Central Michigan University
Ball State
Well Runs Dry; Chippewas Fall In OT
2/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan has done its share, maybe more than its share, of living on the 3-pointer.
On Saturday, the well ran dry when the Chippewas needed it most.
CMU went 0-for-8 from 3-point range and were outscored, 19-10, in overtime as it fell to Ball State, 109-100, in a Mid-American Conference game before a sold-out McGuirk Arena.
Marcus Keene scored 40 points and Braylon Rayson added a career-high 34 to lead the Chippewas, who lost their third straight game and slipped to 16-11, 6-8 MAC.
Ball State, which snapped a three-game losing streak, improved to 17-10 and leads the MAC West at 8-6.
The Chippewas have four MAC games remaining, beginning with a home date on Wednesday with Northern Illinois, 14-13, 6-8.
"They've got their attention focused on what they have to do both collectively and individually," CMU coach Keno Davis said of his players. "Because we've lost a few games that doesn't limit our chances of being able to finish strong. We know we have to get some more things to right in order to finish and get better."
Rayson tied the game, 90-90, with a 3-pointer with 19 seconds remaining in regulation. Tayler Persons scored nine of his career-high 32 points in overtime to lead the Cardinals.
Cecil Williams converted a three-point play to open the OT and put the Chippewas in front, 93-90. Sean Sellers broke a 94-94 tie with a 3-pointer with just over two minutes remaining, and the Chippewas never regained the lead.
Ball State made nine of its 10 free throw attempts in the final minute to pull away.
"One shot (in OT) or one defensive stop or one whatever and the momentum gets shifted quickly," Davis said. "Unfortunately we weren't able to stop or get that score and then all of a sudden the shots didn't fall."
The Chippewas led by as many as nine points in the first half, but Ball State seized the lead with just under 10 minutes to go in the half, and CMU never regained the lead until overtime.
Playing catchup caught up to CMU in the extra session. Rayson played all 45 minutes, while Keene logged 44. The pair combined to finish 23-for-59 from the floor overall, including 12-for-32 from 3-point range.
"It hurt, it's a tough one, it's one we know we should have won," Rayson said. "You could say we ran out of gas a little bit. The legs start to get a little tired. You play 45 minutes, it's a long time to be on the floor."
Williams added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Chippewas, who were outscored, 46-30, in the paint.
