Ball State’s Chris Bond began his last run at the Mid-American Conference on Wednesday night.
His team played host to the defending MAC champions and lost a close game 68-72. It was the first conference game under head coach James Whitford.
“I was proud of our competitiveness out there,” he said. “[Akron] kind of set the standard for how hard you play in this league, and we wanted to make sure that us getting to play them was a great challenge.”
Akron head coach Keith Dambrot has been with the Zips since the 2004-05 season. Ball State is playing under its fourth coach since Dambrot’s first year.
“Down the line, they’re going to have a good team,” Dambrot said as he praised Ball State’s potential.
Seniors Bond, Jesse Berry and Majok Majok led the Cardinals. Bond finished with a team high 18 points on 4-of-9 shooting, but he knocked down 9-of-10 free throws.
Majok finished with another double-double as he scored 16 points and collected 13 rebounds. Berry finished with 12, scoring 6 points from deep.
“I have a lot of respect for Chris Bond,” Dambrot said. “He’s an unbelievable offensive rebounder. He’s stolen the ball at the highest rate of anybody in this league, and he’s competitive defensively — I think Chris Bond is a high-level player.”
Ball State played with intensity and resolve against a team it hasn’t defeated in a decade. Based on the home crowd, officiating had a rough night as the 2,606 roared with displeasure at each of the 24 fouls called against the Cardinals.
For Bond and his fellow seniors, this is the last time that they get to play in the MAC before graduating. For someone who has been a consistent player since arriving in 2010 with Berry, this will be his last chance to leave a mark.
“You want to win every game, it’s your last go-around.” Bond said. “You want to go out with a ball — I want to go through it and dominate.”
Ball State travels Saturday to face Kent State, which is another tough Ohio team.
“I feel like with each test we’re getting better,” Whitford said. “With each passing week, we have to make another step forward — I feel like we’re taking steps, and I’m hungry to take more.”
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