MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - Tayler Persons and Ishmael El-Amin scored 18 points apiece and Ball State led the entire game to throw some cold water on red-hot Toledo, sweeping the Rockets 99-71 on Saturday.
Persons opened the game with a layup and Ball State charged out to a 10-0 lead and didn’t let Toledo - which had only lost twice since Jan. 2 - get closer than four points.
Tahjai Teague added 16 points with 12 rebounds and Zach Gunn made 4 of 5 3-point shots to also score 16 points for Ball State (18-9, 9-5 Mid-American Conference). The Cardinals won the boards 39-35, outscored Toledo 44-24 in the paint and had seven steals, forcing 14 Toledo turnovers while only committing six.
Toledo (19-8, 11-3) had fallen to Ball State on Jan. 30 and, after Saturday’s game, is but two games ahead of the Cardinals in the MAC’s West Division. Ball State is 6-1 in its last seven games. Toledo is chasing its first regular-season MAC title since the 2013-14 season.
Luke Knapke led the Rockets with 17 points. Tre’Shaun Fletcher added 15 with eight rebounds.
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