DEKALB, Ill. -- Ball State and Northern Illinois went neck and neck for 39 minutes on Wednesday until the Huskies made the plays that counted in the final seconds.
The Cardinals, who were searching for their first conference road win of the season, gave up an open layup and committed a turnover during a 10-second stretch that sent the game into Northern Illinois' favor. The Huskies made four free throws in the final 23 seconds to seal a 73-67 win against the Cards.
Ball State (7-11 overall, 3-7 Mid-American Conference West) allowed Northern Illinois' Anthony Maestranzi to drive to the basket uncontested for an easy left-handed layup to give the Huskies a two-point lead with 23 seconds remaining in the game. Coach Tim Buckley said his players weren't in the right positions to guard that play.
"We don't want to pressure that far out when they spread the floor like that," Buckley said. "[Maestranzi] could see how wide open the floor was and he made a good, aggressive play."
After Maestranzi's score, freshman Maurice Acker then drove downcourt. He lost control of the ball at the top of the key, resulting in a Northern Illinois steal. Junior Skip Mills, who scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting, said that possession was crucial.
"It didn't cost us the game but it was a key point in the game when we needed some points," Mills said.
Mills, who wore jersey number 55 because his usual 24 jersey was left in Muncie, and junior Chris Ames were the only Cardinals to find offensive rhythms throughout the game. Ames scored in double-digits (12) for the second straight game.
Buckley said Mills had to fight through a lot of aggressive play to get his points.
"I thought he did a terrific job of battling," Buckley said. "He kept his composure when it got physical and he led us all night."
Acker battled foul trouble for most of the second half, leaving Ball State to play several minutes without a point guard on the court.
Ball State started the game slowly and came out sluggish. They fell behind 7-0 before the team attempted its first shot of the game. Ball State, however, quickly climbed back into it and freshman Landon Adler sent a cross-court pass to junior Chris Ames, who rolled in an open layup, giving the Cardinals their first lead of the game at 12-11.
Ball State's defense, however, couldn't keep Northern Illinois from converting on critical possessions.
"Our defense was very poor," Buckley said. "We did not string enough together of what we call shutouts."
Junior Charles Bass continued to be hounded by foul trouble. The center picked up his first two fouls in the first 2 -+ minutes and when he returned with 1:33 left in the half, he immediately picked up his third of the night.
Bass and junior D'Andre Peyton, who both started the game, finished the game playing a combined 13 minutes and Buckley said the two were too "distracted" to get quality minutes.
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