Three years of frustration went down the drain as Ball Statecame back in the second half and held on for a 63-61 win overinterstate rival Butler at Worthen Arena.
In beating the Bulldogs for the first time since 1999, theCardinals opened their season 2-0 for just the second time in sixyears.
"The last couple days I've been walking around campus andhearing 'Butler whooped us the last three years," said seniorforward Cameron Echols. "It just feels great to beat the guys. Itjust came down to who wanted it more, and it came down to us."
It came down to that after Avery Sheets nearly single-handedlybrought Butler back. The diminutive sophomore drained two freethrows and two 3-pointers in the final minute to slice Ball State'slead from 59-50 to 61-58. But Dennis Trammell's two foul shots with4.8 seconds showing sealed the victory.
"They were 19 of 25 at the line; they did a nice job ofattacking us, going at us," said Butler coach Todd Lickliter, whoseteam lost two straight for the first time in 94 games. "And theymade their free throws. I think they outplayed us, and I would haveliked to have just one more minute."
For more than 30 minutes, neither team was able to gain much ofan upper hand. The biggest lead either way was a four-pointadvantage by Butler (2-2), including a 42-38 lead when DuaneLightfoot (12 points) tipped in a putback with 11:20 remaining.
Ball State fought back to tie it at 44 before Mike Monserez'sfree throw gave the Bulldogs a brief reprieve. The Cardinals thenripped off an 8-0 run to take the lead for good.
Trammell canned a 3-pointer from the left wing and freshmanDarren Yates followed suit from the right side, drawing a Butlertimeout with 5:33 to go. Trammell added two free throws after thebreak.
"We talk about not having a breaking point and hanging in thereand hanging in there," Ball State coach Tim Buckley said. "Thereason it's such a big win is Butler has such a great program. Theyobviously have no breaking point, and we knew that we had to matchthat."
Starting with Trammell's free throws, the Cardinals shot 13 of18 from the line for their final points. Trammell had six points athalftime to pace BSU and finished with a game-high 22 to go withtwo blocks.
"I just really like to stay focused on what I like to do andwhat I can do," he said. "I try not to let things rattle me,whether we go down, the game gets tight or anything. If the teamsees their captain rallying, then other things might fall in line.I like to keep my composure and keep my teammates confident."
Terrance Chapman joined Trammell in double figures with 12points and a team-best eight rebounds. Yates and fellow freshmanSkip Mills were next with six points apiece off the bench.
Ball State's perimeter defense stifled the Bulldogs' lethal3-point attack, as Butler could make just 27.6 percent (8 of 29)beyond the arc and 37 percent overall. After Bruce Horan's trey atthe 13:54 mark, Butler missed nine straight long ones while BSUtook the lead.
"We knew they were going to make some shots and we felt the onesthey made we weren't in the right spot or we misplayed one of theirsets," Buckley said. "I thought we had better communication and gotthrough screening actions a lot better," he added of thesecond-half defensive effort.
Lickliter was also impressed with the defense the Cardinalsplayed against the 3-pointer.
"I think they did a nice job of pressuring the shooters, stayingup in them," he said. "You'll see we had one or two blocked. Ithink we took a couple shots that were ill-advised. I don't thinkwe can shoot the ball well if you're anxious to shoot.
"I wouldn't take anything away from Ball State. They did a nicejob. I like the way they play."
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