Defense Keys Falcon Win Over Canisius 58-54

Saturday, December 12

Buffalo, N.Y.

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Canisius

December 12, 2009 | Men's Basketball

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Boxscore

Buffalo, N.Y. – The Bowling Green men's basketball team held Canisius to 31 percent shooting, including 27 percent in the second half, as the Falcons won their fourth consecutive game with a 58-54 victory Saturday night.

Bowling Green used an 8-0 run late in the second half to take the lead for good and the Falcons made just enough free-throws down the stretch to get the win. Dee Brown made 5-of-6 free-throws in the final 28 seconds and scored a team-high 16 points to lead BGSU.

Canisius battled back from a seven-point halftime deficit to take a 40-39 lead on a pair of Frank Turner free-throws with 9:46 to play. But Bowling Green, which had scored just five points in the half to that point, got a three-pointer from Brown followed by a Scott Thomas jumper to take a 44-40 lead. The score remained that way until Otis Polk powered his way to the basket for a bucket and a foul. He made the free-throw with 6:30 to go to give Bowling Green a 47-40 lead.

Canisius slowly worked its way back within striking distance and Turner scored six in a row for the Golden Griffins to make it 53-51 with 32 seconds left. Brown made two free-throws but Greg Logins answered with an off-balanced three-pointer to make it 55-54. After Brown made two more free-throws with 13 seconds left, Julius Coles' three-point attempt to tie it was off the mark and the Falcons escaped with the win.

The victory was BGSU's second consecutive road win following a 67-46 victory over Fordham a week ago and the team's fourth win in a row overall to improve to 5-3 on the season. Canisius fell to 4-4 with the loss.

The contest was a return game from last year's ESPNU BracketBuster game in Anderson Arena. Bowling Green improved to 6-1 all-time in such return games.

In the first half, Bowling Green ran an efficient offense, shooting 50 percent from the field to take a 34-27 lead into the break. But the Falcons were held to 30 percent shooting in the second half and Canisius was able to increase the tempo and score in transition. The Golden Griffins held a 10-2 lead in fastbreak points.

Brown made 3-of-5 three-pointers to finish with 16 points. Otis Polk had 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. Thomas added 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Bowling Green built that first half lead by scoring the final 10 points of the period. Marc Larson sparked the run with a pair of free-throws and a lay-up to put the Falcons on top 28-27 for the last of 10 first-half lead changes. Brown added a three-pointer, Joe Jakubowski made 1-of-2 free-throws, and Erik Marschall connected on a jumper for the 34-27 halftime lead.

The Falcons will be back on the road in a week, playing the third of a five-game road stretch. Bowling Green plays at Detroit Saturday at 3:30 p.m.