Falcons Conclude Non-Conference Slate With Win Over Norfolk State

Friday, December 30

Bowling Green, OH

2:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

6-7

Norfolk State

3-11

Norfolk State

Bowling Green

Falcons Conclude Non-Conference Slate With Win Over Norfolk State

December 30, 2016 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: by James Nahikian, BGSU Athletic Communications

Highlights: BGSU vs. Norfolk State
Post-Game Audio: Huger | Caldwell
Post-Game Audio: Coach Huger With Todd Walker
Photo Gallery: Christine Nelson (BGSU Marketing & Communications)
Final Statistics: NCAA Box/Play-By-Play (PDF) | HTML

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team shot 65.2 percent in the second half and scored 50 points en route to an 86-77 victory over Norfolk State University on Friday afternoon at the Stroh Center. The win was Bowling Green's sixth-consecutive win at home.

With the victory, Bowling Green concludes the non-conference slate with an overall record of 6-7. Norfolk State dropped to 3-11 with the loss.

"We pulled it off in the end. Our young guys did a great job in the second half for us," said head coach Michael Huger. "I'm very proud of them for the way they played, the energy they gave us, and the poise that they had down the stretch. Norfolk State is a very good team. Their record just does not speak for them as a team.

"Heading into conference play, I feel great. I feel great about the lessons we've learned in our losses, and I feel great about the lessons we've learned in our wins. My upperclassmen need to pick it up, and if not, you'll be seeing a lot more of the freshmen. That's just what it is – it's basketball. It's earned, never given.

Bowling Green's three freshmen – Rodrick Caldwell, Dylan Frye and Justin turner – combined for 32 points on 9-for-21 (42.9 percent) shooting. Caldwell tied his career high with 13 points. He shot 4-for-7 from the field, had four assists, zero turnovers, and three rebounds.

Turner, in just his second game, shot 3-for-6 from the floor and finished with a career-high 10 points. He also chipped in with two rebounds, one assist and one steal. Frye had nine points, and made a three-point field, which pushes his streak to four-straight games. He's hit at least one triple in eight of the last nine contests.

"When our freshmen first came, they weren't big enough, and weren't strong enough to keep the older guys off," said Huger. "Kenny Goodrich has done a great job with those guys in the weight room. They are stronger now, they are more confident, and you see that in practice."

After Norfolk State took a 52-45 lead with 14:38 remaining in regulation, the Falcons closed the game on a 41-25 run. For the game, both teams shot the ball well. Norfolk State shot 47.4 percent (27-of-57) from the field, 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from downtown, while BGSU shot 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the floor and 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from distance.

However, the difference was at the free throw line. The Orange and Brown set season highs in attempts and makes at the charity stripe. The Falcons finished the game 28-for-40 (70.0 percent). Norfolk State went 15-for-21 (71.4 percent) from the line.

Bowling Green's bench outscored the Norfolk State bench, 38-11. The Falcons also won the rebounding battle, 34-29. BGSU had 15 assists and 10 turnovers, while Norfolk State had 12 assists and 12 turnovers.

Sophomore Demajeo Wiggins recorded a double-double for the second-straight game, as he scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds. He went 9-for-10 from the free throw line, and 3-for-6 from the field.

Senior Wes Alcegaire scored 17 points, and also had six rebounds, two assists and one steal. The six rebounds tied a season high for Alcegaire. The senior has now scored 15-plus points in six out of the last seven ballgames. He's shooting 52.7 percent and averaging 15.1 points over that seven-game stretch.

Sophomore Antwon Lillard finished with nine points, four assists and three rebounds in 19 minutes. He went 4-for-5 from the field. Senior Zack Denny saw his streak of scoring 10-plus points over the last 10 games come to an end, as Denny scored seven points, and added one rebound, one steal and one assist. Denny had a three-pointer for the 10th-consecutive game. Junior Matt Fox had a solid 11 minutes of production. He scored five points (2-for-2) and had two rebounds.

Bowling Green begins conference play next week with a pair of road games. The Falcons will play at Akron on Jan. 3 and at Ball State on Jan. 7. On Tuesday night, BGSU will be in search of its first win over Akron since March 1, 2009.