by BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Reluctant.
That was just one of the words Michael Lewis used to describe Tuesday’s performance from Ball State men’s basketball after the Cardinals fell to Bowling Green 77-52.
Sitting at a table outside of the visitors’ locker room in a back hallway of the Stroh Center, Lewis broke down what happened in the previous 40 minutes of play. The loss marked the Cardinals’ second-straight Mid-American Conference (MAC) setback.
“They dominated us in the paint, and we didn’t really have any answer,” Lewis said. “…I thought we were very hesitant against the zone, and I thought we were non-aggressive early.”
The struggles started early on as the Falcons jumped out to a 7-2 lead, as the Cardinals (7-15, 3-7 MAC) started the game 1-for-6 from the field. Then, Bowling Green’s (14-9, 5-6 MAC) play inside the paint elevated as junior forward Aiden Goins lit a torch for the Falcons.
Goins finished the first half — and game — with 10 points, and as a team, Bowling Green outscored Ball State inside the paint 26-14. But it was not just the scoring category where the Cardinals fell short of the Falcons. The home squad grabbed nine more rebounds (20-11) in the first half and had a 57.7 shooting percentage to Ball State’s 38.5 percent.
“They’re a good perimeter-driving team …
I thought we really lacked physicality from 15 feet and in,” Lewis said. “I think [center] Preston Copeland’s getting a lot of opportunities to play as a freshman, and he’s going through some growing pains.”
The Falcons did not slow down in the second half as they began the period by hitting their first seven shots — five 3-pointers and two layups. The Cardinals failed to match that intensity as they were 5-for-10 from the field during that time.
Ball State ended the evening going 20-for-51 (39.2 percent) from the field while the Cardinals were just 4-for-21 from deep. They are now 8-for-41 beyond the arc in their last two games.
“You’ve got to go back and evaluate to make sure you’re getting good shots,” Lewis said. “I thought we missed some open threes, and that’s what happened in the fall. We got to make those more consistently.”
But it was not just the shooting numbers Lewis was unimpressed by. As a team, the Cardinals had seven assists. On multiple occasions, it seemed as if they were nervous to make the extra pass. Lewis discussed this and said he does not know the core issue for the hesitation.
“Being a good passer takes some special ability,” he said. “If you’re not confident in making the right read or the right pass or don’t have the ability to do so, then those things kind of show.”
Bowling Green finished the victory with four scorers in double-figures — sophomore guard Josiah Shackelford led the way with 21 points — while the Cardinals were led by redshirt sophomore guard Davion Hill with 15. Junior guard Armoni Zeigler followed with 11.
The Cardinals will remain on the road as they travel to face Louisiana Monroe on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 3 p.m. The game is part of the MAC vs. Sun Belt Conference Challenge.
With the one-game break from conference play, Lewis hopes the Cardinals continue to fight.
“We were a little hesitant in some situations …
I thought we played a little tentatively, which, when things aren’t going well for you, can happen,” Lewis said.
But above all, he said this non-MAC game is not a break for the team. It is another opportunity to improve and play with motivation.
“You get a chance to put on a uniform that says Ball State. We will play with pride,” Lewis said.
”You get a chance to go out there and compete, and you continue to work.
We’ve done that, all year, minus one outlier. So I expect nothing different from these guys.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.
