After utilizing a 17-2 run to come back in the first half, Ball State committed enough turnovers to lose their chance at upsetting 20-3 Toledo.
The Cardinals opened up with a turnover not even 15 seconds into the second half. Mid-American Conference West leader Toledo took advantage, going on a 20-9 run as Rockets’ guard Rian Pearson scored 12 points and recorded three steals for the second half.
“We were right there to win.” Ball State head coach James Whitford said.
Ball State committed 14 turnovers in the second half after committing seven in the first. The biggest turnover proved to be senior Majok Majok’s traveling violation with 3:24 left in the game. At that point, Ball State was down 70-68 before the referee called the play dead.
“We had a tough travel call on Majok,” Whitford said. “It was a big turnover that cost us.”
The possession that was very costly to the Cardinals was a set play that ended with Majok having the ball on the left post. Majok then proceeded to face-up his defender before driving to the paint and attempting a right-handed hook shot.
“Majok has made that move 150 times this year,” Whitford said. “He must have made it different on the 151. Apparently, he took an extra step on that last one.”
From that point on, the Cardinals committed two more turnovers and four personal fouls, which sent Toledo to the free-throw line eight times within those final three minutes.
Freshman Zavier Turner had another standout game this season, scoring a team-best 19 points. However, he committed four turnovers as well as four fouls Saturday. Turner owns an average of four turnovers per game after Saturday’s loss.
Despite having a 4-17 record, Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk said that Whitford has a great team.
“James is doing a great job.” Kowalczyk said. “Defensively, they’re really sound — they got some guys and we let them get comfortable.”
Turnovers have been a consistent statistic for Ball State. The Cardinals average 17 turnovers per game, while averaging only 12 assists. They have a 0.7 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is second-to-last in the MAC.
The only team they have a statistical advantage over is Northern Illinois, who sits at 4-5 in MAC play. Ball State took Northern Illinois to the final buzzer, though they were beat by the Huskies 67-65 in overtime. The Cardinals turned the ball over 15 times in that Feb. 1 matchup.
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