Down by double digits for a majority of the second half, Ball State University stormed back to within five points with 1:02 remaining, but couldn't finish the comeback falling 63-53 to Bowling Green State University Wednesday.
"Our effort wasn't terrific tonight," Ball State coach Billy Taylor said. "We played in spurts. Our defensive intensity wasn't very good."
After the Cardinals (3-15, 2-5 Mid-American Conference) jumped out to a 6-1 advantage early, Bowling Green took over the remainder of the first half. The Falcons would rip off the game's next 13 points and took a 31-20 advantage into the locker room.
Bowling Green started well in the second half, building its lead to 44-28, the largest lead of the game, with 12:40 remaining.
Ball State rallied late behind freshman guard Melvin Goins, who scored 16 of his career-high 18 points in the second half, including 11 in the final 5:03. Goins' outburst helped the Cardinals reduce the deficit to five with just over a minute to play before the Falcons pulled away with free throws.
"He turned it up the final six minutes," senior guard Peyton Stovall said. "He kept on making baskets. He shot really well. We've got to get that from the beginning of the game from everybody."
The Cardinals attempted to break Bowling Green's zone defense from the inside in the first half, shooting 23 of their 26 attempts from inside the arc. However, junior forward Anthony Newell was repeatedly swallowed up by double-teams. Newell scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, but shot 4 of 13 from the floor.
Ball State went on to attempt 15 3-pointers in the second half. Taylor said the Cardinals didn't do a good job of bailing out Newell once he was double-teamed.
"We have to have guys ready at the 3-point line to take the shot," Taylor said of beating the zone. "Their zone continued to collapse in because we never got anybody to consistently hit those shots from the perimeter."
The Falcons shot 56 percent from the floor, including 55 percent from 3-point range.
"Any time a team shoots that percentage, you should be mad," Stovall said. "We didn't defend the way we should have. We've got to come out with more aggressive defense because that's what gets our offense going."
Stovall recorded his second double-double of the season in the defeat, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
The loss is Ball State's third straight in MAC play, while the Falcons recorded their third straight win.
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