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BG bounces back with win over Toledo |
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Written by Jack Carle - Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune
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After not playing well in a losing effort Saturday against Central Michigan, Bowling Green needed a victory Monday over arch-rival Toledo. And when it came time to make things happen against the Rockets, BG head coach Louis Orr left it up to his starters.
Seniors Otis Polk and Erik Marschall, junior Joe Jakubowski and sophomores Dee Brown and Scott Thomas started for the Falcons and all played major roles in the 58-47 win over Toledo.
“The starters were making plays tonight and we were in a rhythm, so there was not much of a chance to sub,” said Thomas, who finished with team highs in points (14) and rebounds (six).
The starters combined for 171 of the 200 minutes, 56 of 58 points, 16 of 22 rebounds, 13 of 14 assists, six of seven blocks and all four steals.
“We went with our veteran guys. As you go along you understand the margin for error. If your veterans are up and energetic, you stick with them. Because at the end of the day those are the guys that are going to have to carry you home,” BG head coach Louis Orr said.
Orr added that the slower tempo of the game, the fact BG did not have to use energy trying to come from behind and the staters were able to stay out of foul trouble, also contributed to the playing time for the staters and the bench rotation.
In the first half Polk and Marschall carried the load at the offensive end. BG shot 61.1 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes and Polk and Marschall each scored eight points. BG held a 26-20 halftime lead with 18 points coming from the paint.
“It was important for us to get off to a good start and play with a lot of intensity and emotion,” Orr said. “It had to be a will and desire game and I thought our guys came out ready.
“Otis and Erik did a really good job around the basket,” Orr added.
Toledo packed things in somewhat to stop the inside game at the start of the second half and that allowed Thomas and Brown to get good looks on 3-pointer. The two sophomores responded. The Falcons started the second half on an 11-0 run as Thomas had eight points including two 3-pointers, and Brown had one triple
“The first four minutes (of the second half) was probably the key to the game,” said UT head coach Gene Cross. “They started hurting us on the interior in the first half. We thought we could pack it in a little bit and still get out to their shooters and they wound up bombing, I guess it was three threes and a couple open jump shots. (That) opened the game up a little bit and got us on our heels We were never able to recover from that.”
Thomas said the halftime talk centered around bringing energy.
“We just kind of got it rolling. Me and Dee made some big shots,” said Thomas.
The Falcons built their lead to 16 points twice in the second half, but Toledo won’t go away, cutting the margin to 10 points three different times.
“We could have laid down in the second half when they got up 16. We came back and started to fight a little bit more,” Cross said.
With 53.5 seconds left in the game a jumper by UT’s Josh Freelove made it 55-45, but BG was able to hold on.
The Falcons then made 5-of-6 free throws in the final 1:23 of the game to help put things away, including four straight foul shots by Jakubowski.
“Our guys showed a lot of character,” Orr said. “For us, we just have to keep getting better. We’ve go to keep improving and I thought we made steps in that direction. It was a really good bounce-back game for us.”
NOTES: BG is now 11-9 overall and 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference while Toledo is 3-19, 0-8 ... BG had four players score in double figures for the second time in less than a week ... Four Falcons were in double digits in a 64-61 win over Eastern Michigan on Jan. 27 ... In addition to Thomas’ 14 points Monday, Marschall and Brown each finished with 12 points, Polk added 10 and Jakubowski scored eight points ... BG’s eight turnovers against UT was the second-lowest total of the season. BG had seven turnovers in a 101-57 loss to Xavier in the second game of the season ... The Falcons play at Ball State on Thursday with tipoff at 7 p.m.
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