The free throw issues that have plagued Ball State University this season struck again Wednesday night, costing the team a chance to extend its winning streak.
Ball State shot 13 of 24 from the free-throw line and the Cardinals' late rally fell short, allowing Central Michigan University to escape with a 63-58 victory.
Coach Billy Taylor was not available for comment after the game.
Trailing 56-46 with 2:20 to play, the Cardinals (5-20, 4-9 Mid-American Conference) caused three straight turnovers and scored eight straight points, cutting their deficit to two points.
After Chippewas' guard Giordan Watson split two free throws, however, Ball State couldn't get the final play it needed, as freshman Rashaun McLemore's jumper couldn't find the net. Central Michigan made its final six free throws to seal the victory.
Despite holding Watson, who entered the game second in the MAC in scoring, to six points, Ball State had no answer for Watson's teammate, forward Marcus Van, who poured in a career-high 18 points, including 16 in the first half.
Cardinals' freshman forward Malik Perry, who otherwise would have been guarding Van, picked up two fouls in the first 3:38 of the contest and battled foul trouble the entire game.
Although Ball State shot 37.5 percent from the field for the game, it was able to stay in the game because of 17 Central Michigan turnovers, including eight steals by the Cardinals.
Senior guard Peyton Stovall scored 19 points, his third straight game in double digits. McLemore and junior forward Anthony Newell added 13 points each, and Newell led the Cardinals with nine rebounds.
Ball State, which never held a lead in the contest, fell behind 14-4 in the early going before rallying to pull within 20-18 with seven minutes to play in the first half. However, the Cardinals couldn't pull closer than that as Central Michigan had an answer for each Ball State run.
The Cardinals will take a break from MAC play on Saturday night to travel to Eastern Kentucky University in its annual BracketBuster game.
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