Miami OH defeats Ball State 77-86
Miami OH Upsets Ball State 86-77 in Thrilling Conference Showdown
In a highly competitive conference matchup, the Miami Ohio RedHawks (AWAY) pulled off a stunning 9-point upset over the Ball State Cardinals (HOME), 86-77, at Worthen Arena. The win marks a significant bounce-back for the RedHawks after a recent losing streak.
The game was tightly contested from the opening tip, with both teams trading baskets and fighting for every loose ball. At halftime, the away team led 40-36, setting the stage for an exciting second half.
In the final 20 minutes, Miami OH's Almar Atlason (26 points) took center stage, connecting on 5-of-8 three-point attempts to fuel his team's comeback bid. Meanwhile, Ball State's Elmore James IV (20 points) struggled to find his range, shooting just 2-for-6 from beyond the arc.
The Cardinals' Armoni Zeigler (8 rebounds, 7 points) and Devon Barnes (4 assists, 10 points) led the team's efforts, but ultimately fell short as Miami OH's Eian Elmer (7 rebounds, 20 points) and Peter Suder (5 assists, 10 points) controlled the paint.
The RedHawks' superior free throw shooting (21/22, 95.0%) played a crucial role in their victory, as they capitalized on their opportunities at the line to build a lead that Ball State could not overcome.
In terms of team performance, Miami OH outshot Ball State from the field (63.7% vs 49.0%), while also outrebounding their opponents (32-24). The Cardinals' advanced statistics showed a strong efficiency in the paint (55.3 eFG%), but ultimately were outperformed by the RedHawks.
The win marks a significant statement for Miami OH, which looks to build on this momentum as they head into conference play. For Ball State, the loss serves as a tough road bump in their quest for a top-10 finish.
GAME STATS:
* Field Goals: Miami OH (63.7%), Ball State (49.0%)
* 2-Point FG: Miami OH (48.1%), Ball State (58.3%)
* 3-Point FG: Miami OH (54.0%), Ball State (33.0%)
* Free Throws: Miami OH (95.0%), Ball State (78.0%)
* Rebounds: Miami OH (32), Ball State (24)
* Assists: Miami OH (16), Ball State (16)
* Turnovers: Miami OH (14), Ball State (7)
GAME LEADERS:
Ball State:
* Elmore James IV - 20 pts, 2-6 3PT, 60.0% FG
* Armoni Zeigler - 8 reb, 7 pts, 2 ast, 1 stl
Miami OH:
* Almar Atlason - 26 pts, 5-8 3PT, 57.1% FG
* Eian Elmer - 7 reb, 20 pts