Tuesday’s Men’s Basketball Results
Ball State 62, Kent State 54
Central Michigan 92, Bowling Green 82
Eastern Michigan 66, Buffalo 62
Western Michigan 64, Miami 60
Northern Illinois 66, Toledo 61
Stories courtesy of the Associated Press
Ball State 62, Kent State 54
Boxscore
KENT, Ohio -- The Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center had been a bit of a house of horrors for the Ball State men's basketball team for some time.
BSU had lost 11 straight on Kent State's home floor. Hadn't won there since 1999. Went to overtime on the last visit but couldn't get it.
On Tuesday night, the Cardinals exorcised the demons.
Ball State (13-9, 6-3 MAC) shook off a slow start to overcome a 13-point deficit and grab the lead by halftime. The Cardinals never trailed after the break on the way to a 62-54 victory.
Ball State handed Kent State (16-7, 6-4 MAC) just its second home loss of the season and did it behind another big all-around performance from Tahjai Teague. The fifth-year senior scored 12 points, pulled down 17 rebounds and handed out six assists.
Philip Whittington led Kent State with 18 points and seven rebounds, but the Flashes finished the night just 1-for-20 from 3-point range. Troy Simons entered the game with more 3's than any player in the MAC but made only 1-of-6 attempts.
Ball State, on the other hand, hit 10-of-27 from beyond the arc with Teague often finding open shooters out of the post.
Ball State will return to action Saturday with a 4 p.m. tipoff at Western Michigan on ESPN3. It will be the Cardinals' sixth road game in the past eight contests. The team will then play five of its next seven at home.
Central Michigan 92, Bowling Green 82
Boxscore
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Dallas Morgan scored a career-high 29 points as Central Michigan beat Bowling Green 92-82 on Tuesday night. David DiLeo added 26 points for the Chippewas.
Kevin McKay had 13 points for Central Michigan (13-8, 6-2 Mid-American Conference). Rob Montgomery added 11 points.
Justin Turner scored a season-high 31 points for the Falcons (17-6, 8-2), whose eight-game winning streak was broken. Trey Diggs added 11 points. Michael Laster had 10 points and six assists.
Central Michigan faces Buffalo on the road on Friday. Bowling Green plays Toledo at home on Saturday.
Eastern Michigan 66, Buffalo 62
Boxscore
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Ty Groce posted 14 points and three blocks as Eastern Michigan narrowly defeated Buffalo 66-62 on Tuesday night for its 200th win at the Convocation Center.
Derek Ballard scored all of his five points, grabbed five rebounds and had a steal in a five-minute span late in the second half and the Eagles led 63-58 on his layup with 1:39 to play.
Thomas Binelli had 11 points for Eastern Michigan (12-10, 2-7 Mid-American Conference), which hasn't beaten Buffalo since 2016. Darion Spottsville added 11 points and Yeikson Montero had five steals.
Josh Mballa had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls (14-9, 5-5). Gabe Grant added 10 points and Jayvon Graves had eight points and 10 rebounds.
Eastern Michigan takes on Akron on the road on Saturday. Buffalo faces Central Michigan at home on Friday.
Western Michigan 64, Miami 60
Boxscore
OXFORD, Ohio -- Brandon Johnson scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and foul line and Western Michigan beat Miami 64-60 Tuesday night.
Following Johnson's basket that broke a 58-all tie, Dae Dae Grant went to the foul line for the Red Hawks but made just 1 of 2 with 13 seconds left to make it 60-59.
Michael Flowers then made a pair for Western Michigan (10-12, 3-6 Mid-American Conference) for a 62-59 lead. Isaiah Coleman-Lands was fouled and made the first of two and intentionally missed the second. Milos Jovic intentionally fouled Flowers who sank a pair to end it.
Flowers scored 16 and went 11 of 12 from the foul line. The Broncos ended a three-game skid.
Grant scored 20 for the Red Hawks and Precious Ayah and Jovic each scored 10. Miami has lost back-to-back contests.
Northern Illinois 66, Toledo 61
Boxscore
TOLEDO, Ohio -- Eugene German had 25 points as Northern Illinois narrowly defeated Toledo 66-61 on Tuesday night for its fifth straight win.
Darius Beane had 11 points for Northern Illinois (14-9, 7-3 Mid-American Conference), which shot 47% (24 of 51). Lacey James added 13 rebounds.
Willie Jackson had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Rockets (11-12, 3-7), who have now lost four straight games. Luke Knapke added 15 points, four assists and three blocks. Marreon Jackson had 14 points and six rebounds.
Northern Illinois matches up against Kent State at home on Friday. Toledo faces Bowling Green on the road on Saturday.
