Just like the teams' first meeting up in Kalamazoo, Mich., Western Michigan used superior rebounding after halftime to build an early double-digit lead over Ball State in the second half.
But this time, in Worthen Arena, the Cardinals had no response and fell 72-61 to the Mid-American Conference West Division leaders.
While Western (11-1 MAC, 18-2 overall) won its sixth-straight game overall and fifth in a row over BSU, the Cards (6-6, 9-11) dropped their fifth game in six tries.
The Broncos outrebounded Ball State 24-17 in the second half, including 10 on the offensive end, and recorded 17 second-chance points.
"We said going in that rebounding and loose balls would be the key," BSU coach Tim Buckley said. "You want to play consistent for 40 minutes and we're not doing that.
"That's why (the Broncos) are where they are. They get every loose ball. It's symbolic of the mindset: 'We're going to win.'"
According to Western coach Steve Hawkins, it was a matter of his team using its size to help neutralize the Cardinals' quickness.
"The big difference was who could take advantage of mismatches the best -- our size against their quickness," the first-year coach said. "Offensive rebounding was again a great source of offense for us.
"(The Cardinals) had defended their homecourt well, so to get a win is huge."
Trailing 37-31 at halftime, Ball State scored the first four points of the half on Matt McCollom's baseline jumper and Peyton Stovall's feed to Cameron Echols in transition.
But Western reeled off the next 11 points, the final two coming when Brian Snider stripped McCollom and lofted the ball to an uncontested Mike Williams for a layup.
The Broncos' lead reached its climax (56-40) when Ben Reed buried a 3-pointer from the left wing with 10:40 remaining. After that, the Cards did not get within single digits until McCollom's trey with just 1:06 left made it 67-59.
Reed's trey was his first basket, and the nation's leading 3-point shooter had just five points. But Reggie Berry provided 15 points off the bench and Anthony Kann contributed 14 points and nine rebounds.
"They're confident they can rely on their upperclassmen night after night," Buckley said of the Broncos. "I haven't seen Ben Reed's numbers like this, but then you plug in Reggie Berry. I'm not surprised (by their success). I could see this coming for about three years."
Then there was Williams. The spindly 6-8 senior and MAC Player of the Year candidate ripped the Cards for 25 points and 13 rebounds.
"I can't say enough about him," Hawkins said of Williams. "He's a throwback. He's had some NBA interest, and they ask what type of player he is, and I don't know; he's just a player. He's an old-school forward. His basketball IQ is as high as anyone I've coached."
Echols finished with 17 points and nine boards, and McCollom added 16 points for Ball State.
The poor second-half showing prompted a longer-than-usual postgame lockerroom speech from Buckley to his team. Buckley was coy about what was said, but the fourth-year coach still believes his team can finish the season stronger.
"It's a personal thing, a private thing," he said. "The basic gist is 'This is your team, where do you want to go.' You leave it to your leaders, and I have confidence in them."
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