Turner's 21, Ayers' 20 Not Enough For Falcons Against NIU

Saturday, February 4

Bowling Green, Ohio

5:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

10-13,4-6MAC

Northern Illinois

10-13,6-4MAC

NIU

Bowling Green

Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics

February 04, 2023 | Men's Basketball

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By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball program took on the Northern Illinois Huskies inside the Stroh Center Saturday (Feb. 4). The Falcons shot 49.2% from the field in the contest and had two 20-point scorers for the second time this season with Chandler Turner (21) and Leon Ayers III (20) reaching the mark. In the end, it was Northern Illinois on top with an 86-78 final.

Chandler Turner led the scoring for the Falcons with his first 20-point game of the season, and second of his career. Leon Ayers III followed with 20 points, marking his 10th 20-point game over the last 12 contests for BGSU. Kaden Metheny and Samari Curtis each added five assists with Curtis logging nine points and Metheny eight.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Northern Illinois jumped out to a 6-1 lead, stretching to 11-3. The Falcons were able to cut it down to 11-7, but a 10-0 NIU run extended their lead to 21-7.
Bowling Green cut into the lead with a 6-0 stretch to narrow the gap to single-digits at 26-18. NIU increased their lead before another 6-0 BGSU run, resulting in a 15-5 stretch, brought the score within four at 31-27.
The Huskies answered with a 6-0 run of their own to push their lead back to double-digits with a 37-27 advantage.
The two teams battled through the end of the half trading baskets with the Falcons chipping away at the lead, heading to the half down 44-37.
The Falcons came out of the half full of energy, utilizing an early 9-0 run to narrow the gap to 51-49 at the first media timeout of the second half.
Northern Illinois slowly rebuilt their lead back to double-digits, leading 62-52 at the under-12 media timeout of the second half.
The NIU lead extended to 14 at 68-52 with an 8-0 NIU run before a 6-0 BGSU run cut it down to 68-58 at the next media break. The Bowling Green run carried through the timeout, extending to 10-0 with the score at 68-62.
The stretch continued for the Falcons, reaching a 13-2 run to force a timeout from NIU with the score at 70-65 Huskies.
BGSU and NIU traded baskets before the next stoppage with the Huskies up 76-69.
Northern Illinois maintained their advantage to the end of the game with an 86-78 final.

STAT LEADERS

Chandler Turner: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Leon Ayers III: 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Samari Curtis: 9 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds
Kaden Metheny: 8 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

FALCON STAT FACTS

Chandler Turner recorded a season-high 21 points for the Falcons, his first 20-point game of the season and the second of his BGSU career. Turner now has 204 points on the season, setting a new single-season-high for his collegiate career.
For the 10th time in the last 12 games, Leon Ayers III recorded at least 19 points, ending with 20. Ayers now had at least 20 points in six of the last seven games for the Falcons.
The Falcons had two players reach 20 points for the second time this season with both Ayers and Turner hitting the mark. The last time came against Ohio Dominican on Dec. 29 in a 102-65 win.
Brenton Mills recorded a team-high six rebounds, matching his high for the season. Of the six rebounds for Mills, three came on the offensive end which set a new season-high and matched his career-high.
Samari Curtis recorded five assists, tying for the team-high in the game. Curtis now has 95 assists this season, a new career-high for assists in a single-season for his collegiate career.
Kaden Metheny matched Curtis' assist tally for the game, having five of his own. Metheny now has 53 assists on the season, setting a new career-high for assists in a single-season for his collegiate career as well.

UP NEXT
The Falcons head back on the road for their next contest, traveling to face the Kent State Golden Flashes on Tuesday (Feb. 7) for a 7 p.m. tip. BGSU will then head to Muncie, Ind. to face Ball State on Saturday (Feb. 11) for a scheduled 2 p.m. start.

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