Much like the other three road defeats for Ball State University in Mid-American Conference play, the Cardinals had their chances.
Missed free throws denied Ball State its chance at the biggest win of the season, and Kent State University, the preseason MAC favorite, was able to stay undefeated at home. The Cardinals left with a bitter 64-61 overtime loss.
"I feel so bad for our kids," Ball State coach Billy Taylor said in a press release. "They played their hearts out against an elite team in our league."
Ball State has now lost its four league road games by a combined 11 points. The latest heartbreaker pushes the Cardinals' record to 3-18, 2-7 in the MAC.
With Ball State trailing 62-61 after a controversial tip-in by the Golden Flashes' Haminn Quaintance that the Cardinals' coaches felt was basket interference, Cardinals' junior forward Anthony Newell was fouled and went to the line for two shots.
Newell missed both attempts, and after two Kent State free throws, Laron Frazier's desperation 3-pointer rimmed out as time expired on Ball State.
The Cardinals shot 12 of 22 from the free throw line for the game, while the Golden Flashes made 23 of 25 attempts.
"To close a team out on the road you have to make free throws, take care of the basketball and get rebounds," Taylor said in the press release.
Ball State would not have reached overtime without a 23-4 scoring spurt in the second half that erased a 15-point Golden Flashes lead and gave the Cardinals a 47-41 cushion of their own with 4:59 to play in regulation.
However, leading 47-45, Ball State missed three consecutive free throws, which would have given the Cardinals breathing room. Kent State (18-5, 7-2 MAC) took advantage of their second life to force the extra period.
The Golden Flashes got 17 points from guard Al Fisher, who led four players in double figures for Kent State.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals were led by freshman guard Melvin Goins, who made all five of his 3-point attempts on his way to a career-high 21 points to go with four assists and four rebounds. Newell added 20 points and 12 rebounds, while senior guard Peyton Stovall scored eight points and grabbed 10 boards.
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