Lahaina, Hawaii ? Ball State’s secret to beating Kansas University in Monday’s first-round Maui Invitational tournament game?
“We had to play the game and not play against the jersey,” coach Tim Buckley said after the Cardinals’ shocking 93-91 victory over the No. 4-ranked Jayhawks. “I told each of our guys they’d played against players as talented as Kansas’ before. They’ve done it in all-star games, in the summer, in some of our games in the past.”
The unheralded Cardinals of the Mid-America Conference certainly didn’t seem awed against the Jayhawks.
Ball State guard Chris Williams hit four of five threes in the first half en route to 21 points in sparking the Cards to a 55-48 halftime lead.
“I was pretty hot the first half,” Williams said, “but at halftime I told Petie (Patrick Jackson) and Theron (Smith) it’d be their half because KU would come after me.”
Jackson finished with 23 points, 14 after the intermission. Smith had 19 points, including 11 in the second half.
The Jayhawks’ Jeff Boschee and Keith Langford held Williams to 1-of-6 shooting the second half. It was a big bucket, however, as he drilled a three over Kirk Hinrich with :42 seconds left, erasing KU’s 91-88 lead.
“Our assistant coach said I was due for one,” Williams said. “Petie told me he’d get the ball to me and he did.”
The Cardinals, who erased a six-point deficit in the final two minutes, overcame the foul woes of Smith. The 6-foot-8 junior fouled out with 4:29 left, KU up 85-83.
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Three-point goals: 13-30 (Williams 5-10, Robbins 3-7, Jackson 2-3, Smith 1-2, Owens 1-3, Matt McCollom 1-5). Assists: 16 (McCollom 6, Jackson 3, Bennett 3, Smith, Williams, Robbins, Owens). Turnovers: 15 (Williams 5, McCollom 5, Jackson 3, Smith, Bennett). Blocked shots: 8 (Owens 4, Jones 2, Smith, Williams). Steals: 5 (Jackson 2, Williams, McCollom, Robbins). |
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Three-point goals: 3-9 (Hinrich 2-5, Miles 1-1, Langford 0-1, Boschee 0-2). Assists: 19 (Hinrich 6, Miles 5, Boschee 4, Collison 2, Langford 2). Turnovers: 16 (Gooden 5, Miles 3, Langford 2, Nash 2, Carey 2, Collison, Boschee). Blocked shots: 4 (Gooden, Collison, Boschee, Langford). Steals: 8 (Gooden 2, Miles 2, Boschee 2, Langford 2). |
Ball State | 55 | 38 | 93 |
Kansas | 48 | 43 | 91 |
“I told the team I had a dream about beating KU without Theron,” Buckley said. “Petie and Chris Williams had a calming influence on our team.”
Jackson hit the game-winning shot. He busted through the lane for a driving layup past Aaron Miles with less than a second left. Miles was rendered helpless when a cramp shot through his legs as he was defending.
“I was just trying to make a play,” said Jackson, who scored 23 points. “I lost track of the time. Coach started yelling at me to drive it, the guy slipped and fell. I saw a clear lane.
“I had no emotion I was so caught up in the game,” Jackson added. “All I thought about was playing defense.”
KU’s Drew Gooden inbounded with KU down by two, the ball falling in the direction of Keith Langford.
Ball State’s players rejoiced as the Jayhawks met to shake their hands and trudge off the court after their first November loss since a 70-68 setback to Arizona State on Nov. 23, 1990 in Tempe, Ariz.
KU had won 36 straight November games.
“I am humbled by the win,” Buckley said, “but one win doesn’t make a season.”
Simien makes trip: KU freshman forward Wayne Simien sat on KU’s bench in street clothes. He made the trip to Hawaii despite undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last week.
He’s expected to miss two to four weeks total.
“They drained my knee the day before I left (Saturday) to get some swelling out and try to speed my recovery,” Simien said. “They key is to keep my quad strength up.”
Simien, who rehabbed hard since surgery last April repaired a shoulder problem, said this latest injury hit him hard.
“Definitely,” he said. “I worked so hard over the summer to make sure nothing would happen to my shoulder. Then this happens. To miss the first game of the season especially at a tournament like this is very frustrating.
“To see some of our other guys go down (with cramps) and not be able to help was really tough. I will suck it up like I have in the past to overcome things,” he added.
Stats, facts: KU had won 10 straight season openers. Ball State’s 55 points at the half marked the most points in a half by a KU foe since Arizona scored 55 on KU in the second half on Dec. 2, 1997. Williams’ 21 points in the first half was the most points scored by a KU foe in a half since Texas Tech’s Rayford Young scored 35 in the second half on Feb. 13, 1999. Gooden’s 13 field goal attempts in the first half were most by a KU player since Eric Chenowith hoisted 13 against Nebraska in 1999. Gooden’s 31 points marked a career high. His previous best was 23 versus Texas Tech. Boschee’s nine boards were a career high. He had seven against Syracuse last March. Gooden’s 31 points were most by a Jayhawk since Ryan Robertson’s 31 in 1999.