Falcons Drop Wild Triple Overtime Game To USF

Friday, December 21

Tampa, Fla.

7:00 P.M.

Bowling Green State University

South Florida

December 22, 2012 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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

Boxscore
Louis Orr Postgame Audio

Tampa, Fla. – In a game that had a little bit of everything, the Bowling Green men's basketball team came up just short in an 87-84 triple overtime loss to South Florida, of the BIG EAST Conference, Friday night at USF Sun Dome.

Jordon Crawford scored a career-high 27 points, all after halftime, and A'uston Calhoun added 22 points and eight rebounds but the Falcons were unable to put away leads late in regulation, late in the second period and late in the third overtime. The Falcons did come back from four points down with 21 seconds to go in the first overtime after a 20-minute delay when the lights went out in the arena.

After battling back from seven points down in the final minute of regulation, USF had all the momentum and built a 71-67 lead in the first overtime. Crawford missed a three-point attempt and USF's Jawanza Poland pulled down the rebound and was fouled with 21 seconds left. At that moment, the lights went off and a 20-minute delay ensued before they could be turned back on.

Poland went to the line and missed the front end of the 1-and-1 free-throw and Crawford raced down the court and scored on a lay-up with 15 seconds left. Bowling Green then fouled Anthony Collins and he missed the first of a 1-and-1 free-throw opportunity. Crawford again found just enough room to score on a lay-up with six seconds remaining to tie the game. Collins had a chance as the clock ran out, but his leaner was swatted away by Richaun Holmes to force a second overtime.

In that extra session, Crawford made a lay-up with 32 seconds remaining to put Bowling Green ahead 78-75. However, Victor Rudd knocked down a three-pointer just four seconds later to tie the score. Crawford's jumper as time expired rolled off the rim to force a third overtime.

Calhoun and Crawford scored to give Bowling Green an 82-78 lead midway through the five-minute extra period. Rudd scored inside to cut the deficit to two and Collins stole a pass with 32 seconds left but as he was falling to the ground called timeout, one the Bulls did not have. A technical foul was assessed and Crawford made two free-throws to put the Falcons on top 84-80.

Martino Brock made a lay-up with 27 seconds left to make it 84-82, but Anthony Henderson got behind a pressing defense and had a dunk attempt with 18 seconds left. His chance was swatted away and USF quickly went the other way, getting a Rudd basket and a foul. He made the free-throw with 13 seconds left to put the Bulls on top 85-84. With one last chance, Calhoun attempted a long three-pointer that could not find the bottom of the net and USF made two free-throws to close it out.

Bowling Green shot 43 percent from the floor and held USF to just 40 percent. The Bulls, though, had 23 offensive rebounds and a 52-47 rebounding edge. They also committed just 10 turnovers, four fewer than the Falcons. USF scored 48 points in the paint but Bowling Green held a 21-13 lead in points off the bench. Henderson led the bench brigade with a career-best nine points on three three-pointers, all in the opening 20 minutes.

Calhoun and Crawford combined for just four points in the first half as USF built a 34-27 halftime lead. The Bulls pushed the lead to 12 at 43-31 but the Falcons stormed back with a 26-7 run, highlighted by big performances from their top two scorers, to take a 57-50 lead. The Falcons still led by seven after a Crawford three-pointer with 1:07 to play but USF's Poland knocked down a three with 44 seconds left to get the Bulls within four.

Calhoun was fouled with 21 seconds left but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Collins scored on a lay-up to make it 60-58 with 14 seconds remaining. Calhoun went back to the line with 10 seconds left and this time made 1-of-2 free-throws but Rudd knocked down a three with four seconds left to force the wild overtime sessions.

USF improved to 7-3 with the win and Bowling Green falls to 5-6. The Falcons will be back in action Dec. 28 at North Dakota at 8 p.m. EST.