Box Score RICHMOND, Ky.—The South Carolina State men's basketball team suffered yet another tough setback in a 72-60 defeat to Ball State in the final day of the EKU Hoops Classic Sunday.

Junior guard Eric Eaves, senior forward/guard Gabriel McCray and sophomore guard Ty Soloman tossed in 11 points apiece to lead South Carolina State(2-3) who finished 1-2 in the Hoops Classic.

"We are right there! It was a great experience for our guys that will pay off down the road," said SC State head coach Murray Garvin. "We played three very good teams this weekend and was in every game down the stretch. A possession here or there and instead of winning one we could have come home with three wins."

"The best thing about today's game was the scene in the locker room after the loss," said Garvin. "Our guys were very disappointed and we now expect to win games like this.  We are moving in the right direction and I am the luckiest coach in the world to have a group of high character young men to coach."

It was tied at 19 in the first half before Sean Sellers made consecutive 3-pointers to spark a 14-8 surge and give the Cardinals a 33-27 halftime lead.

A 10-0 run pulled the Bulldogs to 52-51 with 4:34 to play. Ball State's Bo Calhoun answered with a jumper, and the Cardinals closed on a 20-9 run. Calhoun scored eight points during the stretch.

Calhoun had 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds to lead Ball State to victory. Sophomore guard Ed Stephens and senior forward Darryl Palmer each chipped in 10 for the Bulldogs.

NEXT UP: SC State will host Allen University on Wednesday (Nov.26) at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Tip-off is 6 p.m.