Falcons Fall To RedHawks In Oxford Tuesday Night

Tuesday, February 21

Oxford, Ohio

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

10-18,4-11MAC

Miami (OH)

10-18,4-11MAC

Bowling Green

Miami (OH)

Photo by: Lauren Laudato, BGSU Athletics

February 21, 2023 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Support Our Student-Athletes

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

OXFORD, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball program faced the Miami (OH) RedHawks on Tuesday night (Feb. 21) in Oxford, Ohio at Millett Hall. The Falcons and RedHawks played a defensive-heavy first half with BGSU taking a 29-26 lead into the halftime locker room. In the second half, Miami came back to take a 74-65 final. The loss moves BGSU to 10-18 on the season and 4-11 within the Mid-American Conference.

Samari Curtis led the Falcons in scoring with 17 points for the Orange and Brown, all coming in the second half. Chandler Turner reached double-digits as well, finishing with 10 points. Leon Ayers III filled the stat sheet with nine points while leading the team in both rebounds (9) and assists (6).

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Falcons came out with defensive intensity, forcing turnovers on each of the first two Miami possessions. A layup from Sam Towns on the fastbreak and a three from Leon Ayers III gave BGSU a 5-0 advantage at the first media timeout.
The RedHawks put together a 6-0 run to move in front 6-5, but an Ayers effort for the offensive rebound turned into a Kaden Metheny jump shot to push the Falcons to a 7-6 lead, beginning a string of traded baskets between the teams, heading to the next media timeout tied at 11-11.
The trading of baskets continued through the timeout until the next media break with the Falcons leading 18-17.
A steal by Samari Curtis pushed the Falcons out in transition, ending with a three from Isaac Elsasser, his second of the half, off an assist by Ayers to give BGSU a 21-19 lead at the final media timeout of the first half.
The Falcons were able to maintain their advantage to the halftime buzzer, heading to the locker room up 29-26.
Bowling Green got the first bucket of the second half off a Chandler Turner hook shot, but a 7-0 run by the RedHawks pushed Miami out in front 38-36 before Turner tied it up 38-38, heading to the first media timeout 41-40 Miami.
Out of the timeout, the RedHawks continued an 8-1 run to take a 46-41 advantage. The run stretched to 17-4 with the score at 55-44 at the under-8 media break.
The Falcons were able to use a 6-0 run to cut the lead down to 61-55 at the final media timeout of regulation.
The RedHawks extended their lead back to double-digits, but the Falcons came fighting back to close it to 66-59 and force a Miami timeout.
Miami held their lead through the end of the game, taking a 74-65 final.

STAT LEADERS

Samari Curtis: 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist
Chandler Turner: 10 points, 2 steals, 1 rebound
Leon Ayers III: 9 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
Kaden Metheny: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Isaac Elsasser: 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

FALCON STAT FACTS

As a team, the Falcons logged 10 steals in the contest marking the first time in the month of February, and third time this season, with double-digit steals.
Leon Ayers III led the team in rebounds with nine, setting a new season-high for Ayers and matching his career-high. Of the nine, seven came on the defensive end, a new season-high for defensive rebounds.
Samari Curtis put together a strong second half for the Falcons, scoring all 17 of his point in the second half.

TODD WALKER RADIO CALLS
Towns Steal, And-One
Elsasser Triple
Mills Put Back
Curtis Three

QUOTE FROM COACH HUGER
"We're so inconsistent in energy and effort and that's the one thing you can control. Wanting to compete, wanting to be better, wanting to do better and that's my frustration. The energy and the effort we brought for Toledo, we brought none of that to Oxford."

Full postgame interview with Todd Walker

UP NEXT
The Falcons will be back at home for their next two contests, marking the last two home games of the season. BGSU will host Kent State this Saturday (Feb. 25) for Senior Night at the Stroh Center and a 5 p.m. tip.

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'