Late BGSU Run Not Enough For Falcons Inside Savage Arena

Saturday, January 28

Toledo, Ohio

2:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

10-11,4-4MAC

Toledo

15-6,6-2MAC

Bowling Green

Toledo

Photo by: Stephen Linsky, BGSU Athletics

January 28, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score BGSU-Toledo Box Score Coach Huger Interview Gabe O'Neal Interview Chandler Turner Interview Support Our Student-Athletes Photo Gallery

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

TOLEDO, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball program took on the Toledo Rockets in the Battle of I-75 Saturday afternoon (Jan. 28) inside Savage Arena in Toledo, marking the first of two games this season for the rivalry. A late run by the Falcons cut what was once a 20-point UT lead down to single digits at 79-70, but a late surge by the Rockets secured the 91-77 final in favor of Toledo. The loss moves BGSU to 4-4 within the Mid-American Conference and 10-11 on the season.

On the offensive end, Leon Ayers III led the Falcons with 21 points, eclipsing 1,000 career points at the Division I level. Chandler Turner added his third double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Rashaun Agee and Samari Curtis each contributed 14 points to the offense as well.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Falcons tallied the first points of the game. After a strong defensive sequence, Sam Towns found Kaden Metheny in the corner for a three to put BGSU up 3-0.
Bowling Green maintained the lead going into the first media timeout, 9-5, after Leon Ayers III drew back-to-back fouls on Toledo's Ra'Heim Moss.
Toledo worked back to tie it up at 11-11 before taking their first lead of the game at 17-15, but back-to-back dunks by Rashaun Agee swung the score back to the Falcons at 19-17.
The two teams began trading buckets from there before Toledo utilized a 5-0 run to take a 33-27 lead and force a BGSU timeout.
The Falcons responded with two baskets out of the timeout, but the Rockets stretched their lead to 41-31, closing out the half with an 8-0 run.
Bowling Green logged the first bucket of the second half, but Toledo responded with an 11-3 run to bring the score to 52-36 and force a BGSU timeout.
BGSU was able to put together an 8-0 run to cut into the Toledo lead, 59-46, before the Rockets stretched their lead to 20 with a 68-48 score.
An 8-0 run for the Falcons cut the Toledo lead down once again, this time to 70-59. The stretch continued to 13-3 in favor of Bowling Green, bringing the UT lead to single digits at 73-64.
BGSU kept the lead to single digits at 79-70, but a 7-0 stretch pushed the Toledo advantage to 86-70 at the final media timeout of the game.
The Rockets held their lead from there, taking a 91-77 final.

STAT LEADERS

Leon Ayers III: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists
Samari Curtis: 14 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Rashaun Agee: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal
Chandler Turner: 12 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist
Gabe O'Neal: 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist

FALCON STAT FACTS

For the ninth time in the last 10 games, the Falcons logged a shooting percentage of at least 49%, going 30-of-59 (50.8%) from the field.
Banking in a floater in the first half, Leon Ayers III surpassed the 1,000 career-point mark at the Division I level. Ayers finished with a team-high 21 points to mark his fifth consecutive 20-point game for the Falcons.
Ayers also added a team-high six assists and six rebounds to his tally, including three on the offensive end. Ayers now has 27 offensive rebounds this season, setting a new career-high for a single season.
Chandler Turner recorded a team-high 10 rebounds, tying his career-high. Turner now has 116 rebounds this season, setting a new career-high for rebounds in a single season. Turner added 12 points to his stat line for his team-leading third double-double of the season.
Samari Curtis went a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line to improve his season mark to 80-of-86. Curtis is now shooting 93% on the season from the free throw line, which is on pace to break the program record for free throw percentage in a season.
Gabe O'Neal recorded a season-high nine points off the bench, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the field.

TODD WALKER RADIO CALLS
Metheny Gets BG Started
Agee Slam And Foul
Agee Dunk Fest
O'Neal Hook Shot Falls
Agee Slam

QUOTE FROM COACH HUGER
"We were so careless with the ball. Passes that weren't there that we tried to make. We tried to throw and thread the needle and things like that led to our turnovers and them going out in transition. They were definitely unforced turnovers and we have to do a much better job of taking care of the ball."

Full postgame interview with Todd Walker

UP NEXT
The Falcons will return home to the Stroh Center for their next two games, first hosting the Ball State Cardinals on Tuesday (Jan. 31) to close out the month of January. Bowling Green and Ball State are set for a 7 p.m. tip and it will be Dollar Night with $1 tickets, parking and select concessions.

Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUMHoops
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'