Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU 74, UALR 66
February 19, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2005
BGSU finished the non-league portion of the schedule with a 7-2 record. BGSU improved to 3-0 in the series against UALR.
The Falcons improved to 30-3 at home against non-conference foes since Dan Dakich became head coach in 1997-98.
Since the ESPN Bracket Buster was developed in 2003, the Falcons are 4-1 in games that have resulted because of the scheduling format.
With 10 home wins this season, the Falcons have won 10 or more games at Anderson Arena for the sixth time in eight seasons. BGSU is 76-17 overall at "The House That Roars" since the 1998-99 season.
BGSU improved to 13-0 when scoring 70 points or more.
BGSU has won three straight games and four of its last five as it enters the final two weeks of MAC play. BGSU is first in the MAC West with a 9-5 league record.
The Falcons matched their season low in turnovers with 11 (at Ohio, 1/29/05).
BGSU made 22 of 25 free throws and are ranked seventh in the nation making 77.0% of its charity tosses this season.
Senior John Reimold and senior Josh Almanson scored 36 of the Falcons' 40 points in the second half. Reimold had 26 points and Almanson 10 after intermission. Reimold finished with 29 points and Almanson 27.
The Game
Arkansas-Little Rock entered the game with a three-game winning streak on the road and were coming off a huge Sun Belt in Bowling Green, Kentucky on Thursday night, where they defeated Western Kentucky, 55-53.
After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, BGSU never trailed once it took its first lead and scored the next 10 points to lead 10-2.
With senior Josh Almanson leading the way, the Falcons built a 32-12 lead with 5:24 left in the first half and then the game changed. BGSU cooled off and the Trojans regrouped scoring the next nine points, before Almanson, who finished with 17 in the half, hit a 10-foot jumper with one second left as the Falcons took a 34-21 lead into the intermission.
BGSU scored the first two baskets of the second half to up the lead to 17 at 38-21. UALR then made a run and eventually tied the game at 56-56 with 7:40 left in the game.
Both teams were held scoreless for the next 3:49. Senior John Reimold, who was playing with four fouls then took over. He made two free throws to give the Falcons a 58-56 with 3:51 left and then after UALR converted on one of two charity tosses on the other end, his 18 foot jumper gave the Falcons a 60-57 lead with 3:29 left. The Falcons made three straight defensive stops and used an Almanson jumper and a Reimold layup and two free throws to build a 66-57 lead.
Player Notes
Reimold's 29 points was a season-high (28 at Detroit and vs. Ball State). His 12 free throws made and attempted is a new career-high (11/11 vs. Cleveland State in 2002). He also scored 12 of BGSU's last 18 points after the game was tied at 56-56. He also added seven rebounds and five assists.
He moved into 20th place on the school's all-time scoring list and now has scored 1,258 points. He has averaged 28.5 points in the last two games.
Almanson scored 15 of the Falcons' first 27 points. He still leads the MAC in field goal percentage at 61.3%. His 27 points total is his second highest output in his career (28 at Youngstown State). He is averaging 23.5 points in the last two games.
Almanson is 31st in career scoring at BGSU with 1,050 points.
Reimold and Almanson both are averaging 18.0 per game which entering Saturday would lead the MAC.
For the second straight game, sophomore Austin Montgomer came off the bench and made a key basket.
Sophomore Matt Lefeld also played six minutes and had a crucial blocked shot.
Junior Mawel Soler had four points and five rebounds.
Sophomore John Floyd had seven points and six assists.
Up Next
The Falcons will travel to Northern Illinois for a Wednesday night game at 8:05 (EST).
