Robinson’s basket lifts Ball State over Ohio in OT to reach MAC semifinals

Published 1:26 am Friday, March 11, 2011

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tyrae Robinson’s basket with 2 minutes remaining in overtime put Ball State ahead for good and gave the Cardinals a 76-73 win over Ohio in the quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference tournament on Thursday night.

Jesse Berry scored 20 points to lead Ball State (19-12), which scored the last nine points of regulation to tie the score with the defending tournament champions.

Ball State, the tournament’s fourth seed, faces top-seeded Kent State in the semifinals Friday night. Second-seeded Western Michigan meets sixth-seeded Akron in the other semifinal.

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D.J. Cooper and DeVaughn Washington led fifth-seeded Ohio (18-15) with 19 points apiece.

Randy Davis’ 3-pointer with 3:22 left in overtime gave Ball State a 71-68 lead, but Nick Kellogg’s three-point play tied it with 2:17 to play. Robinson’s basket in the lane put Ball State up for good.