Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan Rallies To Defeat BGSU, 71-68
January 28, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 28, 2007
Final Stats | Notes
Jan. 28, 2007
Mt. Pleasant, Michigan - Senior Giordan Watson scored 12 of his game-high 27 points in the final 4:06 to key an 18-8 run at Central Michigan rallied for a 71-68 win over BGSU in Mt. Pleasant. Watson's jumper with 59 seconds left gave the hosts a 66-65 lead and 15 seconds later he stole the ball at midcourt and added two free throws after he was fouled.
BGSU had a chance to tie the game after Eddie Spencer made one of two free throws but Martin Samarco's desperation 40-foot three-pointer at the buzzer was short.
"I thought besides Watson another key was their inside play," said BGSU head coach Dan Dakich. "I thought their play on the backboards with 16 offensive rebounds, their ability to get fouled and go to free throw line and our turnovers really hurt us."
The Falcons led throughout the entire first half. BGSU went on an 18-10 run in the final seven minutes of the first half. Sophomore Dusan Radivojevic came off the bench and drilled two three-pointers in the run and a layup by Samarco with seven seconds before halftime gave the Falcons a 35-26 advantage at the break.
CMU came out of the gate at the start of the second half. The Chippewas outscored the Falcons 16-6 in the first 3:59 and took their first lead of the game at 42-41 with 16:01 to go. The Falcons responded with a six-point run to lead 47-42 on a pair of free throws and two layups by sophomore Nate Miller.
"The key to the game was the start of the second half when we were up nine and they immediately got the lead in 3:59," said Dakich. "If we come out and outscore them nine then its difficult for them, but they outscore us by 10 in the first five minutes and its been a problem for us all year. It was a crucial time for both teams really."
The Falcons held the lead again until the 8:26 mark when Watson hit a pair of free throws to make it 53-52 CMU. BGSU then went on an 8-0 run. Samarco hit a pair of free throws, Miller hit a layup, Samarco hit another two charity tosses and freshman Otis Polk scored on a layup to make it 60-53 with 5:36 to go.
The Chippewas used three free throws and a triple by Spencer to make it 60-59 with 3:36 to go. Samarco hit four of his career-high 11 free throws and BGSU led 64-61 with under two minutes to go.
Following a BGSU turnover, Watson drained a three-pointer to tie the game, and Samarco hit one of two free throws with 1:22 to go to give the Falcons their final lead of the game.
"This is the second game in a row that we had an opportunity to win," added Dakich. "We had a three-point lead and the ball with 2:30 to go. We wanted to get the ball inside because they were calling fouls but they came up with a steal and a three at a crucial time."
Samarco and Miller led BGSU with 18 points apiece and sophomore Erik Marschall added 11.
BGSU will host Ball State, Wednesday, at 7 p.m.
"We have to finish games," said Samarco. "There are no moral victories for coming close. In the last three games, we have had a chance to win a game late and we didn't get it done. It's really on us, the players, to execute what the coaches are telling us and follow through with it."
