Falcons Come Up Short In Overtime Battle With Golden Flashes

Tuesday, January 23

Bowling Green, Ohio

7 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

14-5,5-2MAC

Kent State

10-9,3-4MAC

OT 1

Kent St.

Bowling Green

Photo by: Lauren Laudato, BGSU Athletics

January 23, 2024 | Men's Basketball

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

Agee Posts Eighth Double-Double In Last 11 Games

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

Ziggyville Population: 524
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team went to overtime with the 2023 MAC Champion Kent State Golden Flashes Tuesday night (Jan. 23) at the Stroh Center. Kent State jumped out to an early lead, but the Falcons were able to tie it up at 35-35. The second half painted a similar picture with the score knotted at 74-74 after 40 minutes of action. In overtime, KSU jumped out to an 8-2 run to create a lead that they were able to maintain for a 90-84 final.

For the Falcons, four players reached double-digit point outputs. Marcus Hill led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds. Jason Spurgin followed with 19 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, just missing a double-double. Rashaun Agee posted his eighth double-double in the last 11 games with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The list rounded out with Trey Thomas tallying 12 for the Orange and Brown.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Jason Spurgin started the game with a three for the Falcons, but Kent State responded with an 8-0 run to make it 8-3 KSU. Da'Shawn Phillip hit a three before two free throws from Rashaun Agee to knot it up at 8-8.
The Golden Flashes added a three before Agee hit two free throws to make the score 11-10 at the first media timeout.
Out of the timeout, Kent State extended their lead to 20-11 with a 9-2 stretch leading into the next media break. The lead moved to 22-12 after the timeout
The Falcons were able to put together a 7-0 run. Trey Thomas hit a three followed by a floater to go into the media break. Spurgin hit two free throws to narrow the gap to 28-24.
Kent State added a basket, but a 5-0 BGSU burst made it a 12-2 span and cut the lead down to one at 30-29.
Back-to-back buckets for the Golden Flashes pushed their advantage back to 34-29 and then 35-31. The Falcons made the last two baskets of the first to tie it at the buzzer, 35-35, including a Spurgin slam for the tying points.
Agee started the second half scoring with a second chance basket for the Falcons, but Kent State tallied the next four points to move in front 39-37.
A three by Phillip for BGSU swung the score back to the Orange and Brown, but the Golden Flashes again answered to make it 41-40 KSU.
Thomas hit a three for the Falcons to reclaim the lead followed by a second chance layup for Spurgin to spell a 5-0 spurt for the Orange and Brown, pushing the lead to 45-41.
The two teams traded buckets before back-to-back Kent State scores granted them a 52-51 lead at the under-12 media timeout.
BGSU tied it up at 52-52 and then again at 54-54 and 56-56, but a three for Kent State gave them a slight edge before a 5-0 run made it a 64-58 Kent lead at the under-8 break.
The lead for KSU grew to seven at 67-60, but the Falcons started chipping away. A three from Thomas brought it down to 67-63 before two Agee free throws cut it to 67-65, taking a 69-67 score into the under-4 media timeout.
Two free throws from Hill out of the timeout tied it for the Falcons at 69-69. Thomas then found Phillip under the basket to go ahead 71-69 with two-and-a-half minutes remaining.
The BGSU lead grew to 73-70, but the Golden Flashes were able to tie the game at 73-73 and again at 74-74 to send the game to overtime.
Kent State tallied the first five points in overtime to jump out to a quick 79-74 advantage before Hill put BGSU on the board. Another three for KSU gave them an 8-2 jump start in overtime.
Hill made four free throws followed by a second chance layup to cut the Kent State lead down to one possession at 84-82, but free throw shooting down the stretch for KSU granted the Golden Flashes a 90-84 final.

STAT LEADERS

Marcus Hill: 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block
Jason Spurgin: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists
Rashaun Agee: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists
Trey Thomas: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Da'Shawn Phillip: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

FALCON STAT FACTS

For the sixth time in the last seven games, BGSU attempted 20+ free throws and 30+ free throws for the fourth time, finishing with 34 attempts. The Falcons made 26 of those, including nine from both Rashaun Agee and Marcus Hill.
Finishing with 17 points and a team-leading 10 rebounds, Agee logged his eighth double-double in the last 11 games, cracking the Top 30 in the nation for double-doubles on the season. Agee has now had three consecutive double-doubles for the second time this season. Agee also played a career-high 37 minutes and went 9-of-12 at the free throw line, both career-highs as well.
Playing a career-high and team-leading 43 minutes, Hill finished with a team-leading 21 points for the Falcons, his 10th 20-point game of the season. He also posted eight rebounds, just missing what would have been his second straight double-double.
Jason Spurgin played a season-high 41 minutes, finishing with 19 points and nine rebounds, missing his season-highs for both by one. Spurgin also matched his season-high for blocks with three.
Trey Thomas his double-digit points for the Falcons with 12. He added five rebounds with one offensive and four defensive, all matching his season-highs.
This marks the first time this season the Falcons have scored 70+ and come up short in the outcome. BGSU is 13-1 when scoring 70+ in a game.

TODD WALKER RADIO CALLS
Spurgin Starts With Three
Hill Spin, Scoop And Score
Spurgin Slam To Tie
Trey Thomas Transition Triple
Agee Dunk
Spurgin And-One
Phillip Layup Late
Hill And-One
Postgame Interview with Assistant Coach Bryce Martin

UP NEXT
The Falcons will be back on the road for their next two contests, first setting their sights on the Battle of I-75 this Saturday (Jan. 27). The Falcons and rival Rockets are set for a 2 p.m. tip at Savage Arena.

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