While picking up its second post-January 16 win, BSU (8-11, 6-8 MAC) ended a four-game win streak by the Flashes (14-6, 11-5 MAC).
Ball State head coach James Whitford noted . . .
Jarron Coleman had 26 points - 20 at halftime - to go with six assists, while Ishmael El-Amin and K.J. Walton each scored 16. The Cardinals shot 13-for-26 from 3-point range and made 11 treys before halftime.
TURNING POINT: The score was 19-15 early when the Cards went on an 11-2 run that featured two 3-pointers from El-Amin and five points from Coleman. The outcome was never in doubt after that, as BSU continued to hit from long range for a 57-31 lead at halftime. It was BSU's most points for a half in more than a year.
"It was a really good win. The first half was our best half of the year when you put both sides of the basketball together," Whitford said. "It was a real step forward for us in the sense of us doing well with a physical low post guy inside. We did a great job defending a physical, powerful team in Kent. Ish and Jarron are starting to get a rhythm playing together, and it's taken awhile. It's starting to form in a really good win."
Malique Jacobs led Kent State, hitting 9-of-14 from the field while scoring 23 points. Giovanni Santiago was the only other Flashes player to reach double figues, knocking down four-of-eight on the way to 11 points.
(BSU Athletics/MRO Edit)