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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MARSHALL
Falcons Escape With 79-78 Victory At Marshall
December 22, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 22, 2006
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Huntington, W.V. - Sophomore Nate Miller had 19 points and 10 rebounds in just his second game with the Falcons and his 17-points in the final 20 minutes keyed BGSU's 79-78 road win at Marshall on Friday night.
BGSU, shot 59.3% from the second half, used a 16-0 run from the 11:50 mark until there was 8:01 left in the game to build a 70-57 advantage and needed to make one defensive stop on the final possession to win back-to-back road games for the first time since January of 2005 (Marshall and Eastern Michigan). BGSU is now 7-3, while Marshall is 3-8. The win was the 150th of Dan Dakich's career at BGSU.
In the first half, BGSU built a seven-point advantage, but the Thundering Herd used a 22-10 run to hold a 29-24 advantage, before senior Martin Samarco, who finished with a game-high 24 points (16 in the first half) kept the Falcons in the game. Marshall led 36-34 at the half.
The Herd led 41-36 early in the second half and had a 57-54 edge when sophomore Darryl Clements hit a three-pointer to tie the game with 11:50 to go. Junior Ryne Hamblet stole the ball and fed sophomore Brian Moten for a fastbreak layup to give the Falcons the lead for good at the 11-minute mark. Following a Herd miss, Hamblet again found Moten underneath as he converted an offensive rebound to make it 61-57 with 10:39 to go.
After a Marshall timeout, Miller stripped the ball from Markel Humphrey and turned it into a dunk. Miller stole the ball again and fed Moten who found Clements for a layin and BGSU led 65-57 with 9:44 to go. Marshall's frustration began to show after they were called for an intentional foul on Moten as he headed in for a layup. He converted both free throws and on the possession after the charity tosses, Miller again went inside and converted a conventional three-point play to make it 70-57 with 8:28 to go.
Marshall would go on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 70-64 with 6:11 to go. Miller would hit two free throws with 5:27 to go. Marshall again stormed back to make it 72-68, but it was Miller time again as he made a layup with 2:27 remaining to give BGSU a six-point lead.
Marshall's Mark Dorris, who finished with 22 points, hit a three-pointer to make it 74-71 and Samarco followed with a layup to up the lead to 76-71 with 1:59 to go. The Herd again cut it to three points and had a shot to tie the game with 1:01 to go, but Hamblet blocked a Chris Ross jumper inside and sophomore Dusan Radivojevic grabbed the rebound.
He calmly sank two free throws to make it 78-73. Dorris added two free throws of his own with 51 seconds to go and Hamblet made it 79-75 when he sank one of two free throws with 32 seconds to go. Dorris would sink a three pointer with 20 seconds left to make it 79-78 and five seconds later Marshall's Travis Aikens forced a held ball with Clements and the Herd would get one final shot to win.
Dorris would drive inside and his eight foot runner hit the front of the rim and Clements grabbed the rebound as BGSU won for the sixth time in seven games.
The Falcons will get together for practice on Christmas night before leaving the next day for Green Bay, Wisconsin to play in a three-game tournament. BGSU will take on Michigan Tech on December 27. BGSU also will play Jacksonville State on December 29 and host Wisconsin-Green Bay on December 30.
Post Game Notes
The Falcons now lead the series 31-23. Dan Dakich is 9-4 all-time against Marshall.
BGSU had a season-high five blocked shots and 38 rebounds.
The Falcons are now 28-5 and 4-0 this season when they have to play defense with a one possession lead in the final minute since the 2001-02 season.
The Falcons also won for the first time this season when trailing at the half.
BGSU is 6-2 in one-point games since the 2004-05 season.
BGSU is 10-0 in the game before Christmas under Dan Dakich.
Miller had the Falcons' first double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) since Mawel Soler had 20 points and 10 rebounds at Kent State. He also had two assists and three steals in his first start at BGSU.
Samarco had a team-high 24 points and tied his career-high with six assists. It was his sixth 20+ point effort in seven games and 19th of his career.
Radivojevic had 11 points and three rebounds off the bench. In the two games he has not started, he is averaging 11.5 points and shooting seven of 10 from three-point range.
Hamblet had nine points, eight rebounds, five assists and a season-high two blocked shots. He also has made seven of his last 10 three-point attempts.
Clements had five points and three rebounds in 23 minutes. He made both of his field goal attempts.
Moten had six points and two rebounds in 12 minutes of action. Both of his rebounds were of the offensive variety. He tied his career-high by making two of four free throw attempts.
Sophomore Brian Guerin came in and hit a three-pointer in six minutes of action.
Freshman Marc Larson tied his season best with two blocked shots and added a season-high five rebounds.
Post Game Quotes
"I was reading before the game that whether they are ahead or behind, most of Marshall's games have come down to this and for us it has been pretty much the same so it didn't surprise me. Fortunately for us, their shot missed and at the end of the day that was the biggest play of the game. If it goes in we lose, it didn't so we won."
"Our guys played great. We had a great stretch without Samarco and Hamblet, which is the first time all year that has happened."
"It was really a good basketball game for both sides."
"I really was tough on Nate (Miller) at halftime. I thought in the second half he played great. He's really a competitive guy."
"Nate made a complete difference for us, especially on the backboards.
"I was really proud of Brian Moten. He has worked hard in the classroom and he made some key plays tonight."
"Marc Larson had some key blocks and played great on the defensive end."
"Coach just told us to stick with our game plan and defense and it worked."
"I want to rebound and play defense and help this time any way I can."
"I thought once the first shot went, it took a lot of pressure off."
"My role on the team is to come in, play defense and hopefully hit big shots."
"It felt great to make those plays in those situations."
