Anthony Pritchard was a standout performer for Central Michigan, securing 18 crucial points, while Jakobi Heady delivered the decisive jump shot just as the clock ticked down to eight seconds. This thrilling last-minute action led the Chippewas to a narrow victory over Ball State, finishing the game 69-67 on Tuesday night in Muncie, Indiana.
Both Central Michigan and Ball State now find themselves tied for ninth place in the highly competitive Mid-American Conference standings. With one more game left in the regular season, they each trail Western Michigan and Bowling Green by a single game. The stakes are high as only the top eight teams will advance to the conference tournament set to commence on March 13 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
Contributing significantly to Central Michigan’s efforts, Pritchard also impressed with seven rebounds and six assists. Jakobi Heady matched Pritchard’s point total with 18, delivering a commendable performance that included a successful 7 of 15 from the field and a perfect 3 for 3 from the foul line, alongside his six rebounds. Ugnius Jarusevicius added 13 points, going 4 for 10 on field goals and showing accuracy from the line with a 4 for 4 completion and also contributing six rebounds.
On the Cardinals’ side, Jermahri Hill led with a game-high 21 points. Mickey Pearson Jr. also made contributions by adding 11 points to the board for Ball State. Payton Sparks was another key player, scoring eight points and adding nine rebounds along with two blocks, strengthening the team’s defensive efforts.
Throughout the game, Pritchard scored seven of his points during the first half, though Central Michigan entered halftime trailing behind with a score of 39-22. In the second half, Heady led the way for the Chippewas, netting 16 points including the clutch shot that secured the win for his team.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to play again on Friday. Central Michigan will be hosting Northern Illinois, while Ball State will travel for an away game against Miami (OH).
