Falcons Grind Out Win Over Eastern Michigan

Saturday, January 12

Bowling Green, Ohio

6:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

1-16-9; MAC

Eastern Michigan

0-27-9; MAC

Eastern Michigan

Bowling Green

Photo by: Bianca Garza, BGSU Marketing and Communications

January 12, 2013 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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

Boxscore
Jordon Crawford Postgame Audio
Louis Orr Postgame Audio
Photo Gallery

Bowling Green, Ohio – BGSU senior Jordon Crawford missed 12 shots and committed nine turnovers Saturday evening. But with the game on the line, the 5-foot-6 point guard buried a game-winning three-pointer with 6.1 seconds left to give the Falcons a 46-44 victory over Eastern Michigan in front of 2,180 fans at the Stroh Center.

Crawford's shot helped the Falcons end a five-game losing streak and move Bowling Green to .500 in Mid-American Conference play at 1-1. But it was the defense that carried the team for most of the day as the Falcons scored their lowest point total in a victory since a 45-43 win at Kent State on March 3, 1976.

Bowling Green held Eastern Michigan to just 29 percent shooting and the Eagles connected on just five field goals in the second half as the Falcons overcame a 25-20 deficit at the break. BGSU forced 17 turnovers and grabbed nine steals, three from Crawford. Eastern Michigan scored just one point after a Da'Shonte Riley jumper with 4:36 to play put the Eagles on top 43-41.

Derek Thompson made a free-throw with 2:32 to play to put Eastern Michigan on top 44-41. A'uston Calhoun missed a three-pointer with 2:04 to play but Crawford stole an outlet pass and fired up a three-pointer. He missed but Calhoun cleaned up the loose ball and scored inside to get Bowling Green back within one.

With 28 seconds to play, Eastern Michigan's Jalen Ross missed a jumper and Richaun Holmes corralled the rebound. Crawford tried to put the Falcons ahead on a three-pointer with 17 seconds left but his shot rimmed out. Chauncey Orr hustled to the floor to tie up a loose ball and the Falcons retained possession with 12 seconds remaining.

After a timeout, Crawford got a second chance and he did not fail again, burying the three-pointer from the top of the key. Eastern Michigan still had an opportunity to win the game but Orr forced Derek Thompson into a long, contested three-point look that never got to the rim as the horn sounded.

Crawford finished the game with 11 points, but added four assists, four rebounds and three steals. Calhoun had a game-high 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and finished with seven rebounds. Anthony Henderson added nine points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, knocking down a pair of three-pointers in key situations. Holmes came off the bench to grab six rebounds and block three shots.

Bowling Green shot 35 percent from the floor but grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and held a 39-34 edge on the boards. The Falcons also committed a season-high 20 turnovers, but just six in the second half.

Eastern Michigan jumped out to a 9-2 lead but the Falcons battled back to lead 20-18 after a Holmes dunk with 3:17 to play in the first half. The Eagles, though, ended the session on a 7-0 run to take a five-point lead into the locker room.

Bowling Green answered with a 9-0 run to start the second half and Eastern Michigan did not make a field goal until a Thompson three-pointer with 13:33 to play put the Eagles ahead 30-29. Neither team led by more than three points the rest of the way.

Eastern Michigan falls to 7-9 on the season and 0-2 in MAC play with the loss. Bowling Green improves to 6-9 on the season and moves to 1-1 in conference. The Falcons head on the road for their next two games, beginning with a contest at Miami Wednesday at 7 p.m.