MUNCIE, Ind. -- Freshman guard Jeremie Tyler scored 23 points Monday night to lead the Ball State Cardinals to a 101-62 win over IU Kokomo in its home opener at Worthen Arena.
The Cardinals (1-1) moved and shot the ball well on a night when they topped 100 points in a game for the first time in 10 years. The team handed out 26 assists on 38 baskets and shot better than 62 percent from the floor against the Cougars (1-4).
“I was pleased with our team,” Ball State head coach James Whitford said. “I thought we came out of the gates right, though we didn’t really defend well the first eight minutes … When the ball is really moving, we can score. We have guys who can make shots; we can play fast, and we have some perimeter guys who are really versatile.”
The Cardinals (1-1) moved and shot the ball well on a night when they topped 100 points in a game for the first time in 10 years. The team handed out 26 assists on 38 baskets and shot better than 62 percent from the floor against the Cougars (1-4).
“I was pleased with our team,” Ball State head coach James Whitford said. “I thought we came out of the gates right, though we didn’t really defend well the first eight minutes … When the ball is really moving, we can score. We have guys who can make shots; we can play fast, and we have some perimeter guys who are really versatile.”
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Tyler, who was playing against his brother, IU Kokomo junior guard Jerome Campbell, became the second freshman to score more than 20 points for Ball State already this season.
Sean Sellers scored 26 points three nights ago at Utah, marking the best freshman scoring debut in program history. He went for 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting Monday night and matched Zavier Turner for team-high honors with six assists, all in the first half.
The Cardinals were able to get out in transition, scoring 23 fastbreak points, including three dunks from Tyler. They also did damage from beyond the arc, reaching double-digits in 3-pointers made for the second straight game with 11.
“We have a skilled team, so when they turned the ball over or missed shots, we were able to take advantage,” Whitford said. “We’re not going to be able to get that many fastbreak points against everybody, but we always want to get a few. We’re a team that can really score in transition, and that’s the way we play.”
Bo Calhoun scored a career-high 12 points, and Turner added 11. Matt Kamieniecki, Franko House and Mading Thok scored eight points each, while Kaleb Mallory had seven and Rocco Belcaster six to give the Cardinals nine players with at least six points.
Jared Lawrence scored 15 points and Micah Pier had 13 to lead IU Kokomo, an NAIA program.
Ball State reached the century mark for the first time since Dec. 8, 2004 against Anderson. The Cardinals topped 60 points in a half for the first time since February 1997 by racking up 62 in the first half.
After two games in four days to start the season, Ball State is now off until a Saturday contest at 1 p.m. against IUPUI at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Indianapolis. The Cardinals will return home Monday, Nov. 24 to host Grambling State.
(Courtesy of BSU Athletics/MRO Edit)
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