Brown, McElroy Lead Falcons To 76-67 Win Over FIU

Sunday, December 12

Bowling Green, Ohio

2 pm

Bowling Green State University

Florida International

December 12, 2010 | Men's Basketball

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

Boxscore
Louis Orr/Dee Brown Postgame Audio
Photo Gallery
Sam Hornish Jr. Day Pregame Audio

Bowling Green, Ohio – Dee Brown scored a career-high 24 points and Danny McElroy added a career-best 15 as the Bowling Green State University men's basketball team defeated Florida International 76-67 Sunday afternoon in snowy Bowling Green.

“I want to thank all of the fans who came out today despite the snow,” BGSU Head Coach Louis Orr said. “The fan support was important to our team today.”

Bowling Green used a 14-4 run to open the second half to take control of a game that was tied at 35-35 at the half. The Falcons shot 51 percent for the game, the first time this year the team has made more than half its shots.

Brown was especially efficient, scoring his 24 points on 6-of-8 shooting, making 3-of-4 three-pointers and 9-of-13 free-throws. McElroy was 6-of-10 for his 15 points and A'uston Calhoun scored 12 on 6-of-11 shooting. Luke Kraus added a career-high six assists as Bowling Green had 17 for the game to just 14 turnovers, three less than FIU.

The Falcons also outrebounded FIU 35-30, including 10-8 on the offensive glass for a 16-12 edge in second chance points.

With the score tied at the half, Cameron Black picked up a bucket and Brown followed with a three-pointer to make it 40-35 Falcons. After an FIU lay-up, Brown scored on another jumper and McElroy scored to make it 44-37. A Phil Gary lay-up brought the Panthers back within five but Brown connected on another three-pointer and Calhoun scored inside to make it 49-39 with 11:40 to go.

Florida International scored five in a hurry to cut the deficit in half and forced Orr to use a timeout. The Panthers got back within four on a DeJuan Wright lay-up with 7:23 to play but Bowling Green used an eight-point run in the next 2:09 to put the contest away. Calhoun scored inside and Brown added 3-of-4 free-throws to make it 58-49. Kraus scored on a free-throw and Calhoun scored inside again to make it 61-49. FIU did not cut the deficit back to single-digits until the final two minutes.

Bowling Green pulled away after an even first half in part by shutting down FIU's Eric Frederick. He scored 17 in the first half but had just two after the break.

Florida International drops to 4-5 with the loss and Bowling Green improves to 2-8, snapping a seven-game losing streak. The Falcons will have Finals Week off before playing at Milwaukee Saturday at 7 p.m.

NOTES
* Bowling Green's 41 second-half points equaled the team's highest total in a half this year (equal to the 41 first-half points against Ohio Dominican).

* Scott Thomas, who entered the contest as the team's leading scorer, did not play due to back spasms. He was injured in practice Friday but is hopeful to play in the team's next game against Milwaukee.

* Remarkably, BGSU is 2-0 when making the exact same number of three-pointers as an opponent this year and 0-8 when the two totals do not match up.

* Dee Brown's 13 free-throw attempts were the most for a BGSU player since Scott Thomas shot 13 against Akron on Feb. 27, 2010.

* Along with setting his career high with six assists, Luke Kraus set his rebounding career high with four and a career minutes played high with 29.