FORT WAYNE - The Ball State University men's basketball team's game against IPFW Monday night was generally dominated more by the referee's whistles than any player's performance.
Through all the frustration on both ends, senior forward Anthony Newell knocked down a turnaround 15-foot jumper from the elbow as time expired to give the Cardinals a 54-52 win against the host Mastodons at Memorial Coliseum.
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 4-0 all-time against IPFW, and also earned their second road win of the season after winning one last season.
"I got the ball and said, 'Everybody move,'" said Newell, who had a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. "I just told them I was going to take it to the bucket and score."
Coach Billy Taylor said he was proud of Newell for draining the game-winner after his senior captain missed three of four free throw shots down the stretch.
"I'm so proud of him for bouncing back," Taylor said. "Obviously, he struggled, he had missed a couple shots in a row, he missed some free throws, but he wanted that shot there, he stepped up and he made it for us."
The two teams combined for 40 fouls in the game, including 18 fouls in the first half, as Ball State and IPFW were both in the bonus at the 11:07 mark.
The Cardinals were especially hampered by the foul trouble of their post players. Freshman center Jarrod Jones and junior forward Eric Wormely both picked up their third fouls within a minute into the second half.
Jones, Wormely and sophomore forward Malik Perry were then all forced to sit a majority of the second half with four fouls apiece.
With the big men on the bench, Taylor said he was pleased with the play of his guards.
"It forced us to play smaller," Taylor said. "Fortunately, our guards really stepped up for us."
Senior guard Laron Frazier had a game-high tying 15 points and was 5-for-5 from the free-throw line for the Cardinals, and freshman guard Randy Davis came off the bench to score a career-high nine points and also had a team-high four assists on the night.
"I think it all started with the other guys because [IPFW] really keyed in on them," Davis said. "I think they kind of fell asleep a little bit, and I just took advantage of that."
With so many fouls, free throw shooting became key for both teams. Ball State shot 17-of-23 (73.9 percent) from the line, while IPFW shot 10-of-14 (71.4 percent).
For IPFW (3-3), freshman forward Trey McCorkle led with 15 points, while senior forward David Carson had 13 points and sophomore guard Ben Botts added 12.
IPFW coach Dane Fife said the game was a "slugfest."
"I thought Ball State's a very good basketball team," Fife said. "They're big, they're strong, they've got quick guards, they've got a superstar in Newell - they're only going to get better."
Fife said he knew the fate of the game before the final shot hit nothing but net.
"I think that's the only turnaround jumper that Newell hit all game - unfortunately, it was the last one," he said. "Shots like that, you just know they're going in."
With the win, Ball State (4-2) earned its second straight road victory, and next travels to the University of Evansville on Saturday.
"It's all about momentum," Newell said. "We need to get another road win on Saturday, then we have Purdue coming in next week."
Five things to take away1. Anthony Newell's jumper as time expired gave the Ball State men's basketball team a 54-52 win over IPFW Monday night.
2. The two teams combined for 40 fouls throughout the game.
3. Newell had a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds, while Laron Frazier led the Cardinals with 15 points on the night.
4. Freshman guard Randy Davis came off the bench with a career-high nine points and four assists.
5. Ball State (4-2) next plays on Saturday at Evansville.
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