MUNCIE, Ind. — Aidan Rubio's 18 points helped Central Michigan defeat Ball State 71-65 on Saturday.
Rubio shot 6 for 9, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc for the Chippewas (6-8, 1-1 Mid-American Conference). Anthony Pritchard added 15 points while going 5 of 9 and 4 of 5 from the free throw line, and they also had five rebounds and six assists. Derrick Butler was 4 of 7 shooting, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the line to finish with 14 points.
Davion Bailey finished with 21 points for the Cardinals (8-6, 0-2). Basheer Jihad added 16 points and 11 rebounds for Ball State. In addition, Jalin Anderson finished with 11 points and four assists.
Cent. Michigan 71, Ball St. 65
CENT. MICHIGAN (6-8) — M.Harding 4-10 0-1 8, Butler 4-7 4-5 14, Pritchard 5-9 4-5 15, Taylor 3-7 2-2 9, Vasko 0-3 0-0 0, Rubio 6-9 2-2 18, McMillan 1-7 2-2 5, Davis 1-3 0-0 2, H.Harding 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-55 14-17 71.
BALL ST. (8-6) — Jihad 4-8 8-10 16, Jones 2-5 0-1 5, Pearson 0-5 10-10 10, Anderson 3-8 4-6 11, Bailey 7-13 3-4 21, Hendriks 1-2 0-0 2, Middleton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-41 25-31 65.
Halftime—Cent. Michigan 31-29. 3-Point Goals—Cent. Michigan 9-23 (Rubio 4-6, Butler 2-3, Pritchard 1-1, Taylor 1-3, McMillan 1-4, Davis 0-1, Vasko 0-2, M.Harding 0-3), Ball St. 6-24 (Bailey 4-10, Jones 1-2, Anderson 1-6, Jihad 0-3, Pearson 0-3). Fouled Out—Taylor. Rebounds—Cent. Michigan 28 (Butler, Taylor 6), Ball St. 28 (Jihad 11). Assists—Cent. Michigan 14 (Pritchard 6), Ball St. 10 (Anderson 4). Total Fouls—Cent. Michigan 23, Ball St. 19. A—3,612 (11,500).
