Bowling Green State University Athletics
Akron Post Game Notes
January 29, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2006
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes
GAME NOTES
Bowling Green still leads the overall series, 23-13, and 13-3
at Anderson Arena.
Bowling Green erased a 20-point first half deficit and led 66-64 with 2:11 to go in the game.
It was the first overtime game of the season for the Falcons (0-1) and the second for the Zips (2-0). It is the third overtime meeting between two two teams since 1999 (Akron is 2-1 in those games).
The Falcons have now lost four MAC games by a combined 10 points (NIU-1, Ball State-1, Buffalo-3, Akron-5)
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Samarco tied his season high for three-point field goals attempted with 12. He averaged 24 points this week in three games.
Steven Wright tied a career-high with eight assists. That number equals the Falcon high this season set by John Floyd last Tuesday against Buffalo.
Samarco has now made 43 of his last 45 free throws and is 66-76 (.868) for the year
Samarco has connected from beyond the arc in 17 of 18 games, has led the team in scoring 12 times and has scored in double- figures 17 times. He is 51-127 (.401) and from downtown he is 61-140 (.436)
John Floyd tied a season-high with two steals
Samarco played a career-high 41 minutes
Wright established season-highs for points (21), minutes (37), FGM (7), FGA (15), 3pt.FGM (5), 3pt. FGA (9), rebounds (5), assists (8), blocked shots (1). His three-pointers made and assist numbers were career-bests.
Erik Marschall established new career-highs in minutes (36), rebounds (8, also against Virginia Tech). He had six points and has made five of his last six shots from the field and had two dunks today.
Matt Lefeld finished with 12 points and five rebounds. It was his first double-digit scoring effort in six games (19 vs. NIU). He made six of seven from the line and has made 10 of his last 11 charity tosses. He also is shooting 57.1% from the field in the MAC.
Brian Moten played 16 minutes and had three points. His layup with 4:26 to go gave BGSU its first lead of the game.
THE GAME
Akron jumped out to a 9-0 start and held the Falcons scoreless
for the first 5:07.
Akron extended their lead to 21-9 with 7:48 in the first half on a three-point field goal from Darryl Peterson. Following the media timeout, Bowling Green went on a 7-2 run to close the gap to seven at 23-16 with 5:02 remaining in the half.
From there, Akron's Nick Dials highlighted a 14-1 run for the Zips to give them a 20-point lead, 37-17, with 1:26 remaining before intermission. Senior Steven Wright answered for the Falcons as he hit two three-point field goals to make it a 37- 23 game at the half.
Following a 6-0 Zips run to push the lead to 47-28 with 15:17 remaining, junior Matt Lefeld and classmate Martin Samarco outscored Akron 12-4 to cut the deficit to 11 at 51-40, with just over 11:00 to play.
Another three by Samarco with 8:29 made the score 58-49 and when Samarco connected once again with 7:57, the Falcons trailed by just eight.
Then, with 7:03 remaining, Dials grabbed a missed shot and was fouled over the back by Matt Lefeld. Dials, upset with the aggressive play, picked up a technical foul. Samarco made both free throws and sliced the lead to six, 60-54.
After the free throws, Dials attempted a one-and-one from the Lefeld foul and missed the front end.
After a Wright three cut the lead to two, freshman Brian Moten was fouled while attempting a long range shot and connected on one free throw to get the Falcons within one, 62-61, with 5:00 remaining.
Peterson then missed a pair of free throws which allowed Moten to score on a fastbreak lay-up from Wright to give Bowling Green their first lead, 63-62, with 4:24 left in the contest.
A drive by Akron point-guard Dru Joyce reclaimed the lead for the Zips but Samarco answered with his sixth three, a bank from the left wing, to give Bowling Green a 66-64 edge with just over 2:00 to play.
Just 20 seconds later, Dials canned a three from the right wing to give the advantage back to Akron, 67-66. Then, with just 38 seconds, Dials fouled Wright away from the ball. Wright split the pair to tie the game at 67-67.
Akron held for the final shot but Nate Linhart could not convert on a baseline drive. Lefeld grabbed the miss and got the ball to sophomore Moon Robinson, but his 75-foot heave fell short and the game moved to overtime.
Joyce started the scoring in the extra session as he banked in a 15- foot jumper, but Wright answered with a 17-footer of his own to tie the contest at 69-69 with 3:43 remaining.
Akron forward Romeo Travis was fouled with 3:26 to give junior Matt Lefeld his fifth personal. Travis made good on one attempt to give the Zips a 70-69 lead.
After several empty possessions for both squads, Robinson was called for a loose ball foul against Dials with just 1:16 left and four seconds to go on the shot clock. Dials hit both free throws to put Akron up by three, 72-69.
Bowling Green got several looks at a game-tying three, but could not convert. With 24 seconds, Rob Preston grabbed a Cedrick Middleton missed layup and scored on a put-back to put Akron up by five, 74-69.
Wright made his fifth three of the night to make it 74-72, but Middleton sealed the deal by making both free throws with just 7.3 second remaining.
