The loss was Joyce's first as Miners coach and ended his team's perfect start to the season.

"I'm really disappointed," Joyce said.

"It doesn't matter if it's the first loss, second loss or third loss. What's disappointing is to do so well away and then return home with a loss."

Joyce told the media he and his coaching staff were on the back foot early in the contest as the CoE brought in six new 'NBA Academy' players which they hadn't had an opportunity to scout.

The length and athleticism of these academy players proved difficult for the Miners to overcome in the second half where the Ballarat was outscored 41-31.

"We're one of the bigger teams in the competition and the CoE were bigger than us... that was a bit of an adjustment for our guys," Joyce said.

"Under normal circumstances they could of scored but I think they just needed to make an extra pass. We didn't flow into what we usually do and the reason for that is we've been getting away with it all season."

A big aspect which hurt the Miners was a lack of bench scoring. Ballarat's bench only connected on one of their five field goals off the bench.

Joyce knows they need a bigger contribution from their reserves to secure wins going forward.

"We were really looking for (our bench) the other night... we need guys like (Tristan Fisher) to take good shots because if they're not shooting (the defence) can play off you and stifle other players."

American import Marqueze Coleman did not appear against the CoE due to a lingering an ankle injury he sustained two weeks ago against Albury Wodonga. Joyce said if Coleman had played the Miners "don't lose that game."

Watch Coleman speak about his injury and the Miners loss:

Coleman has missed six of the Miners eight games due to injury. He said his newborn son has been helping him deal with his injury woes this season.

"It's tough, I've got a two-month old and talking to him really helps me a lot... it just takes my mind off everything," Coleman said.

Coleman believes the loss will ultimately be good for the Miners by making the team aware they can't take the foot off the gas when they hold a big lead.

"I think we needed a loss to help us be less complacent... I'd rather take a loss now than later, I'm just looking forward to the rest of the season because I think we've got that fight and that hunger back in us."

Coleman is hoping to be healthy and ready to perform in front of the Ballarat fans on Saturday night when the Miners take on the North-West Thunder on Saturday night at the Minerdome.