Ball State tops Eastern Michigan 72-62 for 9th straight win
MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) – Kyle Mallers had 17 points, Trey Moses scored 13 with 10 rebounds and Ball State rolled to a ninth straight victory, beating Eastern Michigan 72-62 in a Mid-American Conference opener on Tuesday night.
Mallers hit 7 of 10 shots from the floor and snagged seven rebounds for the Cardinals (10-4), while Tahjai Teague chipped in with 12 points, eight boards and four assists.
Elijah Minnie scored 17 of his 25 points in the first half for the Eagles (9-5), who led 36-31 at intermission. Paul Jackson added 14 points, but made just 5 of 18 shots as Eastern Michigan shot 39 percent from the field.
Jeremie Tyler scored six points during an 18-11 run to open the second half, and Ball State grabbed a 49-47 lead with 9 minutes to play. It was the Cardinals’ first lead since 9-7. Jackson hit two free throws to pull the Eagles even, but Moses and Mallers teamed up to score 12 in a game-ending 23-13 run to ensure Ball State has an opportunity for its first 10-game win streak since the 1999-00 season.
Ball State’s bench outscored the Eagles’ bench 23-0.