Persons leads hot shooting Ball State over Howard 98-71
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Tayler Persons scored 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting Thursday night and Ball State made 14 3-pointers in a 98-71 victory over Howard.
Tahjai Teague added 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds for the Cardinals (8-4), who have won seven of eight. Ball State shot 34 of 58 (59 percent) from the field and 14 of 29 (48 percent) from 3-point range.
Ishmael El-Amin scored 15 in his first career start and Kyle Mallers and Zach Gunn added 12 points each. Persons was 3 of 5 from 3-point range and Mallers hit 4 of 7.
Ball State opened the game with an 18-6 lead, but Howard responded to go in front at 28-24. The Cardinals retook the lead for good with an 8-0 run and pulled away in the second half to lead by as many as 33.
Charles Williams and Raymond Bethea Jr. had 14 points each for the Bison (6-6), who lost their third straight. RJ Cole and Kyle Foster added 11 points apiece.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Buddy Mayborg
- Tim Stewart
- Ed Phillips
2023-24 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Norfolk State | 11-3 | - | 24-11 |
North Carolina Central | 9-5 | 2 | 18-13 |
Howard | 9-5 | 2 | 18-17 |
South Carolina State | 9-5 | 2 | 14-18 |
Morgan State | 7-7 | 4 | 11-20 |
Delaware State | 6-8 | 5 | 15-19 |
Maryland-Eastern Shore | 4-10 | 7 | 9-20 |
Coppin State | 1-13 | 10 | 2-27 |
2023-24 Mid-American Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Toledo | 14-4 | - | 20-12 |
Akron | 13-5 | 1 | 24-11 |
Ohio | 13-5 | 1 | 20-13 |
Central Michigan | 12-6 | 2 | 18-14 |
Bowling Green | 10-8 | 4 | 20-14 |
Miami (OH) | 9-9 | 5 | 15-17 |
Western Michigan | 9-9 | 5 | 12-20 |
Kent State | 8-10 | 6 | 17-17 |
Ball State | 7-11 | 7 | 15-16 |
Eastern Michigan | 6-12 | 8 | 13-18 |
Northern Illinois | 5-13 | 9 | 11-20 |
Buffalo | 2-16 | 12 | 4-27 |