Ball State University
2-1
UT-Chatanooga
2-2
Men's Basketball Suffers Home Loss To Chattanooga; Travel To Las Vegas Next For Friday Game With Kansas
November 28, 2006 | Men's Basketball
The Cardinals kept the game close in the first half and even lead by seven at intermission. However, as the Cardinals offense turned ice-cold, so did the team giving up an eight point lead and losing, 70-55.
"We just didn't make shots," head coach Ronny Thompson said. "I would feel differently if we were struggling to get shots, or struggling to get open, but I was telling the guys after the game who would have thought that we would lead in rebounding and forced turnovers and still lose the game."
Leading in scoring for the Cardinals were Micah Rollin with 16 and Jalon Perryman with 15. Rebounding leaders were Anthony Newell with 10 and Rollin with eight.
Rollin's career night was highlighted by 3-of-5 shooting from the field in the first half and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Rollin concluded the night with 10 of the Cardinals' 15 free throws.
"What you saw from Micah is an example of how effective he will become," Thompson said. "I thought Micah was the reason we were getting such open shots on the perimeter."
Rollin enjoyed the night as he and UT-Chattanooga forward Nicchaeus Doaks competed back and forth.
"The rivalry is part of basketball," Rollin said. "We have fun, we talked a little bit just to get the competition going, and afterward we shook hands. We both played hard and gave it all we had, but he got the win."
Other scorers for the Cardinals were Anthony Newell with 13, Steve Horton chipped in five, while D'Andre Peyton managed just four points.
Ball State's biggest nemesis was its offense as they shot 12-of-35 in the first half and 7-of-30 in the second, including 0-of-15 from behind the arc. The three-pt. shooting (2-of-29) on the night was one shy of the all-time arena attempt record.
"I've never been a part of a game, at any level where we shot that poorly," Thompson said, "Especially when you have that many open shots."
The Cardinals were without injured seniors Skip Mills and Chris Ames. Ames, who is recovering from a broken jaw, will be out 2-3 weeks. Mills remains listed as day-to-day.
Ball State travels to Las Vegas for a match-up against No. 12 Kansas in the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational. Ball State will take the floor at 5pm (8pm Muncie).
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