CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Ball State led by five in the first half and was within five in the second half, but No. 16/17 Virginia Tech had an answer for every BSU run in a 73-64 win in game one of the Charleston Classic.
Tayler Persons had 21 points and five assists, while Kyle Mallers added a career-high 19 behind a career-best five 3-pointers. That duo combined for 63 percent of the Cardinals' offensive production in their first game at TD Arena.
Ball State, which suffered a second straight loss to a top-25 opponent, falls into the consolation bracket to meet Alabama, which lost its opening game to Northeastern.