MUNCIE, Ind. — No buzzer-beater this time.
After losing its previous two games on baskets in the final seconds of each game, the Bowling Green
Falcon men’s basketball team held on for a 66-64 win over Ball State Saturday.
‘‘We had a bad feeling the last two games, and we didn’t want that feeling again,’’ said BG’s Spencer
Parker. ‘‘We just had to get some stops down the stretch, and pull out a big win.’’
BG’s Anthony Henderson scored with 44 seconds remaining, off a Ball State turnover, to put the Falcons up
65-64.
On the ensuing possession, Ball State missed the front end of a 1-and-1, and BG’s Richaun Holmes grabbed
the rebound and was fouled.
With 21 seconds remaining Holmes missed the front end of a 1-and-1.
Ball State’s Zavier Turner then drove down the left side of the lane where he had his shot blocked by
Holmes, who was immediately fouled.
Holmes hit the first free throw to make it 66-64, but he missed the second.
With six seconds remaining the Cardinals dribbled the ball down to the free-throw line extended, but
their last-second effort not get off in time.
‘‘Our guys hung tough,’’ BG head coach Louis Orr said. ‘‘We needed stops, and I think we got three or
four stops and there was one missed free throw and that was big.’’
Parker scored a game-high 22 points, making 9-of-14 shots from the floor, and going 4-of-5 from the
free-throw line.
‘‘I just wanted to be aggressive,’’ Parker said. ‘‘I knew I didn’t play that well the last few games, so
I just came out and tried to make an impact on this game.’’
Also for BG, Holmes registered his sixth double-double of the season with 17 points, including a
3-pointer to tie the game at 59, and 11 rebounds; Jehvon Clarke had 11 points and seven assists; and
Cameron Black had 12 rebounds with eight points and two blocked shots.
The Falcons, 11-14 overall and 5-7 in the Mid-American Conference, host arch-rival Toledo Thursday at 9
p.m. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
NOTES: Ball State is 4-19, 1-12 … It was the 100th career win at Bowling Green for Orr and his 200th
career win as a head coach … Holmes had two blocks to increase his season total to 71, putting him
only two shy of BG’s single season record … The Falcons outscored the Cardinals 36-26 in points in the
paint, 18-8 in points off turnovers, and 19-11 in second chance points … Ball State made 10 3-pointers
in the game.
BOWLING GREEN 66, BALL ST. 64
BOWLING GREEN (11-14)
Parker 9-14 4-5 22, Holmes 7-10 2-5 17, Black 3-9 2-3 8, Henderson 3-11 0-0 6, Clarke 5-15 0-0 11,
Tisdale 1-3 0-0 2, Sealey 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 28-64 8-13 66.
BALL ST. (4-19)
House 3-7 6-8 13, Bond 6-13 0-1 13, Majok 4-11 1-2 9, Turner 2-8 0-0 5, Berry 7-11 0-0 20, Payne 0-1 0-0
0, Crowder 1-2 0-0 3, Calhoun 0-2 1-2 1, Alstork 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 23-59 8-13 64.
Halftime—Bowling Green 36-32. 3-Point Goals—Bowling Green 2-9 (Holmes 1-2, Clarke 1-5, Henderson 0-2),
Ball St. 10-21 (Berry 6-9, Crowder 1-2, House 1-2, Turner 1-3, Bond 1-4, Alstork 0-1). Fouled Out—None.
Rebounds—Bowling Green 39 (Black 12), Ball St. 38 (Majok 15). Assists—Bowling Green 12 (Clarke 7), Ball
St. 13 (Turner 5). Total Fouls—Bowling Green 14, Ball St. 13. A—3,414.