Falcons Get Revenge With 59-51 Win Over Savannah State

Thursday, December 3

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Savannah State

December 03, 2009 | Men's Basketball

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Boxscore
Joe Jakubowski Postgame Press Conference
Louis Orr Postgame Press Conference

Bowling Green, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team avenged one of the most devastating losses a year ago by defeating Savannah State 59-51 Thursday evening in Anderson Arena. The Falcons closed the contest with an 11-2 run to get the win.

Bowling Green lost to the Tigers 57-54 in 2008-09 after holding a 21-point halftime lead. But Joe Jakubowski hit big shots down the stretch to make sure the Falcons did not lose for the second consecutive year.

Savannah State's Tracy Rankins hit his fifth and final three-point basket of the night with 3:58 to play that gave the Tigers a 49-48 lead. But Erik Marschall was fouled on the ensuing possession and hit two free-throws to give Bowling Green a lead it would not relinquish.

Rankins tried to give his team the lead back on the next possession but Scott Thomas blocked his jump shot and Jakubowski connected on a lay-up the other way to put Bowling Green on top 52-49. After Darius Baugh missed a three-point attempt to tie the game, Jakubowski followed with a three-ball with 1:53 to go to make it 55-49.

From there, neither team could score until Arnold Louis cut the deficit to four on a jumper with 36 seconds left but it was too late as Bowling Green scored the final four points on free-throws for the 59-51 win.

Jakubowski finished with a team-high 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. He made two of his three three-point attempts and was the only Falcon to connect from long range. Otis Polk had eight points and six rebounds in the second half to finish with 10 points and eight boards. Marschall came off the bench to end with 10 points and six rebounds. Thomas had eight points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.

Bowling Green held Savannah State to just 40 percent shooting. The Falcons had only three turnovers in the first half and 11 for the game, four less than the Tigers. BGSU also had 10 steals, picking up three each from Polk and Jakubowski.

The Falcons dominated inside, holding a 24-8 advantage in points in the paint in the first half and a 36-20 edge for the game. That inside presence allowed Jakubowski to be open for his three-pointer with 1:53 left as Polk kicked it out for one of his three assists on the night.

Savannah State falls to 4-4 on the year and Bowling Green improves to 3-3. The Falcons will hit the road for the next month, beginning with a game at Fordham Saturday at 7 p.m.