Ball State let a double-digit lead slip away in the first half. It wasn't about to pull a repeat in the second half.
An intentional foul by Eastern Michigan point guard Michael Ross just 1:24 into the second half jump started a 12-2 Cardinals run, and Ball State outlasted Eastern for a 96-86 win at Worthen Arena.
Terrance Chapman and Peyton Stovall scored 24 points each as the Cardinals (11-6, 6-3 Mid-American Conference) remained perfect in nine home games while handing the Eagles (9-10, 3-7) their sixth defeat in a row.
"After [the foul] we became tight," said Stovall, who added five assists in addition to tying his career high in points. "We became a fist instead of five fingers, and we brought it up a notch."
Eastern, which led 48-46 at halftime, was up 50-46 when Chapman stole a pass and was fouled hard at the other end by Ross. Chapman made both of his free throws, then scored down low off Darren Yates' feed.
"I think I just got a little more aggressive," Chapman said about his response to the foul. "He was trying to make a play on the ball, so it wasn't as bad as it looked."
Chapman recorded a double-double by notching a career-high 24 points and tying a season-best with 16 rebounds.
After Eastern's John Bowler scored in the paint to make it 52-50, the Cardinals rattled off eight straight points to regain the lead for good, as Ross turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions.
"That stretch certainly turned the momentum," EMU coach Jim Boone said. "I don't think it had to do with the intentional foul. It had more to do with Peyton Stovall's defense. That was very uncharacteristic of Ross."
Stovall's nifty bounce pass to Dennis Trammell for a layup made it 78-68 with 7:42 to go, and the Eagles never got closer than four after that.
Stovall matched Chapman's 24 points and dished out five assists. Backcourt mate Trammell finished with 21, while guard Skip Mills (13) and reserve forward Michael Bennett (10) also reached double figures.
After making six of their first nine 3-point attempts, the Cardinals missed their last five, but they shot 24 of 31 from the free-throw line in the second half.
"[Eastern] started denying everything, and our guys know if you're overplayed then you have to back cut," Ball State coach Tim Buckley said. "That's why we weren't getting as many attempts, and we had more dribble drives."
Ball State had held its biggest lead of 44-32 with 3:36 to go in the first half, but Eastern outscored BSU 16-2 the rest of the half. Danny McElhinny popped off the bench and drained three straight treys, and Ross took a steal in for a layup just before the buzzer.
"That's something we have to work on," Chapman said. "We got too comfortable with ourselves, and we stopped playing defense. Coach harped on us about that at halftime, and we had to go after them in the second half."
"We get that feeling that we're in control," Stovall added. "But every time on offense or defense, we have to think like it's tied at 0-0."
Bowler scored 21 points and Markus Austin 20 as Eastern outscored BSU 42-34 in the paint, but the Eagles committed 19 turnovers, and McElhinny's treys were the only shots they made from behind the arc.
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