"Obviously I said prior to the game that it was time for us to compete against someone wearing a different color jersey. With the new rules you are allowed to practice early and you have more gaps, and it is a longer time until the first game. So it was definitely time for that," Jans said.
The Falcons, who played all 16 players on the roster, were led by junior guard David Joseph's team-high 14 points, while senior guard Jehvon Clarke added 12 points off the bench. Both Damarkeo Lyshe and junior newcomer Delvin Dickerson had 10 points apiece off the bench, as starters Spencer Parker and Richaun Holmes were plagued with fouls for the entire game.
"I think in the end that we'll have a balanced team. This system is about sharing the basketball," continued Coach Jans. "We are going to play quite a few guys, and I think that when the season is complete that there won't be a big gap between the leading scorer and the second and third. That is just the way the system works - that we share the ball and everybody gets a chance. We like it that way just because when you get going and get some games under your belt, it is hard for your opponents to focus on just one or two guys."
BGSU's bench outscored Notre Dame's bench 54-14 and held a huge 20-2 advantage in second chance points, as the home standing Falcons in white outrebounded the visiting Falcons in blue 47-27 for the contest.
Bowling Green looked a little over zealous to start the game, as the home team turned the ball over four times in the opening minutes to fall behind to the NDC Falcons 7-2 with 17:04 to go in the opening half.
After a three-pointer from the right wing from Lyshe at the 16:30 mark, the Falcons went on a 19-3 run over the next five minutes to take an 11-point lead at 21-10 on a driving layup by Joseph with 10:58 to play in the first half.
Notre Dame battled back to cut the Falcons lead to four at 22-18 on a layup down low by Will Vorhees and then again at 24-20 on a driving layup from Tyree Gaiter to force Coach Jans to call a 30-second timeout with 8:06 to go before the halftime break.
Back-to-back free throws from redshirt-junior Chauncey Orr jump-started a 14-3 surge from the Falcons, who used a block and three steals to spearhead the run that pushed BGSU out to a 16-point lead at 39-23 on a three-pointer from Joseph at the 3:30 mark of the first half.
Free throws from freshman Rasheed Worrell and five quick points from Clarke over the final three minutes of play helped to send the Falcons to a 48-36 halftime lead.
BGSU forced a quick turnover and layup from Joseph to open up the second half, only to see NDC answer with a 7-2 run to cut the Bowling Green lead to nine at 52-43 with 17:11 to go in the game.
The visiting Falcons would get to as close as seven at 58-49; however, the home standing BGSU Falcons used a 9-0 run over a three minute span to again pull out in front by 16 points at 65-49 with 9:21 to play.
Bowling Green would hold on to a double digit lead for the rest of the contest, pushing its advantage out to 18 on an old-fashion three-point play by junior transfer Jovan Austin at the 5:59 mark and then out to a game-high 20-point lead on a steal and behind the back pass from Austin to a racing Parker. He finished the play off with a one-handed slam to put the score at 79-59 with 3:29 left on the game clock.
Bowling Green capped off the game with one free throw apiece from both junior Brandon Busutill and sophomore JD Tisdale, followed by a three-pointer from the right wing by freshman Matt Fox to put the final score at 88-64.
Zack Denny had nine points, on 4-of-8 shooting, and six rebounds, while Austin and freshman Rasheed Worrell had seven points apiece off the BGSU bench.
For NDC, Lawrence DeArmond led the way with 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while Gaiter finished with 17 points and three assists.
The Falcons outscored NDC 32-20 in points in the paint, 25-17 in points off turnovers and 12-10 in fast break points over the 40 minutes of play.
BGSU shot 48.3 percent (29-of-60) from field, 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from the three-point line, and 64.9 percent (24-of-37) from the charity stripe. Notre Dame shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the floor, 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from behind the three-point line, and 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from the free throw line.
The Falcons will open up the 2014-15 regular season next Saturday, Nov. 15, on the road at Drake. Tip-off is slated for 3:05 p.m. ET from Des Moines, Iowa.
(Story/Pic courtesy of BBSU Athletics)