OXFORD, Ohio -- Ball State picked an unlikely place to win its first road game of the season and first in its last nine road contests, dating back to last season.
Matt McCollom's three-pointer with one minute to go gave the Cardinals the lead for good, and Ball State won at Miami for the first time in 12 years with a 56-50 triumph.
The Cards won their fourth straight and improved to 4-1 in the Mid-American Conference (7-6) despite shooting just 27 percent in the second half, 35.3 for the game and making just 16 out of 29 free throws.
"You find out what kind of team you are when you look at the final score when you don't play well," Ball State coach Tim Buckley said. "I think it was two great defensive teams going at each other and each possession. Both teams played like it was for the MAC Championship.
"Our guys deserve all the credit, and they deserve all the credit for the last four games we've won, because they've come to compete and they've played together. They're starting to play the way we've envisioned them to all along."
McCollom waited in the left corner while Peyton Stovall penetrated from the wing. When Stovall passed it out, McCollom buried the trey without hesitation, and Ball State led 51-48.
"I got it wide open because Peyton had a great penetration and kick," said McCollom, who scored 12 points in the second half and finished with a team-high 15. "It was Peyton's play. I was just wide open and hit it. He made the play."
After a Miami time-out, Juby Johnson couldn't get a leaner to fall, and Dennis Trammell secured the rebound and called time-out. When play resumed, McCollom was fouled and drained two free throws for a 53-48 advantage with 42 seconds left.
Johnson did get a shot to fall, but Robert Owens, Stovall and McCollom all had 1-of-2 trips to the foul line to secure the win.
"Ball State deserves a lot of credit -- its coaches, players, everyone," said Miami coach Charlie Coles, whose squad fell to 3-2 in the MAC and 7-6 overall. "They played more spirited than us."
The physical contest featured 14 ties and 10 lead changes, and neither team led by more than four until Ball State's free throws in the final minute.
Miami achieved its final lead when Johnson converted a three-point play, putting the RedHawks up 46-44. Trammell responded with a foul-line jumper, and Stovall added two free throws with 2:26 left.
Single free throws by Miami's Nathan Peavy and Gene Seals tied it at 48. Ball State called time-out with 1:27 to go, then drained the clock until Stovall put the game-winner in motion.
Ball State out-rebounded the RedHawks 43-31, with 17 offensive boards leading to 15 second-chance points.
"We did a defensive drill in practice where we put seven guys on offense and five on defense, because the last time we came in here, they totally dominated us (rebounding)," Buckley said.
Cameron Echols scored 12 of Ball State's first 16 points, and when he cooled down, Jesse McClung popped off the bench and scored seven of his 10 before halftime.
Coles said he recruited McClung out of junior college last year but didn't know at the time if he would have a scholarship for him.
"When I called in April, his dad said he's going to Ball State. Jesse comes in and murders us because he thinks I didn't recruit him," Coles joked.
Although leading scorers Owens and Trammell combined for just 10 points on 4-of-17 shooting, each had eight rebounds, and Trammell added three assists. McCollom and Echols (13 points) grabbed seven boards apiece.
"It means a lot in terms of how we're playing and coming together," Buckley said. "When certain guys don't have good games, we can still be successful."
))2%-¦1+â-è 'mbball 1.20DNEditorial))2+â-+h.F2AUDT
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
