Tuesday, February 8
Muncie, Ind.
7 p.m.
Central Michigan University
6-14,5-4MAC
89
at
85
Ball State
11-12,6-6MAC
1
2
OT 1
F
Central Mich.
33
45
11
89
Ball St.
37
41
7
85
Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22
Big, Big Win For MBB At Ball State
2/8/2022 10:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CMU wins for fourth time in five games, faces league co-leader Ohio at McGuirk on Thursday
MUNCIE, Ind. – Front liners fouled out, the 3-point sharpshooter was playing with what appeared to be a broken nose, they gave up the lead in the final minute of regulation.
Still, the Chippewas found a way.
Central Michigan outscored Ball State, 11-7, in overtime and Kevin Miller hit all six of his free throw attempts in the extra session on Tuesday as the Chippewas pulled out a dramatic 89-85 Mid-American Conference men's basketball victory at the Cardinals' Worthen Arena.
It was the fourth win in the last five games for CMU, which improved to 6-14, 5-4 MAC. Ball State is 11-12, 6-6. The Chippewas entertain MAC co-leader Ohio on Thursday (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena.
It marked just the eighth win in 50 tries for the Chippewas at Ball State, and it could not have been much more gritty.
CMU's Ralph Bissainthe and Nicolas Pavrette fouled out in the final four minutes of regulation and another big man, Harrison Henderson, played the final 14-plus minutes of game time with four fouls.
At to that CMU 3-point shooting specialist Cameron Healy, who took a shot to the nose that left him looking like a battered and bruised boxer who had just gone 12 rounds.
But he, and his teammates, had their hand raised when it was all said and done.
"Where do you start?" said first-year CMU coach Tony Barbee, who has continually preached toughness to his players. "I can go down the line, to a man, no matter how many minutes (they played), everybody scratched, clawed and fought.
"We executed, we were tough minded, we didn't get shook when they made a run. I told the guys, 'When you compete and fight, you give yourself a chance.'"
Healy scored 27 points and Henderson had 25 – both career highs – and point guard Kevin Miller was sensational, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against just two turnovers while playing all 45 minutes.
"Just a huge (stat) line," Barbee said. "The kid, he's tough as nails. And I knew that's what we were getting when we recruited him."
Healy hit a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime tied at 78.
Healy then scored on a tough drive to open overtime and put CMU up, 80-78, and the Chippewas never trailed again. They twice extended their lead to six points in the extra session and Miller salted it away at the free throw line.
With CMU leading 88-85, Henderson hit a free throw with 5 seconds left to ice it. The Chippewas made nine of their 11 charity tosses in the extra session and finished 19-for-26 on the night.
The Chippewas' 89 points were a season high and their 14 3-pointers – Healy had seven – were also their season best. The game featured eight ties and nine lead changes.
Four of the Chippewas' six wins have come on the road in white-knuckling fashion, where they made the big plays when they had to at crunch time.
"Huge toughness," Barbee said. "My whole thing is, playing at home is no different than playing on the road. It does not make a difference. The court's the same length, the baskets are the same height, and guess what the fans aren't coming out of the stands to attack you, so pretend that they're here to cheer you on.
"The best thing about playing on the road is that silence, when you quiet them down. And the guys did that tonight."
Still, the Chippewas found a way.
Central Michigan outscored Ball State, 11-7, in overtime and Kevin Miller hit all six of his free throw attempts in the extra session on Tuesday as the Chippewas pulled out a dramatic 89-85 Mid-American Conference men's basketball victory at the Cardinals' Worthen Arena.
It was the fourth win in the last five games for CMU, which improved to 6-14, 5-4 MAC. Ball State is 11-12, 6-6. The Chippewas entertain MAC co-leader Ohio on Thursday (7 p.m.) at McGuirk Arena.
It marked just the eighth win in 50 tries for the Chippewas at Ball State, and it could not have been much more gritty.
CMU's Ralph Bissainthe and Nicolas Pavrette fouled out in the final four minutes of regulation and another big man, Harrison Henderson, played the final 14-plus minutes of game time with four fouls.
At to that CMU 3-point shooting specialist Cameron Healy, who took a shot to the nose that left him looking like a battered and bruised boxer who had just gone 12 rounds.
But he, and his teammates, had their hand raised when it was all said and done.
"Where do you start?" said first-year CMU coach Tony Barbee, who has continually preached toughness to his players. "I can go down the line, to a man, no matter how many minutes (they played), everybody scratched, clawed and fought.
"We executed, we were tough minded, we didn't get shook when they made a run. I told the guys, 'When you compete and fight, you give yourself a chance.'"
Healy scored 27 points and Henderson had 25 – both career highs – and point guard Kevin Miller was sensational, finishing with 18 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against just two turnovers while playing all 45 minutes.
"Just a huge (stat) line," Barbee said. "The kid, he's tough as nails. And I knew that's what we were getting when we recruited him."
Healy hit a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left in regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime tied at 78.
Healy then scored on a tough drive to open overtime and put CMU up, 80-78, and the Chippewas never trailed again. They twice extended their lead to six points in the extra session and Miller salted it away at the free throw line.
With CMU leading 88-85, Henderson hit a free throw with 5 seconds left to ice it. The Chippewas made nine of their 11 charity tosses in the extra session and finished 19-for-26 on the night.
The Chippewas' 89 points were a season high and their 14 3-pointers – Healy had seven – were also their season best. The game featured eight ties and nine lead changes.
Four of the Chippewas' six wins have come on the road in white-knuckling fashion, where they made the big plays when they had to at crunch time.
"Huge toughness," Barbee said. "My whole thing is, playing at home is no different than playing on the road. It does not make a difference. The court's the same length, the baskets are the same height, and guess what the fans aren't coming out of the stands to attack you, so pretend that they're here to cheer you on.
"The best thing about playing on the road is that silence, when you quiet them down. And the guys did that tonight."
Team Stats
CMU
BSU
FG%
.459
.446
3FG%
.452
.375
FT%
.731
.643
RB
33
45
TO
12
13
STL
6
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
27
FGM
9
3FGM
7
FTM
2
Pts
25
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
8
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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