Redshirt sophomore guard Tyler Cochran contributed 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Cochran also totaled a team-high six steals and defended Buffalo forwards because of foul trouble. Whitford said Cochran did an excellent job adjusting and doing what the coaching staff asked of him.
Since their 54-51 loss against Kent State Jan. 9, the Cardinals had won six of their last eight and five straight. Sallee said Ball State has the opportunity to improve from this loss by emphasizing toughness and understanding its benefit when shots are not falling.
The Owls have not defeated the Tigers since the 2015-16 season, and Yorktown continued its streak with a 71-64 overtime win against Muncie Burris Feb. 10.
Freshman center Payton Sparks finished with his fourth consecutive double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, but accumulated five personal fouls. Sparks said Central Michigan forced him to defend guards along the perimeter, but said he was prepared and knows he will improve defending opposing guards.
In Ball State’s 93-83 victory against Toledo, the Cardinals shot 14-for-29 from the 3-point line and totaled 17 assists. Bumbalough said the offense opened up because they emphasized sharing the ball.
In each of the last three wins, freshman Ally Becki has set a new career-high for points. Becki scored 27 points against the Bobcats and tallied eight assists and six rebounds. Sallee believes Becki, like the rest of the Cardinals, is discovering her identity with more experience.
Ball State (10-10, 5-4 MAC) defeated Western Michigan (4-16, 0-9 MAC) 83-72 Jan. 29, and head coach James Whitford said the consecutive charges from Sparks and Thomas represented the Cardinals toughness.
Junior guard Malik Hasani scored eight points but was held scoreless in the second half. Junior forward Antonio Gore also scored eight points while grabbing seven rebounds. Junior guard Daniel Harris added five points, but no Bearcat other than Hasani, Gore and Harris scored more than two points.
For the Owls, junior guards Colin McBride and Bryce Karnes combined for 36 of their 50 points. McBride scored a team-high 21 points while contributing four assists. Karnes scored 15 points and finished with seven rebounds.
It’s an evolution, not a revolution, as the Cardinals turn to a “five-out” offense this season and do not label players by their positions. No more guards, forwards or centers. Instead, the Cardinals go by “crashers, backs and keys.”
Former Los Angeles Lakers guard and five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others died Jan. 26, 2020, in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, CA. In the wake of the two-year anniversary of his death, our sports staff gave their thoughts on remembering Bryant.
Head Coach James Whitford said it won’t show up in the stat sheet, but moving without the ball and emphasizing cuts is vital to offensive success.
The Cardinals were led in the scoring by freshman Ally Becki with a career-high 19 points. She made 3-of-6 from the 3-point line and led Ball State with three assists. Latimer recorded her fifth consecutive game in double-figures with 17 points. She grabbed 10 rebounds, notching her first double-double of the season.
Two months into his freshman season, Sparks said he knew he could achieve success at this level. He is averaging 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and has recorded double-doubles in three consecutive games.
Junior Sydney Freeman missed a 3-point attempt with no time remaining in the fourth quarter after gradute student Chyna Latimer stole the ball with three seconds left.
Freshman center Payton Sparks recorded his third consecutive double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Sparks said he is more concerned about helping Ball State win than his individual performance.
In Stephenson’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse debut Jan. 5, he recorded 30 points and five assists off the bench in a 129-121 loss against the Brooklyn Nets. He subbed in with six minutes left in the first quarter, and scored 20 consecutive points, including a buzzer beating 3-point shot to end the quarter.
Freshman Ally Becki played a career-high 37 minutes and recorded her first career double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. She added seven assists and finished 2-of-2 from the 3-point line.
Cochran said he didn't see anything specifically from Buffalo defensively, but instead found his open spots and played within his game.
Ball State Women’s Basketball defeated Eastern Michigan 83-73 Jan. 12 behind a season-high 17 points from Latimer. In replacement of redshirt junior Anna Clephane, Latimer also grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
