Falcons Falter In Second Half, Fall To Western Michigan

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KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball program continued a streak of six games with a 49% or better mark from the field, matching their season-high 58.3% in the game against Western Michigan Saturday (Jan. 14). The Falcons jumped out to a lead in the first half, but the Broncos worked to chip away at the BGSU advantage before taking their first lead in the second half. The shots continued to fall for both sides, leading to a 108-92 final in favor of WMU. The loss puts Bowling Green at 2-2 within the MAC and 8-9 on the season.

Leon Ayers III paced the Falcons with 21 points and eight assists, logging his team-leading seventh 20-point game of the campaign. Rashaun Agee and Samari Curtis were close behind with 19 each. Agee added a team-high eight rebounds while Curtis dropped a season-high six triples for the Orange and Brown.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Falcons came out and splashed home the first basket of the game with a three by Chandler Turner off the assist by Leon Ayers III.
Bowling Green worked to draw three fouls early on the Western Michigan end of the court, taking a 9-4 lead into the first media timeout.
BGSU put together a 9-0 run to take an 18-6 lead and forced the first Broncos' timeout of the game in the process.
Western Michigan responded with triples in back-to-back trips down the court to cut the BGSU lead to 18-12 and force a Bowling Green timeout.
The Orange and Brown had another run, this time 8-0 to move the lead up to 28-17. Samari Curtis hit three triples in three trips to push the score to 31-17 Falcons at the media break with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.
Western Michigan chipped away at the lead, narrowing the gap to 43-34 at the final media timeout of the first half.
The Falcons rebuilt the lead to double-digits, going into halftime with a 50-39 lead at the midway point.
Kaden Metheny made the first bucket of the second half with an elbow jumper, but Western Michigan continued to chip away at the Bowling Green lead, cutting it down to 57-54 at the first media timeout of the second half.
The run for the Broncos stretched to 10-0 out of the timeout, seeing WMU take their first lead of the game at 58-57.
The Western run ended at 12-0 with the Broncos leading 60-57. A Leon Ayers III layup got the scoring going again for Bowling Green.
The Broncos went on another 9-0 run to push their lead to double-digits with a 69-59 score.
Bowling Green cut the lead down to six, but a 6-0 run for WMU reestablished their double-digit lead at 92-80.
The Falcons continued to fight, but Western maintained their lead to pick up the 108-92 win.

STAT LEADERS

Leon Ayers III: 21 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Rashaun Agee: 19 points, 8 rebounds
Samari Curtis: 19 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound
Chandler Turner: 9 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal

FALCON STAT FACTS

As a team, Bowling Green shot 58.3% from the field to match their season-best, shooting the same mark against Ohio Dominican. The percentage continues a streak of six games for the Falcons shooting 49% or higher. The last time the Falcons shot 49% or higher in six consecutive games was during the 2010-11 season.
Leon Ayers III matched his career-high for assists with eight, bringing his season total to 55 to match his career-high for assists in a single season.
Ayers tallied a team-high 21 points for the Falcons, his seventh 20-point game this season. Ayers now has seven of BGSU's 10 20-point games and has led the Falcons in scoring 10 times as well.
Rashaun Agee made a career-high eight field goals in the game, scoring a career-high 19 points for the Falcons, tying for second on the team in points.
Samari Curtis also tallied 19 points in the game, matching his career-high for threes in a game with six. Curtis went 6-of-7 from three, an 85.7% mark.
Brenton Mills recorded a season-high four assists for the Falcons and added a season-high two offensive rebounds.
Gabe O'Neal scored a season-high seven points, going a season-best 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
Ubongabasi Etim made his first start at the collegiate level. Etim tallied a defensive rebound for the Falcons.

TODD WALKER RADIO CALLS
Agee And-One
Curtis Triple
Agee Put Back Slam
Turner And-One

QUOTE FROM COACH HUGER
"We got happy in the second half. We thought the game was over. It was only one half. No matter how much you preach to them and tell them the game is two halves, you have to play both halves. On the defensive end, we didn't defend at all. We gave up 108 points to a team that averages 69. 108 points to a team that averages 69. That tells you all you need to know."

Full postgame interview with Todd Walker

UP NEXT
The Falcons will continue the road stretch by heading to Buffalo, N.Y. on Tuesday (Jan. 17). The game against the Bulls is set for a 7 p.m. tip.

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Leon Ayers III

Rashaun Agee

Samari Curtis

Chandler Turner

Players Mentioned

Rashaun Agee

Leon Ayers III

Samari Curtis

Ubongabasi Etim

Kaden Metheny

Brenton Mills

Gabe O'Neal

Chandler Turner

Players Mentioned

Rashaun Agee

Leon Ayers III

Samari Curtis

Ubongabasi Etim

Kaden Metheny

Brenton Mills

Gabe O'Neal

Chandler Turner

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