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YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) -- Peyton Stovall matched a career-high 24 points and Terrance Chapman added 14 to rally Ball State to a 71-56 win over Eastern Michigan on Wednesday night.
Julien Mills had 11 points for the Cardinals (14-12, 9-8 Mid-American), who came into the game having lost six of their last seven games.
Ball State played again without their leading scorer _ also the MAC's leading 3-point shooter _ Dennis Trammell, who is out with an injured Achilles tendon.
James Jackson led Eastern Michigan (12-16, 5-12 MAC) with 13 points. Danny McElhinny added 12 for the Eagles, who have dropped four straight games and 12 of their last 15.
Ball State, which trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half, opened up the second half with five straight points to take a 35-33 lead. After two lead changes and two ties, the Cardinals scored three consecutive baskets to go ahead 43-37 with 14:48 remaining.
Darryl Garrett pulled the Eagles within three points on his dunk with 12:52 left, but Ball State responded with a 25-6 run to take a 68-48 lead with 3:44 to go. Stovall keyed the comeback with 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting.
Eastern Michigan had taken advantage of Ball State's early 2-for-10 shooting to sprint to a 24-8 lead in the first. The Cardinals held the Eagles to only two baskets over the final 11:08 of the half to climb within 33-30 at the intermission.
Eagles coach Jim Boone, who is in the final year of his five-year contract, has yet to post a winning season at Eastern Michigan and is 23-66 in the MAC.
