INDIANAPOLIS -- Patrick Jackson and Chris Williams teamed up for 49 combined points to lead No. 20 Ball State to a 103-81 victory over IUPUI Saturday night.
Williams finished the contest tying a school record going seven for nine from behind the three-point arc. The team however, broke a school record for most 3-pointers in a game with 16 total treys.
"We live and die by the three," Jackson said. "We have great shooters like Chris and Rob (Robbins) out there any time you can find them they are going to knock them down."
Jackson went 8-13 from the field and shot a perfect eight of eight free throws ending the game with a game high 28 points.
"I thought our guys did a terrific job tonight at pushing the pace," Ball State coach Tim Buckley said. "We wanted to try to wear them down."
Buckley wasn't the only coach impressed Saturday night after Ball State's 22 point win.
"That's a good basketball team," IUPUI coach Ron Hunter said. "There is a reason that team is ranked. That is a good good basketball team. I have been coaching for 15 years, and that is one of the best basketball teams I have seen in a long time."
One aspect of the game Ball State lost against IUPUI was the game under the basket. By the end of the game, IUPUI had outscored Ball State 44-26 in the paint. That was after a very slow start under the basket for the Cards scoring only 10 in the paint in the first half.
"I didn't think we were aggressive enough offensively with our inside people," Buckley said. "Part of that is because IUPUI gives you so many different looks defensively."
Topping off the night for the Cards, Theron Smith became the 20th player in Ball State basketball history to break the 1,000 point mark. Smith finished the game with 11 points after only four in the first half.
"'T' is a great player," Jackson said. "He didn't have the kind of first half he wanted to have. Coach just told him to shake it off.
"If you need a bucket you can go to him. He's a work horse."
Ball State will takes it's win and try to carry the momentum back to Muncie when the Cards take on Butler at Worthen Arena Wednesday at 7 p.m.
When asked what it would take to defeat Butler, Buckley answered with one answer
"Herculean," Buckley said.
"Butler has one of the best programs in college basketball right now," the Cardinal coach continued. "We know it's going to be a tough basketball game. It's a great rivalry."
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