CMU men's basketball beats Ball State in overtime
Down by three with less than six seconds to play, Cameron Healy hits a three-point shot with a defender in his face to send a back-and-forth battle into overtime.
The Chippewas were looking to keep up the fight in another Mid-American Conference matchup, against Ball State on Tuesday.
The Chippewas (6-14, 5-4) came out on top of the Cardinals (11-12, 6-6) 89-85 in an overtime nail-biter. Ball State was coming off a big win against Toledo, who is one of the top teams in the MAC.
“The best part about playing on the road is that silence, when you quiet them down and the guys did that tonight,'' said head coach Tony Barbee. “Where do you start on this roster? I can go down the line to a man, no matter how many minutes everybody scratched, clawed and fought. I told these guys when you compete and fight you give yourselves a chance.”
The Chippewas controlled the lead for over 14 minutes in the first half. The lead did not last long when the Cardinals went on a 10-1 run with less than two minutes to play before the half. The Cardinals went into the half leading 37-33.
Despite both teams having their moment of ruling in the first half, it was anyone's game in the second. The Cardinals started to pull away from the Chippewas by taking a seven-point lead, their biggest lead of the game.
Back-to-back three-point shots from Cameron Healy brought the Chippewas back within range to keep it in close range. Healy finished 7-for-12 from beyond the arc.
The Cardinals took the lead with less than two minutes remaining with a pair of free throws by Tyler Cochran that wouldn't quite seal the deal. With less than six seconds on the clock Healy went up with defender in his face and banks a shot to tie the game.
The Cardinals had one more shot to take the lead but a block from freshman Jack Webb secured the game going into OT.
The Chippewas controlled the first few minutes of overtime going on a 6-0 run, but the Cardinals were able to make it a one possession game. Key free throws from freshman Kevin Miller set the lead in stone.
At the end of the night the Chippewas shot 19-for-26 from the free throw line. For the eighth time in program history the Chippewas left Muncie with a win over Ball State 89-85.
A physically intense second half brought both teams into foul trouble. Both teams finished the game with three players in foul trouble.
Healy had a season-high of 27 points and a season-high of seven three-pointers. Harrison Henderson had a season-high of 25 points.
Miryne Thomas led the Cardinals with 17 points. Not far behind was freshman Payton Sparks with 16 points and 13 rebounds. This is Sparks seventh double-double of the season.
The Chippewas will be back home in McGuirk on Thursday to take on Ohio at 7 p.m.
