Most of the season, Ball State University coach Billy Taylor has espoused the philosophy of creating offense by getting defensive stops.
An early second-half scoring spurt by the University of Akron prevented the Cardinals from doing that Saturday night, resulting in a hole that Ball State couldn't get out of as it lost its sixth straight game, 70-61 to the Zips.
"We didn't get the defensive stops in the second half," Taylor said. "That limits our ability to get out in transition. Going against an aggressive half-court defense makes it tough on our offense."
After Ball State (3-19, 2-8 Mid-American Conference) took a 34-33 lead to begin the second half, Akron (17-6, 7-3 MAC) exploded, hitting its first six shots of the frame, four of them from beyond the arc. The 18-2 run put Ball State in a 51-36 hole.
The Cardinals responded with a 12-0 run of their own to pull within three points but got no closer.
"We got ourselves in another big hole," Taylor said. "But I love the way our kids continued to fight back. I just wish we wouldn't dig ourselves a hole with some of the similar mistakes we continue to make."
Akron shot six of eight from 3-point range for the second half and 11 of 24 for the game. It was the Zips' fourth game in a row in which they made at least 10 long-range shots.
"That's their forte," senior guard Peyton Stovall said. "They shoot threes. We had to run them off the 3-point line and we didn't do that."
Akron was without its leading scorer, Jeremiah Wood, who is out for four weeks with a torn right meniscus.
"Without Wood, we'd have to shoot a few more [threes] than I'd really care for," Zips' coach Keith Dambrot said. "You have to know your team."
The Cardinals got 16 points from freshman forward Rashaun McLemore, who shot one short of his career high. McLemore shot seven of 11 from the field, including converting two 3-point plays.
"I was just playing hard, doing what I do," McLemore said. "I had faith in my teammates. They got me the ball out in transition."
McLemore led six Cardinals who scored at least six points.
"When you're able to get out and run and get layups, there are a variety of people that can score," Taylor said. "I think the more we're able to run, we'll have more offensive balance."
Taylor said he was impressed with his team's performance for most of the game.
"For the most part, I thought we stood toe to toe with them," he said.
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