Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Kent State
Falcons Roll Into First Place With Win Over Kent State
February 26, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2009
Bowling Green, Ohio -
Miller/Polk Postgame Press Conference Audio
Orr Postgame Press Conference Audio
The Bowling Green men's basketball team snapped Kent State's eight-game winning streak and moved into a tie for first place in the Mid-American Conference with a heart-stopping 67-66 win over the Golden Flashes Thursday night in Anderson Arena. The Falcons are now tied with Buffalo and Akron at the top of the MAC standings.
Five players scored in double figures for the Falcons and Bowling Green shot 51 percent from the field to erase away the memories of a 72-48 loss earlier this year to Kent State. That loss was the beginning of a three-game losing streak but BGSU has since won 8-of-9 conference games to move to 9-4 in the MAC and 16-11 overall. The win assures the Falcons of a winning regular season both overall and in conference.
Nate Miller led Bowling Green with 16 points, added eight rebounds and grabbed two steals, both coming in the final 30 seconds of regulation. Otis Polk added 10 points and eight rebounds and he jumped on the loose ball after Miller stripped Singletary, getting possession for the Falcons. He also had one blocked shot to move into a tie for the all-time career blocked shot record at BGSU with 117 in just under three seasons.
Brian Moten added 14 points, Joe Jakubowski had 11 and four assists, and Darryl Clements finished with 10. Bowling Green outrebounded Kent State 31-26, went to the free-throw line 10 more times than the Golden Flashes, and knocked down 8-of-20 three-pointers.
As for the game itself, the two teams combined for five ties and 19 lead changes. Jakubowski and Moten scored on back-to-back possessions to give Bowling Green a 51-45 lead with 12:56 to play but the Falcons followed with their longest shooting slump of the game. Kent State scored 11 consecutive points in the next five minutes and took a 56-51 lead.
But the Falcons responded as Polk scored four in a row on a rim-rattling dunk and a pair of free-throws to get BG back within one. After Kent State's Anthony Simpson made a lay-up, Moten and Clements scored on back-to-back possessions to put the Falcons back on top 59-58 with 4:21 left.
Tyree Evans answered with a three to put Kent State on top and the Golden Flashes still led 65-64 with less than a minute to play. At that point, Jakubowski drove in the lane, was double-teamed but found Polk on the baseline for a lay-up that put the Falcons back ahead with 47 seconds to play.
Kent State worked the clock down and Singletary made his move, spinning into the lane. Miller held his ground, stripped the ball loose and Polk fell on it, getting a timeout with 25 seconds left. Erik Marschall was sent to the free-throw line and made 1-of-2 to with 23 seconds remaining to give BGSU a 67-65 lead.
On the next possession, Miller picked up another steal and went to the line with a chance to ice the game with nine seconds left. He missed both free-throws, giving Kent State another opportunity. With three seconds left, Miller fouled Singletary, who calmly knocked down the first free-throw. The second one rattled off the rim but was knocked out of bounds and the Golden Flashes regained possession with less than two seconds remaining. Evans' last chance baseline jumper came up short and the Falcons moved into a tie for first in the MAC.
With the result, Bowling Green's next game takes on even more importance. The Falcons will play at Akron Sunday at noon for a game on Fox Sports Ohio. A BG win would give the team the inside track to the No. 1 seed for the MAC Tournament.
