MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — In a game that defied both expectation and momentum, the Ball State Cardinals escaped McGuirk Arena with a 68-67 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas in a Mid-American Conference men’s basketball thriller on Tuesday night. The win, secured in a chaotic final sequence, snapped a two-game skid for Ball State and handed Central Michigan a devastating home loss after a furious second-half comeback fell one point short.

The narrative of the game was a stark tale of two halves. Ball State, the visiting Cardinals, dominated the opening period with stifling defense and efficient transition play. They held Central Michigan to a mere 20 first-half points, building a commanding 33-20 lead by intermission. The Chippewas looked out of sorts, shooting poorly and committing turnovers against an active Ball State defense that recorded multiple blocks and steals in the early going.

Armoni Zeigler and Davion Hill provided the offensive spark for Ball State in the first half. Zeigler, a junior from Amityville, New York, was particularly effective, scoring in a variety of ways and anchoring the defense with two blocks. Hill, a sophomore from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, knocked down key three-pointers to help stretch the lead. Central Michigan’s offense, by contrast, sputtered, with only Logan McIntire showing consistent life as the team shot a dismal percentage from the floor.

The second half, however, was a complete reversal. Central Michigan emerged from the locker room transformed. Fueled by the dynamic backcourt duo of Tamario Adley and Logan McIntire, the Chippewas unleashed a 47-point half, relentlessly chipping away at the large deficit. Adley, a Detroit native, orchestrated the offense with precision, finishing with 20 points and six assists, while McIntire, from Ramsey, Indiana, caught fire from the perimeter on his way to a game-high 21 points.

The Chippewas’ pressure defense forced Ball State into mistakes, and the once-comfortable lead evaporated. A Keenan Garner three-pointer, assisted by Adley, with 15:27 remaining cut the lead to single digits and ignited the home crowd of 2,202. The Cardinals, who had managed only 35 points in the second half, saw their offense grow stagnant as Central Michigan’s momentum swelled.

The game crescendoed in the final minutes. With Ball State clinging to a narrow lead, Central Michigan’s Nathan Claerbaut hit a floating jump shot to make it 67-65 with just over 30 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Ball State’s Davion Hill drove to the basket and was fouled by Keenan Garner with 16 seconds left. Hill calmly sank both free throws to tie the game at 67.

Central Michigan called a timeout to set up a final play. Inbounding with a chance to win, the ball found its way to Tamario Adley, who was fouled by Ball State’s Armoni Zeigler on a three-point attempt with just seven seconds on the clock. Adley, with a chance to give his team the lead, stepped to the line. He made the first free throw but missed the second, leaving the score at 68-67.

The critical miss led to a frenetic scramble for the rebound. Central Michigan’s Logan McIntire managed to secure the loose ball but immediately turned it over under intense pressure from Zeigler. The ball squirted loose, and in the ensuing battle, Central Michigan’s Phat Phat Brooks was called for a foul on Ball State’s Devon Barnes with five-tenths of a second remaining.

Barnes, a sophomore from Hinesville, Georgia, who had contributed 17 points, missed the first free throw attempt. With the game hanging in the balance, he intentionally missed the second. The rebound was tapped away as time expired, sealing the one-point victory for the Cardinals.

The most important part of the game was undoubtedly the final seven seconds, a sequence of high-pressure free throws, a crucial missed opportunity, a critical turnover, and a final foul that allowed Ball State to run out the clock. Central Michigan’s Adley had a chance to be the hero at the line but could only convert one of two, and the subsequent turnover under the basket by McIntire robbed the Chippewas of a final shot attempt, culminating in a heartbreaking end to their valiant comeback.

With the victory, Ball State improved to 6-13 overall and 2-4 in MAC play. Central Michigan fell to 5-14 and 1-5 in the conference. The result was an upset according to pregame metrics, which had heavily favored the Chippewas at home.

Both teams return to conference action on Saturday. Ball State will host Northern Illinois, while Central Michigan travels to face rival Western Michigan.