MUNCIE, Ind. — That was intense.
Ball State men's basketball at home on Tuesday pulled out gutsy, gritty 71-70 victory over Western Michigan. The thrilling contest came down to the final seconds when a solid Cardinals defensive possession forced a difficult Broncos shot, which clanged off the rim as Worthen Arena erupted.
It was a strange contest that, on paper, shouldn't have been so close. Ball State entered the evening as nine-point favorites, sported a more talented starting-five and outscored WMU 42-20 in the paint, yet several factors led to 18 lead changes and uncertainty about which side would prevail until the final whistle.