MUNCIE, Ind. — Lew Nichols III ran for three scores and 219 yards and Central Michigan piled up 567 yards of offense and beat Ball State 37-17.
Nichols topped 2,000-career rushing yards when he ran for 131 yards in the first half against the Cardinals. Nichols scored on runs of 2 and 66 yards sandwiched around a 43-yard end-around by Kalil Pempleton.
Just before halftime, Drew Plitt led a 14-play, 81-yard drive for Ball State that ended with a 6-yard scoring pass to Yo’Heinz Tyler which reduced the Cardinals’ deficit to 28-17.
Central Michigan put it out of reach when Nichols carried it in from the 1 finishing an eight-play, 55-yard drive.
Ball State (5-6) will wrap up the regular season Nov. 23 at home against Buffalo.
