Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, January 7
Muncie, Ind.
1:00 PM ET
Ball State University
9-6 (0-2MAC)
71
vs
76
Bowling Green
7-8 (1-1MAC)
1
2
F
Bowling Green
35
41
76
Ball State
38
33
71
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Bowling Green Holds off Men’s Hoops, 76-71
January 07, 2017 | Men's Basketball
Cardinals fall despite big rebounding advantage, 22 offensive boards
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Tayler Persons scored a game-high 21 points and Franko House added 16 points and 10 rebounds, but the Ball State men's basketball team suffered a 76-71 loss Saturday to Bowling Green.
The Falcons (7-8, 1-1 MAC) took control with an 11-0 run in the second half and held off the Cardinals (9-6, 0-2 MAC) down the stretch.
Sean Sellers (11 points) and Trey Moses (10) gave Ball State four double-figure scorers in its first Mid-American Conference home game of the season.
The Cardinals held a 47-34 advantage on the glass and pulled down a season-high 22 offensive rebounds (their most against a Division I opponent since 2013).
But Ball State suffered through its most turnovers in more than a month (18) and its worst performance of the season from beyond the arc (4 for 25). BSU entered the game at 38.3 percent from 3-point range for the season.
Bowling Green blocked a number of the Cardinals' 3-point attempts and finished with eight total blocks and 11 steals in the game.
"I thought Bowling Green played a really good game," Ball State coach James Whitford said. "I thought they out-toughed us, and I thought they out-hustled us over the course of 40 minutes. We didn't make shots, but that wasn't the reason we didn't win the game. I'm completely disappointed in our effort and our toughness. Bowling Green deserved to win."
Ball State built a 38-35 lead at the half, but Bowling Green scored the first five points of the second half. The teams then traded the lead back and forth until the Falcons' 11-0 run over a three-minute stretch. Demajeo Wiggins capped the run with a lay-in at the 13:37 mark.
Bowling Green led by as many as 12 before Ball State started chipping away. The Cardinals used a 9-0 run of their own to pull within one at 70-69 on a lay-in from Persons with 2:04 to play. But that was the last field goal BSU made.
The Cardinals missed their final six attempts from the floor, and Bowling Green sealed the win at the free throw line.
Antwon Lillard led the Falcons with 19 points, while Wiggins had 17 and Zack Denny 15. All three players grabbed eight rebounds.
Ball State will remain home to continue MAC play Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Miami.
The Falcons (7-8, 1-1 MAC) took control with an 11-0 run in the second half and held off the Cardinals (9-6, 0-2 MAC) down the stretch.
Sean Sellers (11 points) and Trey Moses (10) gave Ball State four double-figure scorers in its first Mid-American Conference home game of the season.
The Cardinals held a 47-34 advantage on the glass and pulled down a season-high 22 offensive rebounds (their most against a Division I opponent since 2013).
But Ball State suffered through its most turnovers in more than a month (18) and its worst performance of the season from beyond the arc (4 for 25). BSU entered the game at 38.3 percent from 3-point range for the season.
Bowling Green blocked a number of the Cardinals' 3-point attempts and finished with eight total blocks and 11 steals in the game.
"I thought Bowling Green played a really good game," Ball State coach James Whitford said. "I thought they out-toughed us, and I thought they out-hustled us over the course of 40 minutes. We didn't make shots, but that wasn't the reason we didn't win the game. I'm completely disappointed in our effort and our toughness. Bowling Green deserved to win."
Ball State built a 38-35 lead at the half, but Bowling Green scored the first five points of the second half. The teams then traded the lead back and forth until the Falcons' 11-0 run over a three-minute stretch. Demajeo Wiggins capped the run with a lay-in at the 13:37 mark.
Bowling Green led by as many as 12 before Ball State started chipping away. The Cardinals used a 9-0 run of their own to pull within one at 70-69 on a lay-in from Persons with 2:04 to play. But that was the last field goal BSU made.
The Cardinals missed their final six attempts from the floor, and Bowling Green sealed the win at the free throw line.
Antwon Lillard led the Falcons with 19 points, while Wiggins had 17 and Zack Denny 15. All three players grabbed eight rebounds.
Ball State will remain home to continue MAC play Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Miami.
Team Stats
BGSU
BSU
FG%
.433
.412
3FG%
.357
.160
FT%
.731
.733
RB
34
47
TO
13
18
STL
11
6
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
16
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
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