In a shocking turn of events, Ball State took down Ohio 76-71 at Worthen Arena, pulling off a significant upset that will send ripples through the college basketball world. The Cardinals, with a record of 6-13, were not expected to give the 11-9 Bobcats much of a challenge, but they had other plans. Led by Armoni Zeigler's outstanding performance, Ball State dominated the first half, taking a 44-31 lead into the break.
Zeigler was unstoppable, scoring 28 points and grabbing 7 rebounds to pace the Cardinals. His efforts were complemented by Davion Hill's 19 points and Devon Barnes's 12 points, as Ball State's offense clicked on all cylinders. On the other side, Ohio's Aidan Hadaway did his best to keep the Bobcats in the game, scoring 22 points and pulling down 7 rebounds. Jackson Paveletzke also chipped in with 22 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.
The Bobcats made a push in the second half, outscoring the Cardinals 40-32, but it was too little, too late. Ball State's first-half lead was insurmountable, and they held on for the 5-point victory. The win is a massive upset, considering the significant gap in the teams' net rankings, with Ball State sitting at 319 and Ohio at 210.
This result will have real consequences for both teams' tournament chances. For Ball State, the win is a Quadrant 4 victory, which won't do much to boost their resume, but it's a confidence-builder for a team that has struggled to find consistency. On the other hand, the loss is a Quadrant 4 defeat for Ohio, which could hurt their chances of making a push for the postseason. The Bobcats must regroup and refocus to get their season back on track.
Without a pre-game prediction to reference, it's clear that Ball State exceeded expectations in a big way. The Cardinals' performance will be a talking point in the college basketball world, and they'll look to build on this momentum as they move forward. As for Ohio, they'll need to learn from their mistakes and move on from this disappointing loss.
The upset victory for Ball State is a reflection of the unpredictability of college basketball. On any given night, a team can come out and surprise everyone, and that's exactly what the Cardinals did. While the win may not have a significant impact on their tournament chances, it's a morale-booster for a team that has faced its fair share of challenges this season. For Ohio, the loss is a setback, but they'll have opportunities to make up for it as the season progresses. The Bobcats must be more consistent and avoid letdowns like this if they want to make a serious push for the postseason.