Freshman forward Dalonte Brown, making his first RedHawk appearance near his hometown of nearby Toledo, had a huge night for Miami. His double-double of 16 points and 17 rebounds helped MU on both ends of the floor.
The RedHawks (8-6, 1-0 MAC) were . . .
Brown’s 17 boards, along with other contributions, helped fill the void, and MU eventually won the rebounding battle 44-36.
Both teams made 27 field goals, although Miami shot 45 percent to Bowling Green’s 40 percent.
The RedHawks had two more 3-point goals, doing most of that damage in the first half, and also converted 14 of 18 free throws.
By contrast, the Falcons hurt their own comeback chances by struggling at the stripe, making just 11 of 21 (52.4%).
Bowling Green (9-5), 0-1 MAC) jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Jake Wright put Miami on the board with a trey at 16:06.
Wiggins and Koch combined for eight of the hosts first 12 points and BG led 12-6 before Rod Mills and Bam Bowman hit back to back treys for the game’s first tie.
Mills, a senior, came off the bench to provide 12 points. Nike Sibande (10) and Darrian Ringo (11) were also in double figures for MU.
Bowling Green led 17-12 before Miami went in front. The last Falcons lead was 26-25 on an Antwon Lillard triple at 3:56.
MU held a 39-34 halftime advantage and quickly pushed its lead to 13 points with a 6-0 run coming out of the break. Brown provided the first five on a trey and dunk that followed Ringo’s steal – one of four before fouling out late.
In addition to the points, Bowling Green absorbed another blow when sophomore guard Dylan Frye sustained an injury that took him out of the game. Averaging 14.8 ppg, he went scoreless on the evening.
The Falcons, however, fought back and chipped away. Cummings’ three, followed by Plowden’s steal and slam put the hosts within two points at 59-57 with 7:23 left.
Miami led 61-58 when Ringo, a junior, took over. Starting with two free throws, he added a drive and steal that Brown finished with a dunk.
The nine-point lead dwindled to six at 69-63 on a pair of Turner free throws. Ringo, fouled out on the play, leaving the RedHawks up six with 2:04 remaining.
Miami would not make another field goal, but it managed to keep the Falcons at bay with an 8 of 10 performance at the charity stripe down the stretch. It entered MAC play connected on 66.5 percent from the stripe (next to last among MAC teams).
Bowling Green could get no closer than five points.
In addition to Wiggins 18 points, the Falcons got 15 markers from Lillard, 11 from Plowden and 10 from Justin Turner.
The Falcons face Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti Saturday (Noon). Miami hosts Western Michigan (3:30 p.m. ET).