Falcons Ousted In Opening Round Of MAC Tournament

Sunday, March 7

Kalamazoo, Mich.

2:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Western Michigan

March 07, 2010 | Men's Basketball

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

Boxscore
Louis Orr, Marc Larson, Scott Thomas Postgame Audio

Kalamazoo, Mich. – The Bowling Green men's basketball team shot 59 percent from the field but the Falcons came up one shot short of an upset in the opening round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament Sunday. No. 7 seed Western Michigan held off No. 10 BGSU 75-73 to advance to the quarterfinals of the league tournament.

Following an 82-60 loss to Ohio to close the regular season, Bowling Green Head Coach Louis Orr shook up a starting lineup that had been the same for 19 consecutive games. Freshman Luke Kraus got his first career start following a 16-point performance in that loss to Ohio and senior Marc Larson moved back into the lineup for the first time since a Dec. 28 game at Temple.

Orr's change sparked the team offensively as the Falcons shot 68 percent in the first 20 minutes, making 17-of-25 shots and 2-of-3 three-pointers. Despite the torrid shooting, Bowling Green led by just one at the break, 39-38. Western Michigan hung close with offensive rebounds and strong three-point shooting, making 6-of-13 in the first half.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to gain a stranglehold on the lead. Bowling Green took its final lead of the game on an Otis Polk tip-in with 7:36 to go but David Kool, the MAC's leading scorer, answered with a three-pointer and Flenard Whitfield followed with a lay-up to give the Broncos a 66-62 lead.

Jordon Crawford came back with a three-pointer to make it close again but Kool hit another long range bomb to push the lead back to four. Otis Polk scored with 2:58 to play and Western Michigan left an opening after missing the front end of a one-and-one. But Donald Lawson tipped in the miss to make it 71-67 Western Michigan.

The Falcons again got an opportunity after Luke Kraus was fouled on a three-pointer and made two free-throws to make it 73-70. Kool, one of the best free-throw shooters in the league, missed a free-throw and Bowling Green had a chance to tie the game but Kraus' long three-pointer with eight seconds left bounced off and Western Michigan escaped.

Larson finished his career with his first double-double, posting 12 points and a career-best 11 rebounds. Scott Thomas had one of the best offensive games of his two-year career, scoring 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting and 3-of-4 from long range. In all, Bowling Green made 8-of-12 three-pointers.

Joe Jakubowski added 11 points, on 3-of-3 three-pointers, and seven assists with just two turnovers, while Dee Brown came off the bench for the first time all year to end with 10 points.

As a team, Bowling Green had just 10 turnovers but forced just six Western Michigan miscues. The Falcons held a 34-20 edge in points in the paint and an 11-6 advantage in fast break points. However, the Broncos had 14 offensive rebounds and a 19-7 lead in second chance points.

The loss marks the end of the careers of four Bowling Green seniors – Larson, Otis Polk, Erik Marschall, and Matt Karaffa. All four were members of the 2008-09 MAC Championship team. The Falcons finish the season with a record of 14-16 and went 6-10 in league play.