caught the pass from Kirk.
-Moses quickly answers again. He is a matchup problem early on for Ohio. Don't be surprised if Ohio coach Saul Phillips switches to some zone soon.
-Zach Butler (Ohio) is in off the bench, comes in with a strong drive and layup
Second Media Timeout: Ohio 16, Ball State 10.
-Deep three is good for Canadian veteran guard Francis Kiapway (Ball State).
-Strong drive to the hoop and finish by Jeremie Tyler. Tyler missed a lot of action this year and is still getting back in the swing of things.
-Good take by Doug Taylor (Ohio), used a quick slide step to the left to get by the defender and finish.
-Laster with a nice bank shot from 12.-Persons has now scored on two consecutive possessions. Bobcats cant afford to let him get rolling.
Third Media Timeout: Ball State 22, Ohio 20.
-Sluggish play happening as both teams have been fouling each other, missing shots and turning the ball over.
-Tahjai Teague breaks the ice with a nice jumper.
-Laster answers for the Bobcats on the other end.
-Laster is enfuego! Hits a fade-away three ball from the corner and leaves his hand hanging.
-Persons drains another shot. He now has 11.
-Three point play opportunity coming for Teague. Too strong in the paint.
Fourth Media Timeout: Ball State 28, Ohio 26.
-Teague finishes the three point play for the Cards.
-Good ball movement on a long Ohio possession, but it ends in a missed three by Gavin Block.
-James Gollon hits a three as time expires to give the Bobcats a Halftime lead.
Halftime: Ohio 31, Ball State 29.
Halftime Notes
- Laster is leading Ohio again with 11 points, but is 4-9 from the field. Still decent, but not like Saturday's performance. Played 18 minutes.
- Persons had a three reduced to a two, he still has 10 and is a major weapon.
- Moses has 6 Points, 6 Rebounds.
- Very even first half: Each team has six assists, six turnovers, and Ball State has a slim 18-17 Rebounding edge.
- There has only been five total Free Throw Attempts. I imagine that will increase quite a bit in the second half.
2nd Half Notes:
-Doug Taylor rocks the rim with a powerful two hand slam to start the 2nd Half.
-Sweet dish from Kirk to Taylor for a lay in.
-Kirk again penetrates and this time finishes himself. Ohio now on a 9-0 run. Timeout Cards.
-Kyle Mallers (Ball State) makes a much needed three for Ball State.
-Dartis with a layup to answer for Ohio.
First Media Timeout: Ohio 39, Ball State 34.
-Moses draws a foul and makes one of two from the line.
-Mickle hits a nice little baby hook in the lane.
-Mallers with a solid baseline take, connects and draws the foul. Completes the three point play.
-Kirk with another layup in traffic after Laster got his shot blocked.
-Tyler comes in and drains a needed three for the Cards.
-Teague with a tough rebound down low and gets the putback to fall plus earns a trip to the line but misses the three point opportunity.
-Nice pass by Mickle to Butler, but Butler misses the open layup.
-Mallers with a big three and suddenly the Cardinals are on a roll. 10-0 Run.
-Saul Phillips (Ohio HC) is screaming at the officials about no calls.
Second Media Timeout: Ball State 48, Ohio 43.
-Moses gets great position down low and earns a trip to the line. Makes both FT's.
-Teyvion Kirk (Joliet,Ill.) is a fantastic frosh for Ohio. Great moves off the dribble and capable handles.
-Blocked shot by Doug Taylor, swats it Out of Bounds. Tyler responds by hitting a long two.
-Double Technical on Persons/Taylor. That's probably a fight that Persons doesn't want to pick.
-Persons is fired up. He muscles his way into the paint and finishes with a baby floater, then flexes to the Cardinal bench.
-Two quick three balls by Dartis and Ohio is right back in this!
-Gollon passes it away, stolen by Kiapway, but Ball State turns it back over. Crowd is getting into it.
Third Media Timeout: Ball State 55, Ohio 53.
-Persons draws a controversial foul call. Connects on both free throws.
-Laster is back in the mix with a Slam.
-Persons responds with a runner in the lane.
-Tyler drains another three ball - may get reviewed.
-Chippy foul on Persons, his fourth foul, the crows loves it. Persons is not liked in Athens.
-James Whitford (Ball State HC) is having a long discussion with the refs, its unclear why. Crowd is hating this.
-Taylor to the line for One and One. Makes both, Ohio is down by 5.
-Mallers picks up a Player control foul. Ball goes back to the Bobcats.
-Easy pass from Tyler to Teague for a Cardinals layin.
-Dartis answers with a layup.
-Moses draws a shooting foul. Hits both free throws. Moses has a very high arc on his foul shots.
-Kirk with a drive and draws a foul, heading to the line now. Ends up hitting one of two.
-Persons is back in and draws a foul, both teams in the Double Bonus. Ends up missing both.
Last Media Timeout: Ball State 66, Ohio 59.
-Mallers drains a jumper from the corner.
-Kirk is at the line again, makes both. He now has 12.
-Moses makes his way to the hoop and finishes with a one hand finger roll.
-Mallers, Moses, and Persons all have four fouls for Ball State. They lead by 7.
-Mallers fouls out. Mickle to the line. He connects on both, lead is 5 for Ball State.
-Tyler drills another big three. But Kirk comes down and answers with a three of his own. Lead is still five.
-Ball State uses the entire shot clock and gets a violation after an airball by Sean Sellers.
-Laster misses a three. Kiapway makes both FT's on the other end. Ball State dribbles out the clock. Game Over.
Final Score: Ball State 75, Ohio 68.