KALAMAZOO, Mich.-ยก-For the first time in 23 games, junior Skip Mills failed to score in the double-digits and his teammates couldn't seem to help him out.
Western Michigan's stifling defense not only held Mills in check Thursday night but also caused Ball State to play impatiently, forcing them to take bad shots consistently during the Broncos' 68-59 win.
Mills scored only six points before hitting a 3-pointer with one second remaining in the game. Western Michigan kept Mills secured around the perimeter for most of the game and he said he was forced to pass the ball off to teammates more often than usual.
"I kicked out the ball a lot more than in the past, but I was wanting my teammates to make some shots," said Mills, who shot 4-of-11 from the field. "I think one time I drove and I couldn't find anyone open and I just threw the ball out of bounds. I have to have an idea of what I want to do with ball."
Even though the offense wasn't clicking, freshman Maurice Acker tied the game with two free throws at 50-50 with seven minutes left in the game. The Broncos, however, stepped up on defense and only allowed Ball State one field goal until the final minute.
Coach Tim Buckley said his players looked tired and out-of-step with Western Michigan in the final minutes.
"I thought a couple of our guys gave into fatigue," Buckley said. "When you're young and you get fatigued you start to lose focus and you got to fight through it."
Ball State (6-10 overall, 2-6 Mid-American Conference West) started the game by making its first five shots but two scoring droughts, both lasting more than four minutes each, gave Western Michigan momentum heading into halftime.
"They came out tonight like a house on fire but fortunately for us we stayed calm and composed," Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins said.
The Broncos continually fed the ball down low to sophomore Joe Reitz, who finished the game with 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Cardinals had no answer for the big man and Mills said Reitz overpowered Ball State's frontcourt physically and mentally.
"It's all about heart," Mills said. "If you have heart, you can get through and stop [Reitz]. He wanted it more than our big guys did."
Freshman Landon Adler, who scored 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting on Tuesday, tried to pick up where he left off against Central Michigan. He drilled two 3-pointers early in the first half but finished the game shooting 3-of-9 from the field, with seven shots coming from beyond-the-arc.
Acker also tried taking control of the offense by shooting 11 times, the second most of his career. He finished with a team-high 15 points and six assists.
The Cardinals return home on Sunday to play MAC West opponent Toledo.
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