Bowling Green State University
BALL STATE
Falcons Take First Round Win Over Ball State, 90-81
March 10, 2003 | Men's Basketball
March 10, 2003
MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - Freshman Ron Lewis scored 28 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead #9 Bowling Green to a 90-81 victory over #8 Ball State Monday night in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. The win improved BGSU to 3-0 in MAC Tournament first round games under sixth-year head coach Dan Dakich. It also was BGSU's first triumph in Muncie since the 1993-94 season.
Lewis led three players in double figures. junior Kevin Netter had 19, and sophomore John Reimold added 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Falcons (13-15).
Lewis, a freshman from Columbus, established MAC tournament records for free throws made (22) and attempted (25) and the Falcons also established new MAC postseason marks of 37 FT's made and 43 attempted. Lewis' 22 free throws made also broke a 39-year school record of 21 free throws made set by Howard Komives on March 7, 1964 against Marshall.
The Falcons led throughout, enjoying a 43-26 lead at halftime. BGSU was boosted by its bench in the first half as freshman Cole Magner scored a career-high nine points and freshman Raheem Moss added eight. BGSU also held the MAC's top scorer, Chris Williams, scoreless during the first 20 minutes.
Bowling Green had a 52.4 field-goal percentage, compared with 35.6 percent for Ball State.
Robert Owens led the Cardinals (13-17) with 28 points. Chris Williams had 24 points, and Matt McCollom added 10 for Ball State.
BGSU will play #1 Central Michigan (21-6) in a MAC Quarterfinal game Thursday at 7 p.m. at Cleveland's Gund Arena.
