One of Ball State's strongest defensive players switched sides Thursday night against the Mastodons.
Senior Lonnie Jones -- one of the best shot blockers in the Mid-American Conference, just 34 shy of a MAC record heading into Thursday's game -- looked more to putting the ball in the basket, rather than keeping it from going in.
Going into Thursday night's game against IPFW Jones was averaging 8.5 points per game. He nearly doubled that, scoring 15 points against the Mastodons.
IPFW forward Ric Wyand -- who is 6 feet, 7 inches -- had the task of guarding the seven-foot-tall Jones and had trouble overcoming the height differential.
"There wasn't much I could do except try and get in front of him," Wyand said.
Coach Buckley commented on Jones' difficult assignment of guarding a smaller, quicker player in Wyand.
"He did a great job," Buckley said. "They had us in a mismatch situation."
Although the amazing presence on the defensive end, Jones contributed by playing hard on the offensive side of the floor.
"I really couldn't get any blocks today, because they had me out at the three-point line, and then I was out of position for rebounds," Jones said. "My rebounds were kind of low but then on the offensive end. I just tried to get putbacks."
Jones was particularly strong in the second half, scoring 11 of his 15 and getting four of his six rebounds, including two offensive rebounds.
The senior center found his way to the charity stripe three times during the night after being fouled on his way to the basket. He was able to convert all three of his free throw attempts.
"Lonnie did a good job of guarding out on the floor, and even some of the shots that Wyand made, he had his hand up and he challenged him," Buckley said. "He made his free throws which shows you that he had great concentration, and he needs to do that."
IPFW head coach Doug Noll said he has noticed improvement in Jones' game since last season.
"(We) let him get too deep, he's improved from a year ago," Noll said. "He's hard to stop, and I like his game."
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