MUNCIE, Ind. — Theo Scott found Terrence McCrae for a 7-yard touchdown with just over 3 minutes remaining Saturday to lift Ohio to a 20-17 victory over Ball State.

The pair also accounted for a 2-point conversion following the TD, giving the Bobcats (6-3, 4-1 Mid-American) a 20-17 lead. Before the touchdown with 3:11 to go, Ohio’s only scoring had come on four Matt Weller field goals.

Ohio led throughout the second half until Tanner Justice’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Hill gave Ball State (1-8, 1-4) a 17-12 lead with 5:52 remaining. That play accounted for nearly half of the Cardinals’ 78 yards of passing in the game.

Eric Williams had a 55-yard run in the first half, setting up his 1-yard TD run that gave the Cardinals a 7-6 lead. But Ohio regained the lead on Weller’s 52-yard field goal before the first half ended.

Ohio U. stats

OHIO 20, BALL STATE 17

Ohio 3 6 0 11 — 20

Ball State 0 7 3 7 — 17

First Quarter

Ohio—FG Weller 39, 4:12.

Second Quarter

Ohio—FG Weller 24, 8:27.

BSU—Williams 1 run (McGarvey kick), 5:16.

Ohio—FG Weller 52, :00.

Third Quarter

BSU—FG McGarvey 22, 6:45.

Fourth Quarter

Ohio—FG Weller 41, 11:27.

BSU—Hill 35 pass from Justice (McGarvey kick), 5:52.

Ohio—McCrae 7 pass from Th.Scott (McCrae pass from Th.Scott), 3:11.

A—7,321.

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Ohio BSU

First downs 20 11

Rushes-yards 41-155 38-169

Passing 161 78

Comp-Att-Int 17-27-2 6-9-1

Return Yards 24 0

Punts-Avg. 1-19.0 4-35.0

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 6-60 9-91

Time of Possession 32:50 27:10

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Ohio, Garrett 18-48, Brazill 4-43, Davidson 7-39, Th.Scott 7-19, Hershey 1-7, T.Price 1-3, Team 3-(minus 4). Ball St., Williams 5-59, Lewis 20-45, Justice 9-43, Sykes 4-22.

PASSING—Ohio, Th.Scott 17-27-2-161. Ball St., Justice 6-9-1-78.

RECEIVING—Ohio, Brazill 6-82, T.Price 4-36, McCrae 4-27, Garrett 2-4, Davidson 1-12. Ball St., Lewis 2-22, Ifft 2-11, Hill 1-35, Orsbon 1-10.