BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Senior Wes Alcegaire hit two free throws with 2.4 seconds left in regulation to lift the Bowling Green Falcons to a dramatic 66-65 victory over MAC-leading University of Akron on Tuesday evening at the Stroh Center.
The win, which snapped Akron's 17-game winning streak over the Falcons, marked BGSU's first victory over Akron since March 1, 2009. It was also BG's first over Akron in Bowling Green since Jan. 28, 2003 -- back in the Anderson Arena era.
Akron head coach Dambrot entered the . . .
The win, which snapped Akron's 17-game winning streak over the Falcons, marked BGSU's first victory over Akron since March 1, 2009. It was also BG's first over Akron in Bowling Green since Jan. 28, 2003 -- back in the Anderson Arena era.
Akron head coach Dambrot entered the . . .
. . . game with an overall record of 25-1 versus BG, but the Falcons second win against Dambrot also gave Akron back-to-back conference losses for the first time this season. The Zips lost to rival Kent State last Friday, ending UA's 30-game home court winning streak. However, Akron still holds a two-game lead over Ohio in the East Division and is three games up on any other foe in either division with just over a week remaining in the regular season.
Bowling Green led for a total of 31:20 Tuesday, but the final 2:26 of regulation saw six lead changes. Akron's Isaiah Johnson, who finished the game with 11 points and 14 rebounds, scored an and-one layup with 2:26 to go to give the Zips a lead. He followed that with a free throw to put Akron on top, 61-59.
On Bowling Green's ensuing possession, freshman Rodrick Caldwell found Alcegaire at the right wing, and the senior nailed a triple to send the hosts back in front.
Senior Zack Denny then recorded a steal, and was immediately fouled with 1:51 to go. Denny finished with the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two assists. The double-double was Denny's 10th of his career, and second of the season. His four steals moved him into 10th place all-time on the program's steals list with 149.
Denny, however, missed the front end of the one-and-one and Johnson made another layup with 1:32 on the clock, giving Akron a 63-62 lead in the process.
Dylan Frye, who finished with a game-high 22 points, launched a three-ball that popped out, and Akron pulled down the rebound.
With possession of the ball and a one-point lead following Frye's miss, Akron was in a position to potentially ice the game. However, Denny forced a steal with 47 seconds to go, and Bowling Green called a timeout with 39 seconds left after advancing the ball past half court.
Alcegaire subsequently drove the rim, but his shot was blocked by UA's Kwan Cheatham. Sophomore Demajeo Wiggins, who finished with seven points, nine rebounds and a career-high four blocks, pulled down the offensive rebound, and kicked it over to a wide-open Denny, who nailed a jumper along the base line with 20 seconds left in regulation. The jumper gave Bowling Green a 64-63 lead.
Akron answered again, as Johnson drove left from the left elbow, and scored on a layup with seven seconds on the clock to move UA back in front, 65-64. Although BG had timeouts remaining, it elected to not allow Akron to set up its defense.
Alcegaire took the ball coast-to-coast, and drew a blocking foul with 2.4 seconds left. The 58.0 percent free throw shooter hit the first to tie the game at 65-65.
Akron then called a timeout, but Alcegaire swished the second free throw to give BGSU the lead. Akron threw the ball past half court, and called a timeout with under two seconds to play.
Noah Robotham of Akron in-bounded the ball on the sideline, but Wiggins stepped in front of the pass intended for Johnson, and recorded a game-sealing steal. Redshirt-sophomore Rasheed Worrell, who had four points and two rebounds, threw the ball towards the rafters in celebration.
Bowling Green held Akron to 35.9 percent (23-of-64) shooting for the game, including an anemic 29.4 percent (10-of-34) in the first half. BGSU also held the Zips to a 9-for-30 (30.0 percent) mark on three-point attempts. Akron went a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe.
The Falcons shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) in the first half, but hit 30.3 percent (10-of-33) in the second half to finish the game 25-of-61 (41.0 percent). Bowling Green went 6-for-19 (31.6 percent) from downtown, and 10-for-14 from the free throw line.
NEXT:
Bowling Green is at Miami (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)
Akron is at Buffalo Friday (8 p.m. ET)
(Courtesy of BGSU Athletics)
On Bowling Green's ensuing possession, freshman Rodrick Caldwell found Alcegaire at the right wing, and the senior nailed a triple to send the hosts back in front.
Senior Zack Denny then recorded a steal, and was immediately fouled with 1:51 to go. Denny finished with the game with 20 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two assists. The double-double was Denny's 10th of his career, and second of the season. His four steals moved him into 10th place all-time on the program's steals list with 149.
Denny, however, missed the front end of the one-and-one and Johnson made another layup with 1:32 on the clock, giving Akron a 63-62 lead in the process.
Dylan Frye, who finished with a game-high 22 points, launched a three-ball that popped out, and Akron pulled down the rebound.
With possession of the ball and a one-point lead following Frye's miss, Akron was in a position to potentially ice the game. However, Denny forced a steal with 47 seconds to go, and Bowling Green called a timeout with 39 seconds left after advancing the ball past half court.
Alcegaire subsequently drove the rim, but his shot was blocked by UA's Kwan Cheatham. Sophomore Demajeo Wiggins, who finished with seven points, nine rebounds and a career-high four blocks, pulled down the offensive rebound, and kicked it over to a wide-open Denny, who nailed a jumper along the base line with 20 seconds left in regulation. The jumper gave Bowling Green a 64-63 lead.
Akron answered again, as Johnson drove left from the left elbow, and scored on a layup with seven seconds on the clock to move UA back in front, 65-64. Although BG had timeouts remaining, it elected to not allow Akron to set up its defense.
Alcegaire took the ball coast-to-coast, and drew a blocking foul with 2.4 seconds left. The 58.0 percent free throw shooter hit the first to tie the game at 65-65.
Akron then called a timeout, but Alcegaire swished the second free throw to give BGSU the lead. Akron threw the ball past half court, and called a timeout with under two seconds to play.
Noah Robotham of Akron in-bounded the ball on the sideline, but Wiggins stepped in front of the pass intended for Johnson, and recorded a game-sealing steal. Redshirt-sophomore Rasheed Worrell, who had four points and two rebounds, threw the ball towards the rafters in celebration.
Bowling Green held Akron to 35.9 percent (23-of-64) shooting for the game, including an anemic 29.4 percent (10-of-34) in the first half. BGSU also held the Zips to a 9-for-30 (30.0 percent) mark on three-point attempts. Akron went a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe.
The Falcons shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) in the first half, but hit 30.3 percent (10-of-33) in the second half to finish the game 25-of-61 (41.0 percent). Bowling Green went 6-for-19 (31.6 percent) from downtown, and 10-for-14 from the free throw line.
NEXT:
Bowling Green is at Miami (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)
Akron is at Buffalo Friday (8 p.m. ET)
(Courtesy of BGSU Athletics)
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