Thomas Shines/Bumbalough Drops Back to Back Treys in Card Win

Credit Source: Ball State University Athletics

MUNCIE – A balanced offense, an all-conference player returns (Jarron Coleman) and a stifling defensive effort (34,9%) lifted the Ball State men’s basketball team to a 78-58 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Worthen Arena. Miryne Thomas scored 20 points and had a team-leading seven rebounds as five different Cardinals scored at least nine points.

Miryne Thomas    Photo by: Rex Crabtree/Excel H Sports

The blowout win was the team’s second this week, as the Cards beat Bowling Green by 24 on Tuesday before Saturday’s 20-point win. Ball State (6-5) is now 4-2 in MAC play and holds third place in the standings outright.

Thomas, whose career high of 21 points came at his previous school, got his first 20-point effort at Ball State on 6-for-7 shooting and 4-for-4 from 3-point range. He was a missed layup and a missed free throw away from a perfect shooting day.

Luke Bumbalough   Photo by: Rex Crabtree/Excel H Sports

Luke Bumbalough  (3 of 6/3 of 5) scored 11 points with three made 3-pointers and K.J. Walton (4 of 9) and Blake Huggins (8 of 10 FT)  each scored ten (10).  Eleven Cardinals saw action in the game and nine of them entered the scoring column, including Ben Hendriks seven, Ishmael El-Amin nine, Coleman two, Kani Acree six and Teemu Suokas three points. Both Zach Gunn and Josh Bryan saw action.

K J Walton  Photo by: Rex Crabtree/Excel H Sports

Blake Huggins   Photo by: Rex Crabtree/Excel H Sports

Northern Illinois (2-10, 1-6 in the MAC) was led by Zool Kueth’s 15 points and Trendon Hankerson’s 12.

Zool Kueth  Photo by: Rex Crabtree/Excel H Sports

Trendon Hankerson  Photo by: Rex Crabtree/Excel H Sports

All Huskies in the game scored including, Adong Makuoi with four, Darius Beane six points and seven assists, Anthony Crumps seven points, Justin Lee two points, Nathan Scott eight points  and Gary, Indiana resident Chinedu Kingsley Okanu four points.

 

UP NEXT: The Cardinals travel to Miami Tuesday night with a shot at extending the win streak to three. Tip time at Miami is 7 p.m.