|
|
Ball State rolls past struggling Rockets |
|
|
|
|
Sunday, January 17 2010 |
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's basketball team turned in one of its top offensive performances of the season as the Cardinals used a 20-3 first-half run on the way to a 71-43 victory over Mid-American Conference foe Toledo Sunday afternoon at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals 28-point victory was the largest of the season and the largest victory since the 2005-06 season (75-47 vs. Anderson) and the largest MAC victory since 2003-04 (75-47 vs. Eastern Michigan).
"Our guys showed a lot of character and confidence in each other in how we battled today," BSU head coach Billy Taylor said. "We got tremendous effort today and had a lot of guys step up and contribute. From Pierre (Sneed) and his defense, to Terrence (Watson) being a tremendous presence on both ends, Jauwan making shots on the perimeter, Jarrod (Jones) battling on the glass and Brawley (Chisholm) providing a spark off of the bench and set the tempo in the first half. Today was a true team victory"
Freshman guard Jauwan Scaife led the Cardinals offensive effort as he scored a career-high 20 points in the victory. Fifteen of the points came in the second half.
Scaife connected on a career-high six three-pointers, including five in the second half as he finished the game 6-of-8 from long range.
Senior forward Terrence Watson also turned in a strong performance as he recorded his second career double-double with a career-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. Watson finished the game shooting 6-of-9 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line as he scored 13 of his points in the first half.
Ball State (7-8, 1-2 MAC) came out of the gate quickly as it opened the game on an 8-2 run through the first four minutes. Scaife and senior guard Brawley Chisholm ignited the early run with back-to-back three-pointers.
Toledo (3-14, 0-3 MAC) was able to slow the early momentum briefly, narrowing the gap to 8-5, but the Cardinals came back with a 20-3 run, including 11 straight points over a span of 7:48 to take a 28-8 lead.
The Cardinals took a 40-22 lead into the locker room as they connected on 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from the field in the first half, including 42.9 percent (3-of-7) from three-point land.
BSU continued its strong play from the free throw line in the opening frame as it connected on 11-of-13 (84.6%) from the charity stripe. Watson led the Cardinals in the first half with 13 points and seven rebounds while Chisholm chipped in nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field.
Toledo was limited to just 25 percent (7-of-28) shooting from the field before intermission as the Cardinals' defense forced the Rockets into 10 first half turnovers.
Jake Barnett, the Rockets' leading scorer, was held to six first half points on just 1-of-5 shooting from the field.
Ball State continued its strong play in the second half, building a 56-34 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game.
Scaife's outside shooting went into overdrive in the second half as he hit all five of his three-pointers in the frame.
Ball State finished the game shooting 50 percent (25-of-50) from the field and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from behind the arc.
BSU was efficient in the victory as it handed out 17 assists on 25 field goals and also controlled the glass with a 39-31 advantage.
Toledo was held to just 30.8 percent (16-of-52) shooting in the loss as the Cardinals' defense tallied six steals and five blocked shots. The Rockets connected on just 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three-point land and committed 16 turnovers.
Barnett and Malcolm Griffin led Toledo, which has now lost seven straight games, with 12 points apiece. No other Rocket had more than six points.
Ball State returns to action Wednesday (7 p.m.) as it hosts MAC West Division rival Western Michigan.
Toledo hosts Northern Illinois Wednesday (7 p.m.)
Courtesy of Ball State Athletics
|
|
|
|
