Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
AKRON
Akron Hands Falcons First Home Loss Of Season On National Television
January 17, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2009
Bowling Green, Ohio -
Coach Orr Postgame Press Conference Audio
Miller Postgame Press Conference Audio
The Bowling Green men's basketball team shot 28.3 percent from the field as the Akron Zips defeated the Falcons 62-52 Saturday evening in a game televised on ESPNU. The loss was BGSU's first defeat in Anderson Arena in seven contests this year.
Bowling Green led 31-29 at the half despite shooting just 31 percent in the first 20 minutes. The Falcons continued to play solid defense in the second half, holding Akron to only 33 points but BGSU's shooting percentage dipped to just 24 percent in the final 20 minutes and was too much to overcome.
BGSU scored six of the first eight points of the second half and was poised to bury the Zips, but Akron scored the next six points to tie the game back up. The two teams traded buckets over the next few minutes before Anthony Hitchens knocked down a jumper with 7:24 to go that put the Zips on top 45-43. Bowling Green's Marc Larson made 1-of-2 free-throws two possessions later to cut the deficit to one, but Akron never trailed again.
The Zips followed up Larson's free-throw with five straight points, including a Nate Linhart three-pointer, to put Bowling Green at arms length. Nate Miller knocked down a pair of free-throws with 1:04 to play that got the Falcons within four at 54-50 but Akron broke BGSU's press and Mike Bardo's wide-open dunk put the finishing touches on the contest.
Miller led Bowling Green in both scoring and rebounding, finishing with 15 points and seven boards, while added two assists and a steal. Darryl Clements added 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal, while Otis Polk had eight points, five rebounds and two blocks. Larson added seven points and six rebounds coming off the bench for the first time in 13 games.
One area that Bowling Green failed to capitalize came in offensive rebounding. Although the Falcons grabbed 12 offensive boards, BGSU scored just two second chance points on the evening. For the second consecutive game, Bowling Green failed to make a three-pointer in the second half, missing all five of its attempts after going 4-of-13 in the first 20 minutes. The Falcons were 0-for-10 in the second half Wednesday at Kent State.
Akron improves to 9-7 on the season and 1-2 in MAC play. Bowling Green falls to 8-8 overall and 1-2 in the MAC as well. The Falcons will host Miami Tuesday at 7 p.m. in an attempt to get back to .500 in conference play.
