
With just 14 seconds remaining in . . .
Caldwell drove the lane and threw up a difficult shot, but Wiggins was there to tip it in with 1.3 seconds to go. Kent State's touchdown attempt was knocked out of bounds with 0.6 to go, and then the Golden Flashes failed to get off a shot attempt after that.
"[On the Kent State turnover] Antwon did a great job of pressuring him. That's what we wanted to do. We have a package at the end of the game on how we want to pressure, and we executed it to perfection," said head coach Michael Huger. "That was probably the best execution job that we did on the defensive end, and it was a tough pass to make. He turned the ball over, and we had a chance.
"I told Rod to drive it, drive it. We didn't have any timeouts left. And I told Demajeo and those guys to rebound, and see if we could get it. And he got it. That was big, that was big."
The win is Bowling Green's second-straight win in overtime, as the Falcons knocked off Toledo on Saturday (Feb. 4) in double overtime. Bowling Green has now won consecutive games in overtime for only the second time in program history. BGSU opened the 1934-35 season with overtime wins over Kent State (41-36) and Ashland (39-35). BG last won two overtime games in MAC play during the 1996-97 season.
For the first time in the Michael Huger era, the Falcons have won three-straight MAC games. Prior to this stretch, Bowling Green had not won three-straight MAC games since February of the 2014-15 season.
The win, which was BG's second road win of the season, moves Bowling Green to 11-13 overall, and 5-6 in MAC play. Each MAC team, outside of Akron, has at least five conference losses. The Falcons are just one game back of a tie for second place in the league. The loss drops Kent State to 13-11 (5-6 MAC).
Bowling Green led, 70-61, with 4:13 to go in regulation, but Kent State finished the second half on a 13-5 run to send the game into overtime. Freshman Dylan Frye hit two free throws to give the Falcons a 73-68 lead with 1:55 to go, but Kent State's Jaylin Walker countered with a three-pointer just nine seconds later.
Sophomore Antwon Lillard hit a deep jumper with 1:26 on the clock, inching BG's lead back to four points, 75-71, but Desmond Ridenour rebounded a missed three-ball and scored with 1:08 to play. Kevin Zabo tied the game, 75-75, with a tough layup with 25 seconds remaining, and the Falcons failed to score on the final possession of regulation.
In overtime, Wiggins scored a layup on BG's first possession, before Kent State scored four-straight points. Frye tied the game at 79-79 with 1:20 to play with a pair of free throws, but Kent State then scored four more points consecutively, prior to Bowling Green's improbable 5-0 run in the final 7.2 seconds.
Wiggins finished the game with 16 on 7-of-10 shooting. He also added eight rebounds. Junior Matt Fox had a career night, as he tied his career high with 18 points. Fox went 5-for-7 from downtown, and also chipped in with three assists, which tied his career high, and two rebounds.
Caldwell finished with 16 points, as he went 5-for-10 from the field and 4-for-6 from deep. His four three-pointers established a career high. Caldwell notched four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Frye also scored in double figures, as he went 5-for-6 from the charity stripe to finish with 11 points. He also posted four rebounds.
Sophmore guard Jaylen Walker led Kent State with 18 points. Joining him in double figures were Kevin Zabo (17), and three players with 12 points -- Jimmy Hall (12 points, 11 rebounds), Deon Edwin and Desmond Ridenour.
Bowling Green made a season-high 11 three-pointers, and shot 43.5 percent (30-of-69) for the game. The Falcons scored 21 points off 19 Kent State turnovers. Bowling Green shot 39.3 percent (11-of-28) from downtown, and 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the free throw line.
Bowling Green will conclude the week on Saturday (Feb. 11) with a 12 p.m. tip-off versus Buffalo. Kent State will be at Toledo (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of BGSU Athletics)