Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Mississippi
Falcons On Top of the World
November 16, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2001
Fairbanks, AK - Senior Keith McLeod scored a career-high 33 points to lead Bowling Green to an 82-78 overtime win over Ole Miss in the first round of the BP Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Falcons will advance to the tournament semifinals where they will face Washington, an 82-70 victor over host Alaska-Fairbanks, on Saturday. Tip-off will be at 4 p.m. (EST) and can be heard locally on WBGU-FM (88.1).
McLeod set a school-record by shooting 27 free throws, breaking the old mark of 22 attempts set by Howard Komives in 1964. McLeod's 20 free throws made were one shy of Komives' BGSU record of 21 made.
BGSU led 32-30 at halftime and led 67-60 in the closing minutes of regulation before the Rebels, who were 27-8 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season, stormed back to take a 72-70 lead in the final minute.
Senior Brandon Pardon, who knocked in a career-high 19 points, dished it off to senior Len Matela who tied the score at 72-72 with a layup with 14 seconds remaining. The Rebels Justin Reed missed a shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
BGSU outscored Ole Miss 10-6 in the extra session.
QUICK FACTS
Thursday's victory marks the fourth straight year that BGSU has won its season opener.
BGSU now holds a 2-1 series lead against Ole Miss.
The Falcons have won two straight against the SEC having defeated Mississippi State in Puerto Rico, 75-59, in 1996.
The Falcons only previous meeting against Washington came in the 1979 Blade-Glass City Classic. The Huskies won 92-62.
