Through 20 games, the sight has become all too familiar for Ball State University men's basketball fans.
The Cardinals fight their way through the first half, facing a manageable deficit or perhaps even a lead going into the locker room. Then, Ball State's opponent unleashes a long-distance barrage.
The three-point shot continued on Saturday, as Miami University sank eight of its first 11 attempts from behind the arc, building its six-point halftime lead into a 22-point margin. From there, the RedHawks finished with a 66-54 victory against the Cardinals. It was Ball State's fourth straight loss.
"Those threes hurt," forward Anthony Newell said. "Every time you hit a three, it hurts the other team. It made the hole deeper."
Ball State's opponents shoot 40.4 percent from long range for the season. A single team shooting that mark would be in the nation's top 15 from beyond the arc.
In addition, Miami became the second consecutive Cardinals' opponent to shoot 50 percent from the floor in Worthen Arena, a disturbing trend for coach Billy Taylor, who prides his team on defense.
"We want to get stops on defense," Taylor said. "We pride ourselves on that. We haven't been able to do that the last two games."
Things turned ugly for Ball State with 12:24 to play in the game. With Miami already up by 11 points, Newell fouled the RedHawks' Kenny Hayes on a shot, followed quickly by freshman forward Rashaun McLemore being issued a technical foul.
Hayes sank all four of the succeeding free throws, and then made three more free throws on Miami's next possession when freshman guard Melvin Goins fouled him behind the arc, the second time Goins did that in the game.
"Unfortunately, that's youth," Taylor said of Goins's mistakes. "He certainly knows better. It's a bad mistake."
The seven free throws spearheaded a 14-0 Miami run that pushed the RedHawks' lead to 22.
"We've got to learn how to stop other people's runs," Newell said. "If someone goes on a run, you've got to want the ball. You can't be tight."
Hayes would end up with a career-high 27 points, the second consecutive game he had surpassed his previous high.
Ball State was able to answer Miami's offense early, as Newell and Goins each piled up 10 points in the first 15 minutes of the game. The Cardinals led by as many as three late in the first half.
However, Miami's Michael Bramos sank a half-court shot as time expired on the first half to give the RedHawks a 32-26 lead.
"I think shooting's a rhythm thing," Miami coach Charlie Coles said. "Ball State's a lot like us. It's tough for them to catch up."
Newell would finish with 17 points, while Goins had 15.
The loss was Ball State's eighth straight to Miami, sending the Cardinals to 3-17 on the season, 2-6 in the Mid-American Conference.
"Shh!" Coles said when informed of that number postgame. "We've been very lucky over here."
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