Team comparison
Ball State Kent State
Points 53 58
Field goals 19-55 (.345) 19-43 (.442)
Free throws 7-11 (.636) 15-21 (.714)
3-pointers 8-26 (.308) 5-16 (.312)
Rebounds 23 32
Assists 10 9
Junior Bo Calhoun’s career-high 18 points wasn’t enough to prevent the Ball State men's basketball team from losing to Kent State, 58-53.
Despite dropping its 11th consecutive game, Ball State head coach James Whitford remains focused on the process.
“The feedback for us is the process,” Whitford said. “If we compete this hard every single night, in time, those are the habits that win championships.”
As a team, Ball State, now 2-11 in the Mid-American Conference, shot under 40 percent for the eighth time this season.
The Cardinals started strong, making their first four field goals to take an 11-6 lead.
Fifth-year senior Matt Kamieniecki missed his third game, and Kent State took advantage by grabbing eight offensive rebounds in the first half.
“I thought our guys really competed,” Whitford said. “[Kent State's players are] huge. Their starting small forward is bigger than anyone on my team.
Kent State continued to take advantage of Ball State’s lack of an inside presence, going on a 19-6 run to take a 32-21 with 3:05 to play in the first.
Freshman Sean Sellers and redshirt junior Jeremiah Davis made back-to-back 3-pointers out of halftime, cutting the deficit to two at 35-33. Sellers finished with 10 points.
Three points in the next nine minutes for Ball State led to a 42-33 Kent State lead with 13 minutes remaining, but Calhoun kept the Cardinals within striking distance.
His sixth 3-pointer of the season made the score 53-49 with under a minute remaining.
Ball State had an opportunity to come within three, but a missed 3-pointer from Davis followed by Kent State free throws sealed the game.
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