MUNCIE, Ind. The UL Ragin’ Cajuns shot the ball better than they did in an exhibition game loss to North Texas in their season opener Monday, but the result was about the same.
Ball State took full advantage of UL’s poor shooting for a 75-64 victory over the Cajuns in a Sun Belt-MAC Challenge contest at Worthen Arena.
The Cajuns did make seven more 3-pointers than they did at North Texas, finishing this game 9-of-28 for 32.1%. Several of them were big at the time, however.
Jaxon Olvera hit one at 17:08 of the second half and another one at 16:15 to give UL a brief 37-36 lead. Olvera finished with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting.
Then Jamyron Keller started heating up after a slow start. First, he hit a 3-pointer at 6:03 to get UL within three at 54-51 and then another bomb at 4:40 to trim Ball State’s lead to 58-56.
Keller then added three points the old-fashioned way to cut Ball State’s lead to 69-61 with 1:18 left.
Keller finished with 21 points on 4-of-11 shooting behind the arc and four assists.
De’Vion Lavergne was UL’s third double-figure scorer. The problem is only three Cajuns scored more than six points.
As a team, the Cajuns shot 42.4% from the field, while the Cardinals flourished offensively at 52.2% from the floor for the game.
Ball State outscored UL at the free throw line 19-5 and was also 8-of-15 from 3-point land for 53.3%.
After outrebounding North Texas, Ball State led that category in this one 34-29.
Davin Hill led the Cardinals with 16 points and eight rebounds, followed closely by Cam Densen off the bench with 14 points, three rebounds and three assists.
The Cajuns return to town for Friday’s 7:30 home opener against Southeastern Louisiana.
