2008 Woodie Awards
Free throw disparity dooms CMU on road
Loss gives Ball State just second win of season, now 2-12
By: Daniel Monson
Issue date: 1/14/08 Section: Sports
The men's basketball team went into this season's conference schedule wanting to take care of business at home and steal a few games on the road.
But after just two games, it seems winning on the road in the Mid-American Conference West Division could prove difficult as CMU lost to Ball State, 82-71 on Sunday in Muncie, Ind.
Every team in MAC West Division is 1-1 after the second weekend of the season, with each loss coming on the road and the win on its respective home court.
"It's a big difference. On the road you don't have that home crowd behind you," said sophomore guard Jordan Bitzer. "You need to bring your own atmosphere. To win in this conference on the road is hard."
CMU's defense, which had been spectacular in the first half of the opener, wasn't as effective Sunday in its first MAC road game.
"I thought we were focused, I just thought their intensity level put us on our heals," said coach Ernie Zeigler. "From an execution standpoint, we were focusing on what our game plan was, but they were just really good at pushing the ball early and got up 9-2 - we were battling from behind from that point."
The Cardinals jumped out to a 17-6 lead early in the first half behind the play of Melvin Goins and Anthony Newell. Newell led BSU (2-12) with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
After going to halftime down 39-28, freshman Jeremy Allen's layup cut the lead to four, 49-45, with 10 minutes, 35 seconds remaining. But it would be the closest Central would get.
"They were getting in the lane a little bit too much," said Bitzer, who came off the bench to score 11 points. "We tried to overstep with charges, but we were a little too late. They did a good job of penetrating and kicking it out - going to the basket strong and making contact."
The disparity between foul shots was an indication of BSU's aggressive tendencies, Zeigler said. CMU went 9-of-17 from the line, while BSU was 33-of-51 from the line.
The Cardinals received their last 13 points from free throws.
"We came out focused, but I think they came out wanting it more," Bitzer said. "They got all the loose balls, were outhustling us, outrebounding us. We were giving them second opportunities, which hurt us in the first half."
Senior Giordan Watson led CMU (6-8 overall) with 12 points and six assists. Allen added 10 points and four rebounds, but fouled out.
Sophomore forward Marko Spica returned after not playing in the conference opener. He scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds.
Central's next test comes on the road at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Toledo.
"It's hard to find bright spots in any loss," Zeigler said. "This is another game we have to go back and look at and know that it was a road game that we knew we had an opportunity to win. But now we need to roll our sleeves up and try to go get one somewhere else."
sports@cm-life.com
But after just two games, it seems winning on the road in the Mid-American Conference West Division could prove difficult as CMU lost to Ball State, 82-71 on Sunday in Muncie, Ind.
Every team in MAC West Division is 1-1 after the second weekend of the season, with each loss coming on the road and the win on its respective home court.
"It's a big difference. On the road you don't have that home crowd behind you," said sophomore guard Jordan Bitzer. "You need to bring your own atmosphere. To win in this conference on the road is hard."
CMU's defense, which had been spectacular in the first half of the opener, wasn't as effective Sunday in its first MAC road game.
"I thought we were focused, I just thought their intensity level put us on our heals," said coach Ernie Zeigler. "From an execution standpoint, we were focusing on what our game plan was, but they were just really good at pushing the ball early and got up 9-2 - we were battling from behind from that point."
The Cardinals jumped out to a 17-6 lead early in the first half behind the play of Melvin Goins and Anthony Newell. Newell led BSU (2-12) with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
After going to halftime down 39-28, freshman Jeremy Allen's layup cut the lead to four, 49-45, with 10 minutes, 35 seconds remaining. But it would be the closest Central would get.
"They were getting in the lane a little bit too much," said Bitzer, who came off the bench to score 11 points. "We tried to overstep with charges, but we were a little too late. They did a good job of penetrating and kicking it out - going to the basket strong and making contact."
The disparity between foul shots was an indication of BSU's aggressive tendencies, Zeigler said. CMU went 9-of-17 from the line, while BSU was 33-of-51 from the line.
The Cardinals received their last 13 points from free throws.
"We came out focused, but I think they came out wanting it more," Bitzer said. "They got all the loose balls, were outhustling us, outrebounding us. We were giving them second opportunities, which hurt us in the first half."
Senior Giordan Watson led CMU (6-8 overall) with 12 points and six assists. Allen added 10 points and four rebounds, but fouled out.
Sophomore forward Marko Spica returned after not playing in the conference opener. He scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds.
Central's next test comes on the road at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Toledo.
"It's hard to find bright spots in any loss," Zeigler said. "This is another game we have to go back and look at and know that it was a road game that we knew we had an opportunity to win. But now we need to roll our sleeves up and try to go get one somewhere else."
sports@cm-life.com
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