BGSU Begins MAC Campaign With Electric Come-From-Behind Overtime Win Against EMU

Tuesday, January 2

Bowling Green, Ohio

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

10-3,1-0MAC

Eastern Michigan

7-6,0-1MAC

OT 1

Eastern Mich.

Bowling Green

Photo by: Chris Andruch, BGSU Athletics

BGSU Begins MAC Campaign With Electric Come-From-Behind Overtime Win Against EMU

January 02, 2024 | Men's Basketball

Box Score BGSU-EMU Game Stats Support Our Student-Athletes Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Hill Records Career-High 35 Points; Tallies 29 In Second Half, Overtime

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team started off MAC play Tuesday night (Jan. 2) in the Stroh Center with a thrilling overtime win over Eastern Michigan. After trailing by eight at the halftime whistle, the Falcons trimmed the Eagles' lead in the second half to send the game to overtime. In the overtime period, the Orange and Brown jumped in front for the 92-90 win. The game consisted of 17 lead changes over the 45 minutes played. With the victory, BGSU has now won eight-straight games, tied for the eighth-longest active winning streak in the nation. The Falcons are also off to a 1-0 start in conference play, making head coach Todd Simon the seventh straight BGSU men's basketball coach to win his MAC debut.

Individually, the Falcons were paced by Marcus Hill's 35 points, marking his second 30-point game this season and a new career-high. Of Hill's 35, 29 came after halftime, posting 24 in the second half and five in overtime. Rashaun Agee added his fourth double-double in the last five games, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. DaJion Humphrey (12) and Trey Thomas (10) hit double-digit points as well for the Orange and Brown. The Falcons have now won nine straight against Eastern Michigan, the longest winning streak for either team in the history of the all-time series.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Falcons and Eagles traded baskets in the early going, taking a 6-6 tie into the first media timeout of the game.
Soon after the timeout, Eastern Michigan tallied a 9-0 run to move in front 15-7. A BGSU basket interrupted the run before EMU recorded another five points to make it a 14-2 stretch and a 20-9 score going into a media timeout.
Bowling Green worked to trim the lead with small bursts before a 5-0 run cut it down to 34-27 to force a timeout from the EMU bench.
The Eagles answered with a 6-0 run of their own to readjust their advantage to 40-27.
Bowling Green closed out the first half with a 7-2 stretch to narrow the gap to 42-34 heading into the halftime break.
The Falcons opened the second half with an early 10-2 stretch, including a 7-0 run heading into the first media timeout with the score cut down to 46-44.
BGSU continued to chip away at the lead, utilizing a 5-0 run later in the half to knot up the score at 51-51.
After trading baskets, Eastern Michigan put together a 4-0 burst to push their advantage to 57-53, but Rashaun Agee drew an and-one followed by two Marcus Hill free throws to push the Falcons in front 58-57 with another 5-0 run.
The pendulum continued to swing between the two teams. Jason Spurgin rejected an EMU dunk attempt and hit a three soon after to tie the game up once again, this time at 66-66.
The two teams resumed trading buckets before Marcus Hill hit a three just before the final media timeout of the half to give BGSU a 73-70 advantage.
Eastern Michigan recorded a 4-0 burst to move back in front 76-74, but the Falcons quickly responded with a three from DaJion Humphrey to reclaim the lead at 77-76.
The trading of points again resumed before Hill hit two free throws to tie the game at 82-82 and send it into overtime.
Hill began the overtime period by converting an and-one opportunity to quickly put BGSU up 85-82, but EMU responded with a three to tie it again, 85-85.
Hill made a layup for BGSU before another EMU three to make it 88-87 Eagles. The Falcons answered with two free throws from Agee before Spurgin made a layup in the paint to put BGSU out in front 91-88 with a 4-0 spurt.
Eastern Michigan made a pair of free throws, but one from Humphrey for the Falcons sealed the 92-90 win for the Orange and Brown.

STAT LEADERS

Marcus Hill: 35 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Rashaun Agee: 19 points, 11 rebounds
DaJion Humphrey: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Trey Thomas: 10 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Jason Spurgin: 7 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal

FALCON STAT FACTS

With the win, the Falcons have now won eight-straight games, the longest winning streak for the program since winning eight-straight during the 2019-20 campaign. The win streak is now tied for the eighth-longest active winning streak in the nation.
The win marks the ninth straight for Bowling Green against Eastern Michigan, now the longest winning streak for either team in the all-time series.
The Orange and Brown are now 10-3 through 13 games for the first time since posting the same record in 2020-21.
After winning the MAC opener last season as well, the Falcons are 1-0 to start MAC play in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Head Coach Todd Simon is now the seven straight BGSU coach to win his MAC debut and the ninth all-time.
Marcus Hill posted his sixth game of the season with 20+ points and his second with 30+, finishing with a team-leading and career-high 35, including 29 in the second half and overtime combined. Of Hill's 35 points, 13 came at the free throw line, the most by a Falcon since Rashaun Agee had 10 against Hampton. Hill also attempted a team-high 17 free throws, the most by a BGSU player since Samari Curtis had 16 against Central Michigan on Jan. 24, 2023. Hill also added a career-high eight rebounds to his stat line.
Agee finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, leading the team in boards for the fourth straight game. Agee's double-double marked his fourth in the last five games, missing a streak of five by just one rebound against Siena Heights.
Playing a team-leading and career-high 43 minutes, Trey Thomas registered a career-high six assists for the Falcons while also recording his first block with Bowling Green. He chipped in 10 points, including two threes, as well.
The win in overtime is the first overtime win for the Falcons since topping Miami (OH) 87-83 on Jan. 8, 2022 in overtime.
Wearing the white uniforms with BGSU across the chest, the Falcons are now 6-0 this season with BGSU on the front of the uniform.
Over the course of the season, BGSU has now started seven different lineups and has recorded a win with six different lineups.

TODD WALKER RADIO CALLS
Agee And-One
Agee Tip-In
Thomas Corner Three
Hill Acrobatic Finish
Agee And-One 2.0
Humphrey Three
Edwards Follow
Hill From The Corner
Hill And-One
Spurgin Scorers
Hill Blocks Acuff
Falcons Win!
Postgame Interview with Assistant Coach Bryce Martin

UP NEXT
The Falcons will take on the Akron Zips for their first road test within the Mid-American Conference. BGSU and Akron are set for a 9 p.m. start on Friday (Jan. 5) with the game being broadcasted on CBS Sports Network, the first nationally televised game of the season for the Orange and Brown.

Follow the Falcons
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