Eastern Michigan was on the receiving end of 18 three pointers as the Ball State University Cardinals defeated the Eagles, 115-79, Saturday afternoon in Muncie.
EMU forward Brandon Nazione, in his last trip to Ball State, finished with 22 points and five rebounds.
The Eagles started the game by giving up a 14-0 run and James Thompson getting his first technical in the first four minutes. The Eagles snapped the streak with a basket by Tim Bond. After a Raven Lee basket, he was given a technical for punching the ball and coach Rob Murphy was also given a technical. The Eagles struggled to close a 16 point gap as Ball State continued to score and get to the line, getting into the bonus with ten minutes remaining in the first half.
However, the Eagles would wake up and manage to go on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to ten but Ball State extended that lead to 17 due to some long triples and fluid ball movement. A put back by Ball State’s Franko House would put Ball State up by 20 at halftime.
Ball State started the second half extending the lead to 30 in the first seven minutes. Ball State continued to maintain this gap and Thompson received his second technical and was ejected from the game with eleven minutes left.
EMU and Ball State continued trading baskets, but Ball State began making consecutive triples to bring the lead to 36 and would hold that lead for the victory.
Looking forward:
The Eagles return home Tuesday for senior day as they take on the Northern Illinois University Huskies. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
