YPSILANTI, Mich. - The Ball State University men's basketball team defeated host Eastern Michigan University 46-42 on Saturday to improve its record to 6-7 (1-0 Mid-American Conference).
With the win, the Cardinals match their total number of wins from last season, when Ball State finished 6-24 overall.
"I thought our defense really stepped up and carried us all day today," coach Billy Taylor said. "We have some good kids that have responded to what we have been teaching, and again, the best is really ahead of us."
The Cardinals, who came into the game with the fourth-best scoring defense in the MAC, held the Eagles (2-13, 0-1 MAC) to 13 first half points on 4-of-23 shooting.
Eastern Michigan outscored Ball State 29-22 in the second half on 10-of-26 shooting, but finished with a 28.6 percent shooting performance.
Forward Brandon Bowdry had a game-high 16 points for the Eagles on 3-of-19 shooting. He was held without a field goal in 10 attempts in the first half.
For Ball State, freshman center Jarrod Jones led the way with 15 points as he also collected six rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Senior forward Anthony Newell - who left the game and was taken for an overnight stay at a Ypsilanti-area hospital after suffering what appears to be a severe right leg injury - collected his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. He remains five points shy of becoming the 25th men's basketball player in program history to reach 1,000 career points.
Senior guard Rob Giles also added seven points for Ball State, while freshman guard Randy Davis had six points and a game-high three steals.
The Cardinals out-rebounded the Eagles 43-33, but lost the turnover battle, 15-10.
Ball State returns to play on Tuesday for a home game against Northern Illinois University (5-8, 1-0 MAC), which defeated the University of Toledo 75-51 at home on Saturday.
For complete coverage, read Monday's edition of The Ball State Daily News.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
