 KENT STATE 92, BOWLING GREEN 87
However, a horrible first half performance was too much for the Falcons to overcome as the Golden Flashes held on for a 92-87 Mid-American Conference win. BG is now 7-9 overall and 1-2 in the MAC while Kent State is 12-4, 2-1.
“We came out on our heels (in the first half). We just didn’t come ready to play,” said BG senior Scott Thomas. Thomas scored 21 of his team-high 23 points in the second half. “In the second half we came out and competed, but it was too late.
“It’s very frustrating. Lately we have been doing that, not putting two halves together,” Thomas added. “That’s something that we’ve addressed, and we’re going to take care of it and play both halves and be able to finish both halves.”
The Falcons scored 60 points in the second half and five players finished in double figures for the game, but it was not enough.
“We attacked the rim a little bit more and we got a couple of easy buckets early. I think that’s what got us going,” Thomas said. “In the second half, we got good shots and made them.”
Kent State led 45-27 at the break as BG turned the ball over nine times and was out-rebounded 20-13 in the first 20 minutes. The Golden Flashes scored 12 points off BG’s turnovers and 14 points off their 13 offensive rebounds.
“In this league, especially on the road, you have to bring a certain level of toughness right from the start and you have to compete at a high level,” said BG head coach Louis Orr. “Physically, emotionally, mentally you have to compete.
“In the first half ... We didn’t bring it.” Orr added. “There was a point in the first half where they stepped it up physically and fed off our mistakes and we didn’t respond.”
BG led early in the game and was ahead 17-15 with 11:19 to play in the first half. KSU then went on a 30-10 run to take control of the game and close out the half. Justin Greene scored 14 of his team-high 23 points in the first half for the Golden Flashes.
The Falcons continued to struggle to start the second half, but came on strong to make it a game at the end. Kent State was up 19, 61-42, with 12:34 left, and then the Falcons started their comeback with a 13-0 run to cut the Golden Flashes lead to 61-55.
“It was an eight-point game with a little less than nine minutes left, so it was anybody’s game,” Orr said.
The Golden Flashes were able to hold off the Falcons and were up 11, 84-73, with 1:01 remaining.
Bowling Green responded again and was able to get within four, 91-87, with less than five seconds remaining.
“It wasn’t so much of what they did. We lost a couple of guys in transition and they were able to knock down some open shots,” Kent State’s Chris Evans said.
“We have to stop looking at the scoreboard and keep playing,” Kent State’s Michael Porrini said.
The Falcons got 26 rebounds in the second half, 13 at the offensive end to help spark the comeback. BG also shot 57.1 percent in the second half, including 9-of-17 on threes (52.9 percent).
“It was a whole different level of energy and competitiveness,” Orr said about the second half. “We put ourselves in a hole in the first half and that was the difference in the game.
“At the end of the day we couldn’t get enough stops,” Orr added.
In addition to Thomas’ 23 points, four other Falcons finished in double figures. Torian Oglesby had 16 points, making 7-of-8 shots from the field, Dee Brown added 12, Craig Sealey contributed 11, and Jordon Crawford had 10. Oglesby added 12 rebounds for a double-double and Crawford passed out 13 assists for a double-double.
“We’re going to rebound and bounce back,” Thomas said. “Some of us were talking in the locker room (after the game) about playing with toughness, coming out and competing harder in practice.”
Oglesby was forced to play 36 minutes as Cam Black was not able to go because of an apparent lower leg injury.
“I don’t know if he was hurt, but I’m going to say he was bothered,” Orr said about Black. “He had some discomfort. We’ll have to find out if he is actually hurt.”
NOTES: BG plays at Miami Wednesday with tipoff at 7 p.m. ... Kent State held an edge in points in the paint, 44-38, and 22-10 on points off turnovers ... BG had the advantage 26-20 on second-chance points, and 32-22 in points off the bench ... The Falcons ended up with a 39-32 rebounding edge ... Kent State had four players in double figures.
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