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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
UNC - Wilmington
Falcons Win Overtime Thriller Over UNC Wilmington, 84-83
December 10, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 10, 2001
Bowling Green, Ohio - Senior Keith McLeod hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with 4.3 seconds left as host Bowling Green rallied to defeat UNC Wilmington, 84-83, in overtime. With the win, BGSU wins its sixth straight game and improves to 7-1, the best start for the Falcons in Dan Dakich's five seasons as head coach at BGSU.
In a game which featured 23 lead changes and 16 ties, McLeod showed again why he may be an early season favorite for MAC Player of the Year and All-American honors. McLeod has either tied the game, given BGSU a lead or extended a lead to two possessions in the final minute, in all six of BGSU's win against Division I competition.
The visiting Seahawks, who were playing their sixth road game of the season, took an 82-81 lead on a three-pointer by junior Craig Callahan with 1:50 remaining. Both teams could not convert on their next two possessions and when Callahan grabbed the rebound on a miss by senior Brandon Pardon with 20 seconds left, UNCW looked in control. Junior Brett Blizzard, who had a game-high 22 points, made just one of two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to make the score 83-81. McLeod then took a pass from Pardon and sent the crowd of 3,131 into a frenzy with his long distance shot.
UNCW, now 4-4, had one final shot but sophomore Tim Burnette, who finished with 18 points, saw his layup rim out at the buzzer.
The Falcons had looked in control late in regulation when Pardon nailed a three-pointer to give the Falcons a 71-69 lead with 2:05 remaining. A putback basket by Callahan tied the game with 1:33 left and a pair of McLeod free throws with 1:09 in the game put BGSU up again at 73-71.
Another Seahawk offensive rebound turned into an easy bucket by senior Ed Williams with 42 seconds on the clock. A steal by Williams set up a chance for UNCW to win the game in regulation, but Burnette's shot was errant and rebounded by Pardon with 1 second remaining.
A long three-pointer by Cory Ryan of the Falcons hit the back of the rim sending the game into the extra session.
BGSU withstood an outstanding shooting night by the Seahawks who hit 31 of 62 shots (50.0) and nine of 18 three pointers (50.0). The Falcons came back largely to a 26 for 31 performance at the free throw line (83.9), including 16 of 17 in the second half.
Clutch three-point shooting (BGSU was 3 for 4 in OT) by Erik Crawford, Pardon and McLeod ultimately won the game for the Falcons. Crawford finished with a career-best 14 points and BGSU was led by senior Len Matela who had 18 points and six rebounds.
BGSU will visit Evansville on Saturday at 8:05 p.m. (EST).
