Peyton Stovall sat on the floor with Ball State down five points and 3:14 left in the game. The usually energetic Stovall seemed frustrated and tired, as he had collected his third foul of the contest. Stovall didn't agree with the call and took his time getting up from the ground.
The Cardinals would only score one point in the rest of the game, falling to Tennessee-Chatanooga 70-55 on Tuesday night at Worthen Arena.
It was the finale of what had been a frustrating game for the junior guard. He missed nine of his 10 shots, including all six from beyond the arch.
The rest of the team didn't fare much better. The Cardinals (2-1) shot 19 of 65 for the game and missed a school and arena record 27 three-pointers.
"We just didn't knock down shots," coach Ronny Thompson said. "We got wide open shots, we got wide open looks; the ball didn't go in. I would feel differently if we were struggling to get shots. I would feel different if shots that we were taking were bad shots. You know, the ball just stopped going in."
The loss, the first of Thompson's tenure at Ball State, also saw the Cardinals shot under 30 percent from the field, a stat they never achieved last season despite their woes.
"I have never been a part of a game in coaching where we shot that poorly," Thompson said. "Especially with open shots from a team that has good shooters. I think today is a game where you kind of miss a guy like Skip [Mills]. He can come in and hit some shots. Then, all your guards wouldn't be off."
The Cardinals did have a couple bright spots. Micah Rollin managed to stay out of foul trouble for much of the first half and led the team in scoring for the first time. He finished the game with a team high 16 points, including 10 of 13 from the free throw line.
"I've been waiting for a game like this," Rollin said. "It really doesn't matter cause we didn't have the 'W.'"
The Moc's coach John Shulman also had praise for the junior center.
"I'm glad that we don't ever have to see him again," he said.
While Thompson has said that Rollin is raw, he has said that confidence is one thing Rollin doesn't lack.
"Micah is a confident person anyway," he said. "I don't think the first half is going to help it more than any other time.
"Micah does not think Micah can't play. We just need to keep Micah on the floor. I think I was more excited for Micah than Micah was for Micah," Thompson said.
NOTEBOOK:
- Anthony Newell had his first double-double of his career, notching 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jalon Perryman had 15 points.
- Freshman Zach Garcia did not attend the game. Coach Thompson said he wasn't sure exactly where he was, but was asked not to attend. He would not expand on his decision, except to say "it was a coach's decision."
-When asked about Mills' status, Thompson said "Who knows" and then added that, even if Mills plays against Kansas he questions how effective he can be without practicing for three weeks.
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