Ball State Team Statistics
Field goal percentage: 47.1
Three-point percentage: 37.5
Free-throw percentage: 65.2
Rebounds: 44
Steals: 5
Blocks: 3
Assists: 17
Turnovers: 14
The officials called both coaches to the midcourt line as the final buzzer sounded in double overtime to end the Ball State men’s basketball team’s game at Western Michigan.
Neither side appeared to know what had taken place.
Tied at 93, with time expiring in the second overtime, Western Michigan guard Austin Richie hoisted a three-pointer that bounced left off the rim. The miss was tipped in by Western Michigan’s Connar Tava, but Ball State had already stopped playing, thinking it was necessary for a third overtime.
After reviewing the replay, Ball State head coach James Whitford received the verdict.
“Quite honestly, I’m a little confused,” Whitford said. “I know what they told me, but it didn’t make sense, so I’m trying to figure out exactly what happened still … [The official] told me that the game buzzer went off incorrectly … an uncontrollable clock error by the scorekeeper.”
With the scorekeeper’s error, the Cardinals' four-game winning streak came to an end with the 95-93 loss, while Ball State also lost for the first time in Mid-American Conference play.
Sophomore point guard Zavier Turner led the Cardinals in scoring for the second straight game and finished with 21 points on 8-of-13 from the field. Turner knocked down five three-pointers - one coming with five seconds left in regulation and Ball State down five. Freshman Sean Sellers was fouled as Turner’s shot went in, and two free throws later, Ball State had tied the game on a five-point possession.
Neither side played much defense, with Western Michigan’s 48.5 field goal percentage edging Ball State’s 47.1 percent.
Broncos' guard David Brown fouled out in the second overtime with a career-high 35 points, He went seven-of-11 from behind the arc, with all seven three-pointers coming after halftime. As a team, Western Michigan shot 11-of-23 from the three, while Ball State finished 12-of-32.
Ball State out rebounded Western Michigan 44-27, including 14-10 on the offensive glass.
Fifth-year senior Matt Kamieniecki grabbed 13 rebounds to go along with 12 points, his fifth double-double of the season.
With the loss, Ball State’s record evens at 7-7, while its MAC record drops to 2-1. Despite the outcome, Whitford is encouraged with how his team has opened conference play.
“We’ve played at Eastern [Michigan], we’ve played Central [Michigan], we’ve played Western [Michigan] on the road and we were highly competitive,” Whitford said. “There’s a lot to build on. Its a long season. We can’t forget that.”
The second-year head coach added that while this loss stings, his team needs to look to the future.
“It is what it is,” he said. “We can’t correct it, but we have to make sure we don’t let it disturb us.”
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