MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- — Carson Steele ran for 124 yards on 28 carries and Ben VonGunten's 22-yard field goal with 12:14 remaining carried Ball State past Central Michigan 17-16 on Saturday.

The Cardinals' (3-3, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) defense forced Central Michigan to punt on its next two possessions and a turnover on downs to end it.

Central Michigan took a 10-0 lead when Lew Nichols III crashed in from the 1 to end the first quarter. John Paddock got the Cardinals back in it when he threw a 2-yard scoring pass to Brady Hunt with 5:01 left before halftime. Ball State took its first lead when Sydney Houston scooped up a fumble and ran it in from 4 yards for a 14-10 lead. Daniel Richardson threw a 17-yard scoring pass to Carlos Carriere with 2:07 left in the third to give the Chippewas a 16-14 lead after the failed extra-point attempt.

Central Michigan (1-5, 0-2) won most major statistical categories save the final score. The Chippewas outgained Ball State 340-250 in total yards, held the ball for 36:16 to 23:44 and held the Cardinals to 0 for 13 on third-down conversions.

With the win, Ball State evened the all-time series at 27-27-1.

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