Falcons Finish Season Sweep Of Miami With 70-54 Win In Oxford

Saturday, February 25

Oxford, OH

3:30 PM

Bowling Green State University

7-913-16; MAC

Miami

3-1310-19; MAC

Bowling Green

Miami

February 25, 2017 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: by James Nahikian, BGSU Athletic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team completed a perfect 2-0 week by defeating Miami University, 70-54, Saturday (Feb. 25) afternoon at Millett Hall. The win gave Bowling Green its first regular-season sweep of the RedHawks since the 2011-12 season.

The win for the Falcons comes on the heels of a 66-65 victory over Akron on Tuesday (Feb. 21). The Falcons are now 13-16, and 7-9 in Mid-American Conference play. Bowling Green now has two more MAC wins than it did during Michael Huger's first season at BGSU in 2015-16.

"I am very pleased with the energy and effort that our guys gave today," said head coach Michael Huger. "It was just huge, and a huge momentum builder not to have a letdown after Akron, so I'm very pleased. Our defense got us back into the game.

We were able to pressure those guys, and force some turnovers. We did a much better job on the defensive end of staying solid, and we forced them into shooting 24 threes, which is something they don't want to do."

Although the Falcons went 3-for-18 (16.7 percent) from three-point range after hitting their first two triples of the game, Bowling Green still shot 47.2 percent (25-of-53) for the game. Bowling Green also had its best night at the charity stripe on the season, as the Falcons went 17-for-19 (89.5 percent) for the contest, including a 17-for-18 mark in the second half.

Bowling Green held Miami to a 2-for-24 (8.3 percent) mark from three-point range. The RedHawks shot 39.3 percent (22-of-56) for the ballgame, and went 8-for-16 at the free throw line.

For the eighth-consecutive game, Bowling Green forced at least 14 turnovers. The Falcons forced Miami into 16 turnovers. Bowling Green scored 22 points off those turnovers. Over the last eight games, BGSU has turned 139 turnovers into 150 points. The Falcons also out-rebounded Miami, 39-30.

Sophomore Antwon Lillard led the Falcons in scoring with 16 points. He also registered a team-high nine rebounds, and chipped in with two assists, one block and one steal. Redshirt-sophomore Rasheed Worrell finished with 11 points on 4-of-4 shooting. He also had six rebounds, two blocks, one assist and one steal.

Seniors Ismail Ali and Zack Denny finished the game in double figures, as well. Ali had 10 points, two steals, and one assist. Denny had 10 points, six rebounds and three steals. Freshman Dylan Frye went 2-for-4 from downtown to finish with eight points, two rebounds and one assist. Senior Wes Alcegaire posted five points and two rebounds.

After Bowling Green took a 30-24 lead into the half, Miami came out of the locker room and tied the score multiple times. The RedHawks tied the game at 32-all, before tying the ballgame at 34-34 with 16:33 to go in the contest.

Miami continued to keep the game close over the next few minutes, but with Bowling Green leading, 41-39, with 11:13 to play, the Falcons went on an 18-6 run to take a 59-45 lead. Bowling Green led by as much as 18 points in the second half.

Bowling Green will finish the regular season next week. The Falcons host Kent State on Senior Night on Feb. 28, before traveling to Buffalo to take on the Bulls on March 3. Prior to Tuesday's game versus Kent State, seniors Ismail Ali, Wes Alcegaire and Zack Denny will be recognized for their careers at BGSU.