Toledo topples Ball State 80-73

By foxsports
Published

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) Rian Pearson scored 20 points to lead a balanced attack as Toledo toppled Ball State 80-73 on Saturday.

Toledo (20-3, 8-2 Mid-American) won its eighth in its last nine games and retains the top seed in the MAC West Division. Julius Brown scored 18, Justin Drummond had 12 and Nathan Boothe added 11 points.

Ball State (4-17, 1-9) has now lost five in a row. The Cardinals were led by Zavier Turner with 19, while Majok Majok scored 17 and Chris Bond had 12.

The Rockets led 33-18 with 8:46 in the first half, but went scoreless until Pearson's layup with 36 seconds left. The teams were tied at 35 at the break.

Toledo led by two with 2:54 left but Ball State missed three of its last four shots and Toledo hit 5 of 6 free throws to hang on for the win.