Ball State's Jamar Cottee (4) hauls in a pass in the third quarter against Miami. The RedHawks lost 15-10. (AP Photo/The Journal News, E.L. Hubbard)

OXFORD, Ohio (Oct. 7, 2000) -- Ball State ended its' 21-game losing streak in grand fashion, upsetting the RedHawks 15-10 Saturday afternoon and spoiling Miami's annual homecoming festivities.

The Cardinals (1-4, 1-1 MAC), who began the day with the nation's longest losing streak, stymied Miami's offense, limiting the RedHawks to 10 points -- their lowest offensive output since falling 27-7 to Army on Oct. 26, 1996 -- and to 235 yards in total offense -- their fewest yards since a 218-yard effort at Central Michigan on Sept. 25, 1999.

With the loss, Miami (3-3 overall, 2-2 MAC) suffers its first back-to-back defeats since 1997 and its first successive losses versus MAC foes since 1994.

"I give all the credit to Ball State," said Miami coach Terry Hoeppner. "They came in ready to play. They made the plays and we didn't. I told our team afterwards to remember the feeling we had after the Vanderbilt game and remember the feeling we have right now. Hopefully we can gain something from this loss. We are not playing with any confidence right now and it is my job to turn it around."

Anthony Jones, who ran for a career-high 187 yards on 46 carries, scored on a 1-yard run and a 13-yard pass from Talmadge Hill. He is the first Ball State player to rush for more than 100 yards since Nov. 21, 1998. Hill was 17-of-29 for 186 yards, with three interceptions.

Jones capped a 61-yard drive with 3:40 left in the first quarter, giving Ball State a 6-0 lead.

Miami went ahead 7-6 when Sly Johnson scored two minutes into the second quarter on a 15-yard pass from Mike Bath, who set a Miami record with his 45th touchdown pass. Bath was 15-of-37 for 170 yards, and was intercepted twice.

Thomas Pucke kicked a 34-yard field goal with 6:30 left in the half as Ball State regained the lead at 9-7.

With 1:05 left in the third quarter, Andy Brumbergs kicked a 34-yard field goal to give Miami a 10-9 lead.

But Hill connected with Jones with 9:02 to play, and Ball State held off the RedHawks the rest of the way.

"I lost track of how many game it got to be," said Ball State head coach Bill Lynch, referring to the long losing skid. "We just tried to focus each week and we finally made the plays that it takes to win a game. I am very excited."

Miami remains at home next weekend, hosting Bowling Green at 2 p.m. (Oct. 14).