Tying a career high 16 points, including four dunks, Micah Rollin led the way as Ball State University's men's basketball team ended a six-game losing streak against Northern Illinois University 71-60 Tuesday.
"My knees felt good, I got all the treatment I needed and my teammates were looking for me," Rollin said.
Skip Mills and Anthony Newell both added 16 points for the Cardinals (5-13, 1-3 in the Mid-American Conference) and Newell had a game-high eight rebounds.
Ball State was down 48-42 with 12:44 remaining in the second half when Chris Ames hit a layup and Rollin added a pair of free throws to bring the score to 48-46. Rollin and Newell then combined for three straight dunks. A Peyton Stovall layup completed the 12-0 run.
"I just saw a different look in everybody's eyes," Stovall said. "Guys just got real hungry really fast. That's what we got to have every game."
It was the first lead the Cardinals held in the half after entering halftime tied 32-32. The Cardinals led for only two minutes and seven seconds in the game that far.
"I liked the way we played in the first half," Huskies' coach Rob Judson said. "I thought Ball State's defense during that stretch allowed them to turn us over and take momentum."
Ball State has struggled putting together runs and converting to take the lead all season. They have yet to win a game where they trailed at halftime.
"I thought the momentum shift was huge," Thompson said. "I thought defensively we made some stops, we changed our defenses. We did some things - we got steals, we got layups."
The win was the first MAC win of the year for Ball State and the first MAC victory of Thompson's career. It was also the 700th home win in school history. Skip Mills had two 3-pointers and is now tied for fifth place in school history with Billy Butts at 123.
It had been exactly one month since the Cardinals' last victory, and it came at a key time for the Cardinals. Thompson was disappointed with his team's effort in a 56-52 loss to Eastern Michigan three days earlier.
"I think our demeanor on how we should come out to these games changed a lot," Stovall said. "We had a little team discussion in the locker room after the last game we lost at home, and we just decided we want to win this game. So, in practice, a lot of things, I wouldn't say they changed, but they turned up."
One of the keys for the change in the team's posture was Stovall, who had nine points, five assists and two steals.
"[Stovall] played very well today even though he did not score [much]," Thompson said. "Peyton also did a good job distributing the ball. He was diving on the floor for the ball, getting deflections. He was into the game."
Thompson also said the student section helped fire up his team.
"I love The Nest, The Nest is great," Thompson said. "They supply all the noise in the arena. They do a tremendous job, and the amazing thing is our team really feeds off them. I try at times not to look at The Nest during the games, but sometimes I can't help it but look at those guys down there."
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