Late Spark For Bowling Green Comes Up Short To Utah Valley

Saturday, December 6

Bowling Green, Ohio

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

6-3,0-0MAC

Utah Valley

6-3,0-0WAC

Utah Valley

Bowling Green

Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics

December 06, 2025 | Men's Basketball

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Falcons Outscore Wolverines 19-7 Over Final Four Minutes

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

Ziggyville Population: 206
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team returned home to the Stroh Center Saturday (Dec. 6) to host the Utah Valley Wolverines. Believed to be the highest NET-ranking matchup in Stroh Center history, the Falcons and Wolverines battled to a 38-31 halftime score favoring UVU. Utah Valley built their lead to as large as 26, but the Falcons narrowed the gap down the stretch, closing the deficit to as few as 10 with a 19-7 run late. In the end, Utah Valley came away with an 82-71 final. For BGSU, they stay at home with a quick turnaround, hosting Aquinas on Sunday (Dec. 7) for a 4 p.m. tip.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Javontae Campbell drove through the lane for the first points of the game, but Utah Valley matched, a trend in the early going. A layup from Sam Towns and a dunk from Troy Glover II continued the BGSU scoring, but the Wolverines continued to answer for a 6-6 score. Utah Valley made one at the line, but a Towns layup put the Falcons in front. Utah Valley made a jumper, but a Justin Thomas basket answered for a 10-9 lead at the first media timeout.
A three pointer out of the break for Utah Valley sparked an 8-1 run for the Wolverines for a 17-11 lead. Towns hit a jumper to end the run, but a Utah Valley bucket answered for a 19-13 score at the under-12 media timeout.
An and-one opportunity for Campbell out of the timeout cut the score to a possession, 19-16. A 5-0 burst for Utah Valley rebuilt their lead to 24-16. Glover ended the run with a layup and then a dunk to bring the score to 24-20 at the under-8 media timeout.
Another 5-0 run for Utah Valley came after the timeout with a Thomas layup ending the run. A free throw for the Wolverines followed before back-to-back layups from Campbell to cut the score to 30-26 at the final media timeout of the first half.
Out of the break, Utah Valley hit a three, but Campbell answered with one of his own. A layup from Josiah Shackelford pulled the Falcons within a possession, 33-31, but the Wolverines closed the half with a 5-0 run for a 38-31 score at the midway point of the game.
Each team made a layup to start the second half, including one from Campbell for BGSU. A 4-1 burst for Utah Valley followed with the one for BGSU being a Thomas free throw. Campbell added a layup, making it a 44-36 score at the first media timeout of the second half.
An 8-1 run for Utah Valley stretched their lead to 52-37 with a Campbell free throw marking the BGSU tally. Each team added a bucket with the Falcons' coming from a Shackelford jumper. The Falcons called a timeout with the score at 54-39.
Utah Valley hit a three after the break, but the Falcons answered with a pair of layups. Campbell found Makhi Leach on an inbound before making a layup of his own. The Wolverines, however, added a jumper before the under-12 media timeout for a 59-43 score. Before the under-8 media timeout, Utah Valley added five points to their total for a 64-43 score.
Shackelford added two at the line for BGSU with Thomas adding one later. A layup from Campbell and one from Aiden Goins continued the scoring before two Campbell free throws and a Wol layup for a 75-54 score at the final media timeout.
The Falcons worked to close the gap down the stretch. Shackelford began with a layup after the timeout for a 6-0 run. The teams traded baskets for a bit with a layup from Javon Ruffin and later two free throws from Towns and two more from Shackelford. The run continued with a three from Wol, making it a 15-4 BGSU stretch, closing the gap to 79-65.
Utah Valley made two at the line, but back-to-back threes from Wol and Shackelford stretched the run with the Falcons pausing the action with a timeout and the score at 81-71. The final point of the game came at the line for Utah Valley for an 82-71 final.

STAT LEADERS

Javontae Campbell: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block
Josiah Shackelford: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals
Sam Towns: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists
Mayar Wol: 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal
Troy Glover II: 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Justin Thomas: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist

FALCON STAT FACTS

Javontae Campbell led the way for the Falcons with his fourth 20-point game of the season, finishing with 24 to match his season-high. BGSU has now had a different 20-point scorer in each of the last three games after Mayar Wol had 21 against VMI and Sam Towns had 27 against Kansas State.
Campbell added a team-high five assists for the Falcons, accounting for half of the team's total and matching his season-high. Campbell has now led, or tied for the team-lead, in both points and assists in the same game three times this year for BGSU through nine games.
Campbell completed his stat line with three steals and his first block of the season. He now has 31 steals on the year, just over a third of the way to his 2024-25 total of 90.
Josiah Shackelford joined Campbell in the double-digit scoring efforts with 13 points off the bench. Shackelford also swiped three steals, tying his season-high.
Sam Towns played a career-high 38 minutes for the Falcons and filled the stat sheet. He tallied eight points while leading the team in rebounds with six as well as steals with a career-high four.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will remain at home with their next contest less than 24 hours away at the Stroh Center. Bowling Green will host Aquinas on Sunday (Dec. 7) for a 4 p.m. tip, the second leg of a basketball doubleheader with the women's team playing at 1 p.m. (tickets sold separately).

Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMBB
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