MT. PLEASANT, Mich. -- This wasn't the way Ball State wanted togo into the Mid-American Conference, especially after three wins ina row and going against the league's worst team.
The Cardinals' defense collapsed for more or less the entiregame, and an inspired Central Michigan sent its seniors out instyle with a 94-89 overtime victory.
Sixth-seeded Ball State will attempt to re-group when it playshost to No. 11 Akron today in the first round of the MACTournament. The Cardinals finished the regular season 13-14 overalland 10-8 in the MAC.
"We basically didn't play any defense," said junior guard DennisTrammell, who led the Cards with 23 points, seven rebounds and fourassists before fouling out in overtime. "You can't expect to winwhen you don't play defense."
Coach Tim Buckley echoed that sentiment and said he didn't thinkall his players had the same mindset.
"I don't think we had everybody on the same page coming in toplay," Buckley said. "When we don't, we're not as good a basketballteam as we do when we have 11 guys on the same page.
Following the first of three consecutive Ball State turnovers inovertime, Central's Kevin Nelson broke an 86-all tie and swishedhis fifth 3-pointer from the top of the key. After an errant passby Peyton Stovall, David Hoskins buried a 3-pointer of his own.
On BSU's next possession, Stovall's pass into the paint wastipped away. Hoskins added two free throws with 25.7 seconds left,and the Cards were finished.
"I'm the point guard, and I'm supposed to run the offense,"Stovall said. "Those are my mistakes, and I've got to learn fromthem. I'd rather have them now then in later, in thetournament."
Stovall carried BSU in the first half, scoring 14 of his 17points before halftime. Despite committing 13 turnovers in the halfand never leading, the Cards trailed just 44-39.
Ball State took its first lead on Cameron Echols jumper at the16:45 mark in the second. Trammell tipped in a miss and Owensdunked in transition to cap a 12-0 run and put the Cards up53-47.
However, the Cards were never able to put the Chippewasaway.
Central finally tied it at 81 when Hoskins zipped a pass toseldom-used senior Dan Quinn for a bucket inside with 2:15 left.Trammell gave Ball State its last lead by driving for a shortbaseline jumper, but star senior Gerrit Brigitha scored a putbackat the other end.
After the teams traded missed shots, Central had two chances towin in regulation, but Nelson's leaning jump shot rolled off andBrigitha couldn't get a putback attempt to fall.
The Chippewas got some key shots to fall in overtime, though.They were led by Brigitha's 29 points and 11 rebounds. Nelsontallied 27 points and Hoskins 15.
"Down the stretch we lacked getting key stops," Trammellsaid.
Echols (14 points), Terrance Chapman (13) and Owens (10) joinedTrammell and Stovall in double-figure scoring. In all, BSUcommitted 19 turnovers against just nine assists. The defensivecollapse came just three days after the Cards yielded a season-low47 in beating Eastern Michigan at home.
"We've got to take care of the ball," Buckley said, "especiallywhen we get banged and pushed. We turned the ball over toomuch."
Like Buckley, his players know they have to put the loss behindthem but also correct the critical errors.
"It's a new season now," Trammell said. "We've got to learn fromthe mistakes we made in the past and move on."
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