OXFORD, Ohio – The Ball State men’s basketball team couldn’t fight back from a pair of Miami (OH) second half scoring runs and fell to the RedHawks 80-59 Saturday afternoon at Millett Hall.
Ball State (12-13, 4-8 Mid-American Conference) got 18 points out of both Davion Bailey and Basheer Jihad, but host Miami (12-13, 6-6 MAC) used an 8-0 rally early in the second half and a 12-2 run midway through the second period to take the rivalry matchup.
The Cardinals trailed 30-29 at halftime after Bailey hit a 3-pointer and Trent Middleton Jr. made two free throws in the final minute-and-a-half for the visitors to end the half on a 5-2 run. Miami’s early second half rally gave them a 53-43 advantage, while the RedHawks’ 12-2 streak put them ahead 69-51 with under five minutes to play.
Bailey nailed four 3-pointers for the fourth time this season while adding four rebounds and two assists. Jihad chipped in six rebounds and two block, and Jalin Anderson (11 points, four rebounds, three assists) and Trent Middleton Jr. (eight points, six rebounds, two assists) were also focal points of the Ball State offense.
The quartet of Eian Elmer (18 points), Anderson Mirambeaux (16), Bradley Dean (15) and Darweshi Hunter (13) combined for the balance of scoring for the hosts, who outrebounded the Cardinals 34-32 and had six less turnovers (15-9) while winning bench points 29-2.
Ball State shot 41.1 percent (23-56) from the field, including 35.0 percent (7-20) of its 3-pointers and made 75.0 percent (6-8) on free throws. Miami hit 51.7 percent (31-60), 47.8 percent (11-23) from distance and 70.0 percent (7-10) at the charity stripe.
The Cardinals’ next game is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. ET) at Northern Illinois.
Â