KENT — Chris Jans has been waiting for Spencer Parker to make an offensive splash for Bowling Green State
University’s men’s basketball team.
Look no further than Wednesday night.
A game that seemed all but over, a game that was in complete control, a game that the Falcons appeared
out-matched and out-toughed — it was a game that Parker turned out to be the hero.
The 6-foot-7 junior scored all 16 of his points in the second half, lifting Bowling Green to a 66-64 win
over Kent State at the MAC Center Wednesday night. It was the Mid-American Conference opener for both
teams.
Admittedly, Parker didn’t need any sort of technique to thrive. His 3-pointer from the top of the key all
but sealed an all-important road win for the Falcons (9-3 overall). He finished 6-for-11 from the field
after an 0-for-3 effort in the first 20 minutes. Parker’s second 3 of the second half gave Bowling Green
a 64-60 lead with 46 seconds to play.
“They weren’t necessarily plays called for me, but I just saw opportunities for me to attack,” said
Parker, who scored 12 of Bowling Green’s final 14 points in the final 5:33. “I felt that throughout the
game I wasn’t being as aggressive as I could be. I saw those opportunities and I ran with them.
“Especially on that last shot I took, I felt the ball going through the net and honestly I didn’t even
work on any technique that I use,” he said. “I just shot it and it went through. I guess I was in a
pretty good zone.”
Parker’s 16 points were second to Richaun Holmes’ 20 points.
Jimmy Hall led Kent State (9-5 overall) with 25 points, while Devareaux Manley added 13.
Bowling Green, which trailed by as many as 15 points late in the first half, cut the deficit to 57-49
before Holmes knocked down a triple with 6:13 to play. The 3-ball ignited a 12-3 run for the Falcons.
Parker was responsible for all 12 points.
“We don’t win that game without him,” Jans said of Parker. “… He’s been practicing very well. He’s been
shooting the ball well. I’ve been waiting for him to have a game like that.
“He couldn’t get going in the first half,” Jans added. “… But he was special in that second half and he
certainly was the MVP of the game.”
A 6-0 run to end the first half allowed Bowling Green to cut its halftime deficit to 35-26. It carried
the momentum to eventually take a 41-40 lead with 12:21 to play on a layup from Holmes. After Hall’s
jumper, Zack Denny hit his lone 3-pointer as the Falcons regained a 44-42 lead with 11:50 to play.
But Kent State responded in what was seemingly its game to lose.
The Golden Flashes stretched their lead to eight points on two different occasions before Parker and
Bowling Green mounted its final comeback in the last 5:33.
“I thought that was a positive sign that they kept their resolve and they kept coming,” Jans said of his
team. “They were just able to figure out a way to get the win.”
“Coach Jans just brings that winning culture,” Parker said. “That’s something that he talks about a lot,
is being a winner.
“Coach Jans has really helped us in developing our late-game approach,” Parker added.
Bowling Green led 18-14 with 7:46 remaining in the first half. But Kent State stormed back with a
vengeance and the Falcons went cold from the floor.
The Golden Flashes used an 18-0 run over the next 4:59 to take a commanding 32-18 lead with 2:47 left in
the first half. Kent State scored on seven of its nine possessions in the run, which was ended when
Holmes hit a layup with 2:05 left in the first half. Bowling Green went scoreless on 10 straight
possessions during the Kent State spurt.
“It kind of deflated us a little bit,” Jans said of the run. “We made some uncharacteristic plays late in
the first half.”
“We just wanted it a little bit more than they did,” Parker said. “They came out and punched us in the
mouth early. We took a couple shots, we took some body shots. We recovered very well.”
NOTES: It was Bowling Green’s first win in the MAC Center since 2010 … The
Falcons were out-rebounded 36-29 … Bowling Green was 8-for-15 from 3 … Kent State was 6-for-21 from
beyond the arc … Bowling Green improved to 4-2 on the road this season … It was the Falcons’ first
MAC-opening win since 2011-12 … Bowling Green hosts Ohio Saturday at 4 p.m.