Walton and Faulkner combine for 35 points, NKU rallies in second half to post 59-57 win at Ball State

NKyTribune staff

MUNCIE, Ind. — Under the most ideal of circumstances, beating Ball State inside Worthen Arena is difficult for non-conference opponents. For teams playing shorthanded, it’s nearly impossible.

But don’t tell that to the players and coaches at Northern Kentucky, which ended Ball State’s home winning streak against non-conference opponents at 17 by grinding out a 59-57 victory on Wednesday night.

The shorthanded Norse — playing without injured guard Jalen Tate — toughed out the road win by rallying from a nine-point deficit in the second half. Dantez Walton netted 18 points for NKU, which improved to 4-1 after defeating Ball State in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

The Cardinals, who hadn’t lost at home to a non-conference opponent in nearly three years, self-destructed at the charity stripe. Ball State shot 9-for-26 at the free-throw line, including a 5-for-16 performance in the second half.

Trevon Faulkner added 17 points for NKU, which used a 12-2 run in the second half to turn a 37-28 deficit into a 40-39 lead when Walton buried a 3-pointer with 11:21 remaining. After Ball State responded with a 6-0 spurt to take a 45-40 lead, Faulkner scored seven consecutive points to give NKU a 47-45 advantage.

With less than a minute left in the game, Faulkner and Adham Eleeda converted two free throws apiece as NKU maintained the lead. Ball State had an opportunity to tie or win in the final seconds, but Josh Thompson missed a contested jumper and Tyler Sharpe grabbed the rebound as the buzzer sounded.

Sharpe finished with 10 points and three steals. NKU shot 37.3 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle 38-37, with Walton, Faulkner and Paul Djoko each grabbing six boards. Bryson Langdon, starting in place of Tate at the point, dished out four assists and scored six points.

Tate, who is averaging 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, suffered a broken left hand last week during practice. He underwent surgery on Monday and is sidelined indefinitely.

Kyle Mallers led Ball State (3-2) with 17 points. Tahjai Teague pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds for the Cardinals, who are members of the Mid-American Conference.

NKU plays host to Texas Southern at 7 p.m. Saturday at BB&T Arena. The Tigers are 0-4 after suffering an 82-51 loss at Arkansas on Tuesday night.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 59, BALL STATE 57
NORTHERN KENTUCKY (59)
Sharpe 3-9 3-8 10, Adheke 1-2 0-0 2, Walton 6-17 4-7 18, Faulkner 5-10 6-6 17, Langdon 3-4 0-0 6, Eleeda 0-3 2-2 2, Harris 1-4 2-2 4, Djoko 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 19-51 17-25 59.
BALL STATE (57)
Teague 5-9 0-3 10, El-Amin 6-9 1-3 13, Walton 4-11 4-11 12, Mallers 5-10 3-3 17, Bumbalough 0-5 0-2 0, Coleman 0-3 0-0 0, Thompson 1-5 0-2 2, Brachen 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 22-54 9-26 57.
HALFTIME: BSU 22-21. 3-POINTERS: (NKU 4-18, BSU 4-18). REBOUNDS: NKU 38 (Walton, Faulkner, Djoko 6), BSU 37 (Teague 12).
RECORDS: NKU 4-1, Ball State 3-2.

(Information compiled from Ball State, NKU and staff reports)