MUNCIE, IN - Toledo could never get untracked offensively on Sunday afternoon as Ball State handed the Rockets a 71-43 defeat in Worthen Arena. UT (3-14, 0-3 MAC) was limited to season lows in both points (43) and field-goal percentage (30.8) by the Cardinals (7-8, 1-2 MAC), who entered the contest with the MAC's top scoring defense.

"Ball State is a very good defensive team and they showed that again today," Toledo Head Coach Gene Cross said. "When you don't defend, don't rebound and turn the ball over like we did, you don't win many basketball games. We came into today's game with the idea that we were going to do those things better but we didn't."

Freshman guards Jake Barnett and Malcolm Griffin led the Rockets' attack for a second-straight contest with 12 points apiece.

Freshman guard Jauwan Scaife paced Ball State offensively with a career-high 20 points, including a 6-of-8 performance from behind the three-point arc. Senior F Terrence Watson registered a double-double with a career-best 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Ball State took control of the contest with a 20-3 first-half run en route to a 40-22 halftime advantage. UT was able to reduce its deficit to 15 points early in the second half but couldn't come any closer.

"We thought we could come out in the second half and fight and chip away at the lead," Cross said. "We did for a little bit but then we fell back to the way we played in the first half."

The Cardinals finished the game shooting 50 percent (25-of-50) from the field and 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from three-point range. The Cardinals controlled the glass as well as they owned a 39-31 advantage.

Toledo returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 20 when it hosts MAC West Division leader Northern Illinois (7-8, 3-0 MAC) in Savage Arena. Tip-off time is 7:00 p.m.