Junior guard Jesse Berry never missed a game in his career before Saturday, but one chance was all freshman Marcus Posley needed to stir up some controversy at the off-guard spot.
With Berry out with concussion-like symptoms, Posley torched Western Michigan for 15 points, three assists and three steals in Ball State’s 65-62 win.
The 6-foot, 205-pound ball of energy played well off the bench all season, but in his first career start, Posley sustained his consistent impact for a season-high 33 minutes.
“Marcus definitely has a mentality that’s shoot it before turning it over,” coach Billy Taylor said. “He’s aggressive in trying to get shots and we’re playing him more off the ball. He was able to slash to the basket and he was able to get some scoring opportunities off our screening action [on Saturday]. I thought he was aggressive, but he was efficient with his offense.”
Ball State (9-13, 3-7 MAC) will need that offense again tonight when the team plays at Northern Illinois (5-17, 3-7 MAC) with Berry out for the second consecutive game.
The Cardinals’ second leading scorer didn’t make the trip to Dekalb, Ill., after sitting out Monday’s and Tuesday’s practices with recurring headaches.
Posley is also dealing with recurring spasms in his back after taking a hard fall against Ohio last week. It resulted in a bruised tailbone, but Posley said his recent starts have actually aided in his recovery.
“Coming out and already breaking a sweat in warm-ups, it actually helps when I start,” Posley said. “It didn’t get stiff at all and it was good.”
Stiffness in his back isn’t the only tension Posley will face.
A native of Rockford, Ill., tonight’s game will be the first for him back in his home state.
Posley said the texts have been coming in all week from his parents and buddies, but his focus is still serious.
“It’ll be cool to play in front of friends and family again because I haven’t seen them in a while being this far away,” Posley said. “But I’m still keeping the same thing in mind. We’re going in for a win.”
The Huskies nearly won out on Posley before former coach Ricardo Patton was fired in 2011. Posley said Northern Illinois recruited him, and he still knows assistant coach Todd Townsend and many of the guys in the locker room.
While Taylor wouldn’t say if another good performance would propel Posley into a permanent starting role in Monday’s press conference, he certainly is glad to have him in his locker room.
“We certainly are excited about the way he’s been playing and hope he can continue it as we move on to the last remaining games in MAC play,” Taylor said.
