They had their chances.
Down by three with 2:12 left, Ball State got the ball back with a timeout it didn't end up needing. Three passes and a run later, the Cardinals were on the Chippewas' 29-yard line with enough time to run anything in the playbook.
But they didn't take their time. Junior Central Michigan corner Amari Coleman bit on an out-route, and freshman Damon Hazelton went deep down the left sideline as Coleman tried to recover.
Ball State — Game statistics
Third-down conversions — 11-16
Total yards allowed — 422
Sacks-yards — 5-46
Sophomore quarterback Riley Neal lobbed it up, both players jumped and then .