BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ball State’s victory over Buffalo was propelled by Payton Sparks, who scored 27 points, leading the Cardinals to an 89-76 triumph on Saturday evening.

Sparks also contributed significantly with 14 rebounds, helping his team improve its record to 10-11 overall and 4-5 within the Mid-American Conference. Mickey Pearson Jr. added 19 points along with seven rebounds, while Jermahri Hill contributed 18 points, shooting 40% from the field, including one successful three-pointer, and going 100% from the charity stripe with five free throws made.

For the Bulls, Anquan Boldin Jr. was the standout performer, finishing with 16 points, three steals, and two blocks. Bryson Wilson matched his teammate’s scoring effort with another 16 points, while Ryan Sabol chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists, but their efforts were not enough to secure a victory.

The turning point in the game occurred with just under four minutes remaining in the first half, as Ball State captured the lead and maintained it for the remainder of the contest. By halftime, the Cardinals held a solid 45-32 advantage, with Sparks already making a significant impact by scoring 18 points. In the second half, Ball State managed to increase their lead to 17 points, initiated by a 7-0 scoring run. Pearson’s performance shone through, as he led the team in the second half with a total of 11 points.