Blaine Kinsey
GoSycamores.com
MUNCIE, Ind.—Despite leading the majority of the game, the Cardinals took the lead late and the Sycamores could not respond as the Indiana State basketball team (3-5) fell to Ball State (3-3) by a final score of 70-63 Saturday in Muncie.
After a pair of misses by both teams, senior Jake Kitchell got the Sycamores into the scoring column first as he knocked down a jumper to give ISU a 2-0 early lead.
Justin Gant and Khristian Smith also contributed buckets early and at the first media timeout the Sycamores held a 6-5 advantage over the Cardinals.
Both teams traded baskets back and forth until Ball State pulled out to their largest lead of the first half, with 10:28 to go before halftime, off a three-pointer to make it 12-8 Cardinals.
The Sycamores answered back with a trey by Grant Prusator to make it 12-11.
Following the under 4-minute media timeout the Sycamores turned up the intensity as junior Khrisitan Smith converted an And-1 and then slammed home a fast break dunk. The Sycamores went on to finish the half on an 11-4 run to take a 30-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.
To start the second half, Ball State hit a bucket and followed by a three-pointer to cut the Sycamore lead to three just two minutes into the half.
Both teams traded baskets for the majority of the half with the Sycamores holding a slim lead.
With just over six minutes left to play, junior Devonte Brown hit a pair of free throws to give the Sycamores a 53-48 lead, their largest since the 12:58 mark.
The Cardinals refused to go away, however, as they hit a pair of three-pointers with less than 1:30 to play, split around a Sycamore turnover to take a 5-point advantage with just 41 seconds remaining.
After extending the game with fouls, freshman Brenton Scott made a layup with seconds remaing but the Sycamores could not find a away to stop the Sycamores as they fell by a final score of 70-63.
Senior Justin Gant led the Sycamores with 16 points while Smith added 15 points and four rebounds. Brown was the Sycamores leading rebounder with seven while adding nine points and three assists.
The Sycamores will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 13 when they travel to face Iona at 2 p.m.
