Ball State men's basketball shines, women make history in Friday double-header

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State men's and women's basketball on Friday played a double-header in Worthen Arena.

A strong second half for the men led to a 92-74 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, while the women hosted No. 17 Notre Dame and fell 90-59.

Catch up on the latest with both teams below:

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For the second straight game, the Cardinals (5-1) overcame a sluggish first half to pull away over the final 20 minutes. The post-halftime improvement is on the heels of the team's 74-50 dismantling at Evansville on Nov. 18, in which BSU lost the second half 44-23.

Ball State won its last two second halves by a combined margin of 101-61. Both times, the Cardinals cutdown their turnovers and played more patiently, dictating the game rather than reacting to their opponent.

That shift led to upticks in assists each time. After three straight contests with six assists per game, BSU tallied 14 against the Spartans and a season-high 23 versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

"I think they were giving up 65 or 66% from two-point field goals, right? Well let's not rifle up the first three that we get," Lewis said. "Let's make them move, guard multiple sides of floor, guard multiple actions and try to play inside-out."

That approach also led to a season-high 12 triples made.

It was junior Basheer Jihad's dominance inside, however, that truly tilted Friday's game in Ball State's favor. His team highs in points (18) and rebounds (11) marked the first double-double of his career.

He attempted just two 3s, his fewest in a game this season.

On a team as small as the 2023-24 Cardinals, Jihad needs to be a paint presence. It's not his natural style of play, but Friday's outing was the most comfortable he's appeared thus far, shooting 6-for-7 inside and consistently imposing his will.

Freshman Trent Middleton was also a difference-maker, adding eight points and five assists in 20 minutes off the bench.

His role elevated after junior Davion Bailey suffered a lower-leg injury in the second half. He returned to the sideline in a walking boot and crutches, but it was unclear as of Friday how serious Bailey's injury is.

Without him and senior Ethan Brittain-Watts, who's yet to play this season because of a hip/groin injury, Middleton will need to continue being productive.

"I'm not sure he could've performed like this two weeks ago, right? But he's gotten better in the last two weeks just with his mindset and how he approaches practice," Lewis said. "I think that's just another another example of these guys growing as players."

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Ball State women's basketball draws largest crowd in program history (5,442)

Although the Cardinals (5-1) never kept the game close, head coach Brady Sallee and his players cherished the opportunity to make history.

"The crowd and the community, it was awesome today," Sallee said. "As frustrated as our players are right now, there'll be a time where they sit back and they'll remember playing in front of the largest crowd that's ever watched a women's basketball game in Ball State history, and they're a part of that."

There wasn't much to take from the game itself. The Fighting Irish used their superior size and athleticism to full effect, quickly earning a lead that only grew until BSU won the final quarter 23-18.

The Cardinals will not face a team close to that level again, so Sallee and his players view the loss as preparation for tough moments in the future.

On the bright side, BSU forced Notre Dame into 29 turnovers, a staggering amount despite Ball State's many disadvantages. Sallee said it was because of his team's ability to mix up defensive schemes and keep the opposition off balance.

It was another example of the team's renewed commitment to defense. The Cardinals entered the evening allowing 63.8 points per game, and being better on that side of the ball than last season will continue to be an emphasis moving forward.

Ball State's offense, though, struggled to overcome the opposition's physicality. Sallee said the team couldn't get into its offensive sets, causing guards Ally Becki and Nyla Hampton to over-dribble and turn the ball over a combined 15 times.

That new ball-handling duo has looked productive otherwise. As Ball State embarks on a five-game road trip, Sallee expects his guard tandem to bounce back.

"We feel like night in and night out, we got the best backcourt on the floor," Sallee said. "I'm sure glad I got those two, and I think it's gonna be a really good thing for us moving forward … Between what Nyla can do defensively and what Ally can do offensively, it's fun to coach that kind of talent level."

Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on X (platform formerly known as Twitter) @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State men's basketball shines, women make history in double-header