BUFFALO, N.Y. — Basheer Jihad's 20 points helped Ball State defeat Buffalo 87-59 on Tuesday night.
Jihad also contributed nine rebounds for the Cardinals (10-9, 2-5 Mid-American Conference). Mickey Pearson Jr. scored 15 points while shooting 6 for 14, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc, and added 11 rebounds. Jalin Anderson was 4 of 8 shooting, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line to finish with 12 points, while adding five steals.
Sy Chatman finished with 27 points and seven rebounds for the Bulls (2-16, 1-5). Isaiah Adams added nine points, four assists and two steals for Buffalo. Jonnivius Smith also had eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Box score
BALL ST. (10-9)
Jihad 6-10 4-4 20, M.Jones 3-7 1-1 7, Pearson 6-14 1-1 15, Anderson 4-8 3-4 12, Middleton 3-6 2-2 10, Bailey 3-6 2-2 9, Hendriks 4-6 2-4 10, Zagorsak 0-1 0-0 0, Bell 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 1-1 0-1 2, Q.Adams 0-0 0-0 0, Futa 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 31-61 15-19 87.
BUFFALO (2-16)
I.Adams 4-11 0-0 9, Chatman 8-16 7-8 27, Smith 3-5 0-0 8, Boldin 1-7 0-0 3, Sabol 2-8 0-0 5, Graham 2-7 0-0 5, McVeigh 0-2 0-0 0, Fulcher 0-4 2-4 2, Williamson 0-1 0-0 0, Wilson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-61 9-12 59.
Halftime: Ball St. 45-31.
3-Point Goals: Ball St. 10-23 (Jihad 4-5, Middleton 2-3, Pearson 2-5, Bailey 1-3, Anderson 1-4, Zagorsak 0-1, M.Jones 0-2), Buffalo 10-33 (Chatman 4-7, Smith 2-3, Boldin 1-4, Graham 1-4, Sabol 1-5, I.Adams 1-6, Fulcher 0-2, McVeigh 0-2).
Rebounds: Ball St. 43 (Pearson 11), Buffalo 23 (Chatman, Smith 7).
Assists: Ball St. 19 (Jihad, Anderson, Bailey 4), Buffalo 14 (Sabol 5).
Total Fouls: Ball St. 15, Buffalo 18.
Attendance: 2,007 (6,100).