OXFORD, OHIO - For the Ball State men's basketball team, Saturday was just another day with the same old drama in Miami's Millett Hall.
For the third year in a row, the game between Ball State and Miami in Oxford revolved around one last shot in the final seconds.
Like last season, it was Ball State with that final shot to tie the game. And like last season, the shot was unsuccessful, handing the Cardinals their eleventh straight loss in Millett Hall, 58-56.
With 1.4 seconds remaining, Matt McCollom inbounded the ball on a play that coach Tim Buckley later said attempted to get three guys open. The pass could have gone to Robert Owens in the corner, Chris Williams outside the 3-point line, or Cameron Echols on a slant toward the basket. Buckley said it was up to McCollom based on whom he felt had the best look.
McCollom picked Echols. But instead of catching and shooting, Echols put the ball on the floor and tried to turn and shoot. The shot went in, but was taken after the buzzer had sounded.
"(Echols) got it right where he wanted it," Buckley said. "He just took it away from the defense and we just needed him to score the ball. "The kids executed it perfectly. Matt showed great patience with the ball and he put it right where we wanted to get it. That's not Cam's fault; it's just the way it went and I was really proud of the way they executed it."
Aside from the final play of the game, rebounding hurt the Cardinals (7-10, 2-5) Saturday.
Despite a game-high 10 rebounds from freshman Kevin Cates, Ball State was outrebounded 34-32. However, Buckley was pleased with his team's effort in the midst of their rebounding struggles.
"Usually when that happens it sort of zaps our spirits, but it didn't today," he said. "We kept defending even though they got some of those boards. It's another learning experience for us."
Perhaps the biggest success for the RedHawks (7-9, 5-2) Saturday was Juby Johnson, who defended Ball State senior Chris Williams most of the afternoon. Heading into the game Williams was averaging more than 22 points per game. Johnson and the rest of the RedHawks held Williams to a season-low eight points.
"I think it was a combination of things," Miami coach Charlie Coles said. "Had this game been played three weeks earlier, Williams would have taken more of those threes. I think because of their success lately, and his percentage from the three, he wasn't as aggressive."
Afterward Johnson, who finished with 14 points of his own, was all smiles.
"I just tried to play my regular defense," Johnson said. "My teammates did a great job of helping me with the ball screens."
With Williams shooting just 3 of 11 (2 of 6 from the 3-point line), the Cardinals had to turn to other players for points. McCollom finished with 16 points, Echols 15 and Owens nine.
Owens is one of the players for Ball State who has had to struggle through the last three losses in Millett Hall.
"It's just the same thing that has happened the past two years," Owens said. "I tip my hat to (Miami), they played hard. We have room to improve; it's a long season."
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