Shooting poorly and seeing less playing time in recent games, junior Chris Ames was looking for a break-out game against the Toledo Rockets.
Before the game, Ames was averaging less than one point per game and 17 minutes per game in Mid-American Conference competition. But his minutes had also steadily declined in conference play, reducing from 28 minutes against Miami to 16 at Buffalo to 10 against Central Michigan and Western Michigan.
"We just told him to keep shooting," junior Skip Mills said. "You're really not going to make shots if you're scared and you don't want to keep shooting the ball. We kind of joked around with him telling him he's never going to make a shot again."
On Sunday, Ames broke out of his slump, contributing 12 points, eight rebounds, two steals and one assist in 27 minutes. He was perfect from the field, shooting 5-of-5 and hitting both free throws.
"I just said, 'It's about time, Chris,'" said Ames of breaking out of his slump. "I guess it just came back. Hopefully I'm out of it."
His 12 points are a career high at Ball State, four more than his previous best of eight against IUPUI and Oakland City.
Ames scored his first two points on a jumper that reduced Toledo's lead to four with 2:40 remaining in the first half.
"After that he was fine," Mills said on Ames' first points. "He just needed that first one to go down."
After Ball State took the lead for good 35 seconds later, Ames hit both free throws to give the Cardinals a four-point lead. Toledo's Sammy Villegas cut the deficit to two on the Rockets' next possession, but Ball State's lead grew back to four after Ames made a lay-up.
"I think he cleared his mind and played," coach Tim Buckley said. "I think he's got the confidence and belief back."
With 3:27 remaining in the first half, Pat Nelson missed a lay-up but Ames got the rebound and hit his own lay-up attempt to give Ball State a seven-point lead.
Ames' assist came in the second half on a 3-pointer by Maurice Acker that gave Ball State a comfortable 14-point lead.
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