MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State men's basketball looked like two different teams in Saturday's disappointment at Eastern Michigan.
The Cardinals were without sophomore center Payton Sparks, who is sidelined indefinitely with a sprain and bone bruise to his left (shooting) wrist. At first, they appeared capable of overcoming the big man's absence, amassing a 10-point halftime lead through solid defense and rebounding.
Yet BSU emerged from the locker room lacking the energy, effort and competitiveness needed to make up for losing the reigning Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year, getting outscored 48-31 over the final 20 minutes to fall 75-68 to the Eagles, who entered the afternoon with just seven total wins and the MAC's worst defense (80.