by MUNCIE, Ind. — The box score tells the story.
Eastern Michigan shot 58 percent (29-for-50) from the field. Ball State was 33.3 percent (17-for-51).
The Eagles grabbed 37 rebounds. The Cardinals had 18.
Ball State led 20-14 with 10:42 remaining in the first half. Eastern Michigan then went on a 25-5 scoring run, during which the Cardinals were 1-10 from the field and turned the ball over four times.
These stats — among many more — allowed Eastern Michigan to top the Cardinals 74-52 Tuesday evening inside Worthen Arena. The defeat extended Ball State’s winless Mid-American Conference (MAC) streak, as the team now stands at 2-7 in its last nine games.
It is also the fifth time the Cardinals have scored under 60 points this season.
Senior guard Elmore James IV — who had 13 points in the loss — said it was the Cardinals’ energy that let them down.
“We had that game [in-hand] at the beginning,” James said. “We simply got to learn from it … We can’t expect to win a game coming out with energy for 10 minutes, and then in the last 30 minutes, not having the same type of energy.”
When head coach Michael Lewis was asked about James’ statement about inconsistent energy, Lewis then asked the media what his veteran guard exactly said.
He did not believe that idea was the case.
“I don’t know if I’d buy that. I think that’s an easy cop out, to be quite honest,” Lewis said. “I thought our effort was pretty solid throughout the night. I think they’re better than us. And [they were] particularly tonight.”
Throughout the Cardinals’ (4-11, 0-3 MAC) last eight games — where they were 2-6 as they are now 2-7 over their last nine — Lewis said the issue has been mistakes in areas that take ‘no talent.’ He repeated that statement following Tuesday’s loss.
“Our communication is just not good. It hasn’t been good all year. It wasn’t good in the summer, and it wasn’t good in the fall,” Lewis said. “It’s just what we tolerate from each other because we don’t communicate well.
Redshirt sophomore guard Davion Hill agreed with Lewis. He said the glimpses of success are there, but mistakes in the communication area have hindered those looks from becoming a stable reality.
“It’s kind of been the story of our season,” Hill said. “We start off strong and let it slip away. Until we figure that out and come together, it’s not gonna change.”
For the second straight game, Lewis found one play to describe the team’s performance. This time, it came in the final six seconds of the first half. Following Ball State’s free throws, the Eagles (8-8, 2-2 MAC) went coast-to-coast as redshirt senior forward Addison Patterson hit a layup at the buzzer.
Lewis walked to the tunnel with his hands on top of his head. He was in disbelief.
“Unexplainable. Absolutely unexplainable,” Lewis said. “We’ve practiced those situations. We talk about those. We tell them exactly what you can’t do … Completely unexplainable.”
Junior guard Armoni Zeigler led Ball State with 15 points while junior forward grabbed five rebounds. For the Eagles, redshirt senior Carlos Hart led with 18 points while Patterson added 12.
Ball State will be back Saturday, Jan. 10, as they face UMass on the road. The opening tip is set for 3:30 p.m.
James said it is easy to know what needs to change. The Cardinals need to stick together.
“The schedule is not going to get any easier,” James said. “We just have to keep standing together because we can’t give up.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu, zachcarter039@gmail.com or via X @ZachCarter85.
