CLEVELAND,
Ohio (March 6, 2000)(AP) -- Patrick Jackson hit a late 3-pointer as the shot clock expired and Duane Clemens
scored a career-high 35 points as Ball State moved into the championship of the Mid-American Conference
Tournament with a 70-67 semifinal win over Ohio Monday night.
Jackson's 22-footer had just left his hand when the buzzer sounded, but it swished through with 1:02 remaining to
give the Cardinals (21-8) a five-point lead.
Ohio (20-13) cut it to 68-67 with 6.2 seconds left on Steve Esterkamp's basket. But Cardinals reserve Rob
Robbins, who had attempted seven free throws all season, made two and Bobcats forward Shaun Stonerook
dribbled the ball of his foot and out of bounds with 1.5 seconds to play.
Ball State, the tourney's No. 2 seed, will play No. 9 seed Miami of Ohio with the winner earning the league's
automatic NCAA tournament bid. The RedHawks pulled off their third upset of the tournament in the first
semifinal, knocking off No. 5 seed Marshall 69-63.
Miami's Jason Stewart made a conference record 10 3-pointers to pace the RedHawks (15-14).
Ball State and Miami split their two matchups during the regular season with both games going to overtime. The
Cardinals lost at Miami in 3 OTs and the RedHawks lost in Muncie, Ind., in one OT last month.
Clemens had one of his worst games of the regular season against Ohio, but the senior guard more than made up for
it by slashing to the hole for some spectacular layups.
However, his missed free throws down the stretch allowed Ohio to stay close, and the Cardinals hung on despite
shooting 20-of-35 from the line.
Stonerook led the Bobcats with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Sanjay Adell added 18 for Ohio, which shot just 34
percent from the floor but grabbed 47 rebounds, including 19 on the offensive end.
Clemens, who didn't score in the first half of Ball State's quarterfinal win against Toledo, had 19 in the first 20
minutes as the Cardinals took a 31-27 lead at the break.
The Bobcats were lucky to be that close. Ohio shot just 27 percent from the floor and scrapped their way back in it
by controlling the boards and making Ball State work on every offensive possession.
