Falcons Crush Kent State To Stay In Race For MAC Tourney Bye

Saturday, February 25

Bowling Green, Ohio

6:00 pm

Bowling Green State University

15-13, 8-6MAC

Kent State

19-9, 9-5MAC

Kent State

Bowling Green

February 25, 2012 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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

Boxscore (.pdf)
Scott Thomas Postgame Audio
A'uston Calhoun Postgame Audio
Louis Orr Postgame Audio
Photo Gallery

Bowling Green, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team shot 54 percent from the field as the Falcons rolled to a 74-58 win over Kent State Saturday night in the Stroh Center. Scott Thomas scored 21 points, making 6-of-10 three-pointers, while A'uston Calhoun added 17 points, 14 in the second half. Torian Oglesby came off the bench for 15 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.

With the win, Bowling Green improves to 15-13 overall and 8-6 in Mid-American Conference play. The 15 victories represents the most since the 2008-09 team went 19-14 and the eight MAC wins equal last year's total.

The Falcons took a 38-32 lead into the break and never trailed in the second half, leading by at least three points throughout the final 20 minutes.

Thomas, who has made 14 three-pointers in the past two home games, scored 15 points in the first half and led the Falcon offense after leading scorer Calhoun went to the bench with two fouls after just six minutes. Thomas made four three-pointers during the period and helped Bowling Green battle back from an early five-point deficit.

Kent State led 12-7 when Thomas made his first three-ball and kick-started a 7-0 run. Over the next few minutes, the teams took turns grabbing short-lived leads until Thomas made another three and Dee Brown scored on a fastbreak lay-up to give the Falcons a 25-18 lead.

Kent State answered with seven straight points to tie the game at 25-25 with 8:31 to go but Jordon Crawford's three-pointer with 7:36 to go gave the Falcons the lead for good. Bowling Green took a six-point lead into the break.

The Golden Flashes tried to edge back into the contest on numerous occasions throughout the second half, closing to within three twice. After Randal Holt scored from long range to make it 51-48, Torian Oglesby scored on a fastbreak alley-oop and Thomas followed with a three-ball to make it 56-48.

Chris Evans' lay-up with 7:11 to play got Kent State within six but Oglesby finished a traditional three-point play and then had a dunk that gave Bowling Green a 67-56 lead with 6:09 to go. The Golden Flashes' Carlton Guyton scored on a lay-up with 5:29 to play but Kent State did not score the rest of the way as Bowling Green put the game away with defense.

Kent State shot 55 percent in the first half to stay close but Bowling Green clamped down in the final 20 minutes, holding the Golden Flashes to only 40 percent shooting and 1-of-9 three-pointers. Kent State had 21 turnovers for the game, 16 in the first half, and BGSU had 14 steals, three each from Cam Black and Craig Sealey. The Bowling Green bench, led by Oglesby and Sealey, outscored Kent State's bench 21-4. The Falcons also had a 31-28 rebounding edge.

Kent State falls to 19-9 overall and 9-5 in MAC play. With the win, Bowling Green is now just one game behind the Golden Flashes in the league standings for a chance at a bye to the MAC Tournament quarterfinals. The Falcons will look to inch closer Wednesday when the team hosts Miami at 7 p.m. for Senior Night.