OXFORD, Ohio -- Ball State sure picked an unlikely place to winits first road game of the season and first in its last nine roadcontests, dating back to last season.
Matt McCollom's 3-pointer with one minute to go gave theCardinals the lead for good, and BSU won at Miami for the firsttime in 12 years with a 56-50 triumph.
The Cards won their fourth straight and improved to 4-1 in theMid-American Conference (7-6) despite shooting just 27 percent inthe second half, 35.3 for the game and making just 16-of-29 freethrows.
"You find out what kind of team you are when you look at thefinal score when you don't play well," Ball State coach Tim Buckleysaid. "I think it was two great defensive teams going at eachother, and each possession, both teams played like it was for theMAC Championship.
"Our guys deserve all the credit, and they deserve all thecredit for the last four games we've won, because they've come tocompete and they've played together. They're starting to play theway we've envisioned them to all along."
McCollom waited in the left corner while Peyton Stovallpenetrated from the wing. When Stovall passed it out, McCollom,without hesitation, buried the trey and BSU led 51-48.
"I got it wide open because Peyton had a great penetration andkick," said McCollom, who scored 12 points in the second half andfinished with a team-high 15. "It was Peyton's play. I was justwide open and hit it. He made the play."
After a Miami timeout, Juby Johnson couldn't get a leaner tofall, and Dennis Trammell secured the rebound and called timeout.When play resumed, McCollom was fouled and drained two free throwsfor a 53-48 advantage with 42 seconds left.
Johnson did get a shot to fall, but Robert Owens, Stovall andMcCollom all had 1-of-2 trips to the foul line to secure thewin.
"Ball State deserves a lot of credit -- their coaches, players,everyone," said Miami coach Charlie Coles, whose squad fell to 3-2in the MAC and 7-6 overall. "They played more spirited thanus."
The physical contest featured 14 ties and 10 lead changes, andneither team led by more than four until Ball State's free throwsin the final minute.
Miami achieved its final lead when Johnson converted a 3-pointplay with 3:26 to, putting the RedHawks up 46-44. Trammellresponded with a foul-line jumper, and Stovall added two freethrows with 2:26 left.
Single free throws by Miami's Nathan Peavy and Gene Seals tiedit at 48. Ball State called timeout with 1:27 to go, then drainedthe clock until Stovall put the game-winner in motion.
Ball State out rebounded the RedHawks 43-31, with 17 offensiveboards leading to 15 second-chance points.
"We did a defensive drill in practice where we put seven guys onoffense and five on defense," Buckley said, "because the last timewe came in here, they totally dominated us (rebounding)."
Cameron Echols scored 12 of BSU's first 16 points, and when hecooled down Jesse McClung popped off the bench and scored seven ofhis 10 before halftime.
Coles said he recruited McClung out of junior college last yearbut didn't know at the time if he would have a scholarship forhim.
"When I called in April his dad said he's going to Ball State.Jesse comes in and murders us because I thinks I didn't recruithim," Coles joked.
Although leading scorers Owens and Trammell combined for just 10points on 4-of-17 shooting, each had eight rebounds, and Trammelladded three assists. McCollom and Echols (13 points) grabbed sevenboards apiece.
"It means a lot in terms of how we're playing and comingtogether," Buckley said. "When certain guys don't have good games,we can still be successful."
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
