Plowden, Reece Post Double-Doubles In Season Opener

Tuesday, November 9

Cullowhee, N.C.

7:30 PM

Bowling Green State University

0-1,0-0MAC

Western Carolina

1-0,0-0SoCon

OT 1

Bowling Green

Western Caro.

Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics

November 09, 2021 | Men's Basketball

Box Score BGSU-WCU Stats Give To The Falcon Club

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball program opened the 2021-22 season on the road against Western Carolina. The Falcons were able to overcome a slow start to gain a lead late in the fourth quarter before the game went into overtime. The overtime period leaned to Western Carolina, turning to a 79-71 final score in favor of the Catamounts. Daeqwon Plowden and Joe Reece paced the Falcons, each logging a double-double in the contest with points and rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Catamounts jumped out to a 12-1 lead, but the Falcons began to slowly, but surely, chip away at the Western Carolina lead.
A 7-0 run for Bowling Green would help the cause of cutting into the lead, trimming the deficit to four in a 14-10 score.
The overall run for the Falcons would stretch to 16-5, capped by a three from Kaden Metheny to cut the lead down to two at 19-17 before a media timeout briefly stopped the action.
Before halftime, the Catamounts added to their lead, heading to the break with the score showing 37-29 in favor of Western Carolina.
The Falcons came out firing in the second half, quickly putting together a 6-2 run to begin the half. Back-to-back transition layups for Brenton Mills would soon force a timeout from Western Carolina with their lead down to just three, 42-39.
With just under 13 minutes left in the game, the Falcons took their first lead of the game. Gabe O'Neal put in the work in the paint to sink a layup, giving Bowling Green a 43-42 lead.
The two teams would trade scores until four straight points from Plowden tied it up at 49-49. After a media timeout, Myron Gordon drilled a step-back jumper to push the Falcons ahead, 51-49.
The Bowling Green lead would grow to five at 56-51, but the gap would soon close at 58-57.
The Falcons and Catamounts would trade baskets for the rest of the half before a last second layup by Western Carolina sent the game to overtime, 68-68.
In the overtime period Western Carolina used a 6-1 start to create their lead that would turn into a 79-71 final.

STAT LEADERS

Daeqwon Plowden: 18 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
Joe Reece: 10 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 block
Myron Gordon: 10 points, 2 assists, 1 steal

FALCON STAT FACTS

It took less than 25 minutes of game action for Daeqwon Plowden to register his first double-double of the season. Less than five minutes into the second half, Plowden logged his 10th rebound in addition to his 12 points at the time.
Plowden finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. The points moved him up to 35th on the all-time list with 1,148 career points at Bowling Green. Next up for Plowden will be passing Martin Samarco (2005-07) who tallied 1,151 points in the Orange and Brown.
Joe Reece also logged a double-double for the Falcons with 10 points and 12 rebounds in his Bowling Green debut.
The Falcons saw two players register a double-double in the same game (Plowden and Reece) for the first time since Dec. 18, 2020 when Plowden and Justin Turner both did so against Robert Morris.
Plowden and Reece also both exceeded 10 rebounds, becoming the first Falcon duo to achieve that since Plowden and Tayler Mattos both hit the mark on Jan. 7, 2020 against Miami.
Plowden attempted 10 free throws, making eight, being the first BGSU player to attempt 10 or more free throws in a game since Caleb Fields on Feb. 23, 2021 against Eastern Michigan.

1st Half | 1:45

With that jumper, @DaeqwonPlowden moves up to 35th on the all-time scoring list with 1,138 career points in the Orange and Brown!

BGSU 25
WCU 32
— BGSU Men's Basketball (@BGSUMHoops) November 10, 2021

TODD WALKER RADIO CALLS
Turner Dunk
Reece Steal and Slam

COACH'S QUOTE
"They played harder in the beginning of the game," said Head Coach Michael Huger. "We were able to really find our groove and start to play really good defense and that brought us back into the game. We made some shots, made some defensive plays that got us out in transition. It's one of those games. We had an opportunity. We didn't shoot the ball great from three today, but we had other chances and other opportunities and we let it slip away."
Full Postgame Interview with Todd Walker

UP NEXT
The Falcons will continue the 2021-22 season with the home opener this coming Friday (Nov. 12) against Ohio Wesleyan. The game is set for a 7 p.m. tipoff at the Stroh Center with the night's promotional theme being Space Jam Night.

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