Bowling Green also improved to 12-5 on the season with the victory, while Ball State dropped to 10-7 (1-3 MAC) with the loss. Ball State entered Tuesday's game ranked No. 88 in the NCAA's NET rankings. The Falcons are now 9-0 at home for the first time since 1999-2000.
"Extremely, extremely good game. . . on both ends," Bowling Green head coach Michael Huger said. "Both teams played extremely hard, and they [Ball State] are very good. They were picked first or second on that side for a reason. We were able to hold on at the end, and we were able to finish the game."
After taking a 76-68 lead with only 1:16 to play, Ball State cut the BGSU lead to a single possession just 43 seconds later. BSU's Zach Gunn drilled a three-pointer with 33 seconds left to trim the BGSU lead to three points at 76-73.
After a BG turnover, Gunn attempted a deep and contested three-pointer, but Demajeo Wiggins came up with a rebound after the miss. Wiggins then hit two clutch free throws, inching the Falcons' lead back up to 78-73 with 12 seconds remaining.
Ball State's Tayler Persons, who finished with 28 points, countered with a tough jumper with six seconds to go, but Dylan Frye split a pair of free throws with five seconds left on the clock, giving the Falcons a two-possession advantage.
Not wanting to give the Cardinals a chance at a four-point play, the Falcons did not contest Persons' triple at the buzzer. The fifth-year senior would make the shot, but time had run out for Ball State.
(Courtesy of BGSU Athletics)