Legal?

[Erik]

Hello,
I just have a question that maybe one of you guys can answer. Okay, say you're on defense opposite your opponent, who has the ball and whom you are closely guarding. Now, to try to get past you, said opponent, both hands on the ball, punches you with the ball. Is this legal? Is any sort of purposeful contact by an opponent in posseion of the ball towards another player legal? I really need an answer A.S.A.P. Thanks!