CLEVELAND--Comfortable in its ability to close a lead down the stretch after a season filled with comebacks, Ball State found itself in an awkward position Tuesday night.
Instead of being able to forge ahead in the late stages, the Cardinals couldn't muster the plays down the stretch to continue its disappointing season. The final product was a 65-60 loss to Toledo, its second loss to the Rockets this season.
In the final 12 minutes, Ball State withered a nine-point Toledo advantage to a 53-51 deficit but never led. The Cardinals were handed plenty of opportunities late in the second half, trailing less than five points 14 separate times.
"I think we were on panic mode," junior guard Kiley Jarrett said. "There came a point when it was do or die, and we kind of got caught up in it instead of playing our game."
Down 11 points with 9:39 remaining, the Cardinals sparked their late-game energy, responding with eight unanswered points. Toledo answered with two consecutive field goals. However, Ball State junior Porchia Green drained a pair from the charity stripe and Jarrett followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to pull within two.
That was the closet the Cardinals got in the final four minutes of play.
"They put us in a hole early," junior captain Porchia Green said. "Then they scored, and we scored; they scored, and we scored. They got the lead early and finished with the win."
Even with Ball State's fluctuating energy level throughout the season, coach Lisa McDonald didn't connect her team's inability to close the gap Tuesday to a lack of energy.
"There have been points where our energy has been down, and I think our key word is energy," McDonald said. "When we play with energy really good things happen. I don't think our energy was bad tonight, and I thought that even when Toledo went on a run we never let the energy flip. For whatever reason, it just seemed like the ball bounced their way every time."
McDonald said her team's realization of how much weighed on Tuesday's game led to the Cardinals' panic down the stretch.
"They understand what was on the line," McDonald said. "Our whole season has been based around getting here, and they love playing together. They didn't want it to end."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
