Ball State hangs on to beat Valparaiso 69-66
MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) Bo Calhoun scored 15 points and Franko House added 14 as Ball State held off Valparaiso 69-66 on Saturday.
Ball State (5-2) started quick and led 14-5 after a Calhoun 3. Later, House hit back-to-back jumpers to make it 27-15 with 4:53 before the half.
Trailing 29-23 at the break, Valparaiso went on a 12-6 run capped by Vashil Fernandez's layup to tie the score at 35. But Valparaiso (6-2) could never take the lead and the Cardinals shot 8 for 10 from the free-throw line in the last five minutes to hold off the Crusaders.
House had eight rebounds and Ball State enjoyed a slight edge on the boards 37-32. Trey Moses had three of Ball State's seven blocked shots.
Valparaiso was led by Alec Peters' 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting with five rebounds. He was joined in double figures by E. Victor Nickerson who had 16 points.
