MUNCIE, Ind. — Tyson Acuff's 19 points helped Eastern Michigan defeat Ball State 58-56 on Saturday.
Acuff shot 7 for 20 (2 for 7 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free throw line for the Eagles (11-16, 4-10 Mid-American Conference). Jalin Billingsley scored 17 points and added six rebounds. Arne Osojnik shot 2 for 6, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with six points.
Basheer Jihad finished with 18 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and two blocks for the Cardinals (13-14, 5-9). Ball State also got 13 points from Mickey Pearson Jr. Jalin Anderson also had nine points, six rebounds and seven assists.
E. Michigan 58, Ball St. 56
E. MICHIGAN (11-16) — Geeter 2-5 0-0 4, Y.Jihad 2-2 1-2 5, Serven 1-6 1-3 3, Acuff 7-20 3-3 19, Osojnik 2-6 0-0 6, Lovejoy 2-5 0-0 4, Billingsley 7-13 2-3 17, Martynov 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 23-58 7-11 58.
BALL ST. (13-14) — B.Jihad 6-14 5-6 18, Jones 3-7 0-0 6, Pearson 2-7 8-9 13, Anderson 4-12 0-0 9, Bailey 3-12 0-1 8, Middleton 0-0 0-0 0, Hendriks 1-2 0-0 2, Zagorsak 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 19-55 13-16 56.
Halftime—Ball St. 27-26. 3-Point Goals—E. Michigan 5-18 (Osojnik 2-5, Acuff 2-7, Billingsley 1-2, Serven 0-4), Ball St. 5-25 (Bailey 2-5, B.Jihad 1-4, Anderson 1-6, Pearson 1-6, Zagorsak 0-1, Jones 0-3). Fouled Out—Geeter, Billingsley. Rebounds—E. Michigan 36 (Serven 8), Ball St. 34 (B.Jihad 16). Assists—E. Michigan 12 (Geeter, Serven 3), Ball St. 14 (Anderson 7). Total Fouls—E. Michigan 18, Ball St. 13. A—4,708 (11,500).
