The Ball State University men's basketball team came back to defeat Northern Illinois University 60-54 in tonight's Mid-American Conference home opener at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals (7-7, 2-0 MAC) were playing their first game without Anthony Newell, the senior captain and team leading scorer and rebounder, who had season-ending surgery on a compound fracture to his right tibia and fibula suffered in Saturday's 46-42 win at Eastern Michigan University.
"Tonight was just a little bit different because we were missing someone that we all care about and wasn't a part of it tonight with us," coach Billy Taylor said. "These guys have played with a lot of pride this entire year, and I was just glad to see them come out and see them play so hard and be able to get the decision tonight."
Ball State was led by senior guard/forward Rob Giles and freshman center Jarrod Jones' 11 points. Senior guard Laron Frazier added 10.
For Northern Illinois (5-9, 1-1 MAC), Jake Anderson netted 18 points.
With the victory, the Cardinals surpassed last year's win total, when Ball State was 6-24 overall.
Up next for Ball State is the team's second weekend road trip in a row as the Cardinals face host Central Michigan University on Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. tipoff.
For complete coverage of the game, read Wednesday's edition of The Ball State Daily News.
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