Less than one week after playing the role of "dominator" against Marshall, Ball State quickly found itself on the other side of the ball being "dominated" by Northern Illinois.
After a convincing 96-75 win last Tuesday, Ball State was shutdown at Dekalb, Ill., on Saturday by the Huskies, 78-60.
"Obviously we didn't handle the success of the Marshall game very well," coach Tim Buckley said after the game.
The Cardinals trailed by as many as 23 points in the first half after Northern Illinois went on an early 14-2 run.
"They came after us from the opening tip and we backed away from them," Buckley said. "It was great strategy for them."
In the first half alone, Ball State was a mere 30 percent from the field and had made two of 12 3-point shots. Northern shot 60 percent in the first half.
The second half wasn't much better as Ball State trailed by as many as 25 points while shooting 42 percent from the field.
"We were thoroughly outplayed and they competed," Buckley said. "Northern did a great job, they were a good basketball team today.
"I think we had 15 or 16 deflections (on defense) and our average should be 35," Buckley said. "We were no where near that and that's how we were from the tip."
Deflection wasn't the only area lacking for Ball State Saturday. Chris Williams, who led the Mid-American Conference with more than 22 points a game, was held to 17 points against Northern. The only other player in double digits for Ball State was sophomore Matt McCollom, who also finished with 17 points.
Northern, on the other hand, had four players in double figures. P.J. Smith led the game with 24 points. Smith also led the Huskies against Ball State when the teams met in early January. Heading into the game, however, Smith averaged 10 a game. Saturday the junior guard shot 8 of 14 from the field and 3 of 5 from 3-point land.
Also in double digits for Northern was Marcus Smallwood (15), Eugene Bates (13) and Rome Sanders (10).
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