Chippewas defense falls apart in road loss to Ball State
Central Michigan coach Keno Davis knows that with a young team, it's difficult to wrap around the fact that a game can have different circumstances within the two halves. He also knows that regardless, the players have to respond positively, but that wasn't the outcome Tuesday.
34 of the total 47 team fouls were committed in the second half at Worthen Arena in CMU's 98-83 loss to Ball State, who went on a 9-0 run midway through the final 20 minutes of play, diminishing CMU's chances. It's the fourth loss for Central Michigan (11-7, 1-4) since the beginning of Mid-American Conference play, and the ninth loss at Ball State's home arena in the last 10 seasons.
"We knew that this was going to be a brutal start to the conference," Davis said. "Being 1-4 in the league, it doesn't put us out of anything, it just puts us in a hole and I know our guys are looking forward to redeeming themselves."
Marcus Keene scored a game-high 29 points with seven assists in his first game after suffering an ankle injury this past Friday in the win over Toledo. The junior guard was 6-of-7 from 3-point range in the first half, scoring 20. Central Michigan had a 10-point lead at the 8:01 mark of the opening half, following an early 18-7 run in a five minute span. Then, the Cardinals garnered a 41-36 advantage from six straight field goals, along with a free throw by Francis Kiapway, who finished with 14 points.
Taylor Persons, who averaged 15.3 points a contest before Tuesday, combined for 38 points with Trey Moses to lead Ball State, who ranks sixth in the conference in both points per game (78.5) and points allowed (71.9).
The Chippewas shot 41 percent (17-of-41) from 3-point range, collected 10 points in the paint and committed 11 turnovers. They also shot a mere 24 percent in the second half. Five straight points from Keene and forward Cecil Williams 1 1/2 minutes into the second half tied the score at 48. Williams and senior guard Braylon Rayson each grabbed six rebounds. Rayson also tallied 20 points.
It was 69-62, Ball State, with nine minutes remaining when CMU freshman David DiLeo secured his 11th point from beyond the arc. But key baskets in the paint by BSU saw the Chippewas down by 15 with 6:18 on the clock. Central Michigan later brought its deficit back down to single-digits, 87-78, from two made free throws by freshman Kevin McKay with three minutes left. That would be the closest CMU came to making a comeback.
"We're at a point right now where we have to get better in every area," Davis said. "You can't point the finger at the excuses, you have to get better in those areas, and that's what some of these young guys are doing."
The team heads back to McGuirk Arena this Saturday for a matinee (1:30 p.m.) with Miami (OH). The Redhawks possessed a 1-4 record in league play before their Tuesday matchup with Northern Illinois.