MUNCIE, Ind. (Interstat) — Kiael Kelly connected with Kameron Anthony on a 29-yard touchdown pass with 1:53 remaining to lift Ball State to a 17-13 comeback victory over Kent State in a Mid-American Conference contest Wednesday night at Scheumann Stadium.

The Cardinals, who trailed for the majority of the game, improved to 4-5 on the season, while the Golden Flashes fell to 3-6.

Kent State controlled the tempo for the first three quarters, building a 13-10 lead on the strength of a defensive struggle and methodical offensive drives. The Golden Flashes took a 3-0 lead in the second quarter on a 39-yard field goal by Willizhuan Yates, answered only by a Ball State touchdown pass from Kelly to TJ Horton late in the same period.

The Golden Flashes extended their lead in the third quarter when Dustin Delaney Jr. plunged into the end zone from four yards out. A 28-yard field goal by Yates early in the fourth quarter pushed the Kent State advantage to 13-10, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

Ball State’s winning drive was engineered by Kelly, the quarterback from Tampa, Florida, who methodically moved the Cardinals down the field. Facing a critical third down deep in Kent State territory, Kelly found Anthony over the middle, and the tight end from Fishers, Indiana, broke a tackle to complete the go-ahead score.

Kent State had a final opportunity to reclaim the lead, driving to the Ball State 38-yard line in the closing seconds. But the Cardinals’ defense, led by a relentless effort from linebacker Joey Stemler who recorded a game-high 10 tackles, held firm. Dru DeShields’ final pass attempt on fourth down fell incomplete, sealing the victory for the home team.

Kelly finished the game 17-of-29 for 173 yards and two touchdowns, adding 53 yards on 21 rushing attempts. DeShields, the Kent State quarterback from Beloit, Ohio, passed for 212 yards on 15-of-27 attempts but was unable to find the end zone through the air.

Wayne Harris was a standout for the Golden Flashes, catching five passes for 87 yards. Defensively, CJ Young anchored Kent State with 11 tackles.

The result defied pregame projections, as Interstat’s ELO system had given Ball State an 87.6 percent probability to win, though Kent State had been a 3.5-point favorite according to the betting line. The combined 30 points fell well under the over/under line of 47.5.

Ball State will look to build on the win when it hosts Eastern Michigan on Nov. 15. Kent State will try to rebound on the road at Akron on Nov. 11.