Box Score

Miami 46, Ball State 48

MUNCIE, Ind.-- Senior guard Eric Washington scored a career-high 26 points to lead all scorers, but it was not enough as Miami was edged by Ball State on Saturday afternoon in Worthen Arena, 48-46. Although the RedHawks (6-11; 0-4 Mid-American Conference) led most of the contest, the Cardinals (12-5; 3-1 MAC) hit the go-ahead bucket with one second remaining to clinch the win.

It was the fourth-consecutive 20-point game for Washington and the 10th of his career. Senior guard Geovonie McKnight added 11 points and a game-high-tying eight rebounds for the RedHawks.

Senior forward Kalif Wright scored the first points of the game and Washington tossed in the next five to hand Miami a quick 7-0 lead. Ball State scored its first basket at 14:48, but Miami countered with five unanswered points to open up a 12-2 advantage with 12:17 to go in the opening half. Miami held a 14-5 lead off a McKnight bucket, but the Cardinals retaliated with a 5-0 spurt to cut the MU lead to four at 8:41. Buckets by McKnight and senior forward Chris Bryant pushed the RedHawk lead to eight, 18-10.

The Cardinals pulled within five, but a triple from Washington with just over two minutes to go put Miami up 11 points, 26-15. Bo Calhoun's layup for the Cardinals with just over a minute to go set the Miami lead back at single digits, but McKnight sunk a jumper with 39 seconds to go in the opening stanza to put the RedHawk lead back at 11 points, 28-17, which would carry into the intermission.

Washington scored 13 points in the opening half to lead all players.

A pair of 3-pointers from Washington and two free throws from Bryant extended the Miami lead to 16 points by the 16:34 mark of the second half, 36-20. Ball State came back with an 8-0 run to cut the MU lead to single digits with 14:20 to go, 36-28. Washington sunk a jumper with 11:23 to score Miami's first points in nearly five minutes and put the RedHawk lead back at double figures.

After Washington knocked down two free throws to hand Miami a 40-30 advantage with 9:39 to go, Ball State went on a 9-0 run over the next five minutes to close within one with 4:45 to play, 40-39. McKnight halted the Cardinal run with a bucket and ensuing free throw with 3:19 to go, Miami's first points in more than six minutes, to put the RedHawks ahead 43-39.

The Cardinals came back with seven unanswered points, taking their first lead of the game with 2:38 to play and holding a 46-43 with 1:37 to play. Washington sunk one-of-two free throws with 1:28 remaining and knotted the game with a layup with 28 seconds to play. Jeremiah Davis took the last shot for BSU, draining the game-winner with one second left.

Ryan Weber and Jeremie Tyler finished with 10 points apiece to lead the Cardinals.

Miami returns home to host Buffalo at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19. McKnight will be honored prior to the game for reaching 1,000 career points.