BOWLING GREEN — In its return to the Stroh Center, Bowling Green made easy work of visiting Green Bay in a 97-68 decision Saturday.
The Falcons (5-5), who were playing in their first home game since Nov. 25, never trailed and had run away with the game by halftime against the Phoenix (5-4).
What happened: Bowling Green jumped on Green Bay in the first half and never lost control. The Falcons held a double-digit lead for the final 25 minutes and led for more than 38 minutes in total.
VIDEO: Bowling Green 97, Green Bay 68
The Falcons’ two best players did much of the damage. Demajeo Wiggins had a double-double by halftime — the senior collected 10 points and 13 rebounds in the first 20 minutes — and Justin Turner scored 13 points in the first half.
Turner finished with a game-high 25 points, while Wiggins finished with 12 points and a season best19 rebounds.
Dylan Frye also added 12 points for Bowling Green. As a team, Bowling Green shot 33-for-62 (53.2 percent) to more than overcome its 18 turnovers.
BG held Green Bay to 36.5 percent shooting for the game.
“We got a lot of stops on defense, so we got in transition and we didn't really need to be slow and call half-court sets all game,” Turner said. “It makes it more fun when you can just get up and down the court and just play free.”
Wiggins’ made shot plus 3-pointers by Turner and Frye gave BG an 8-2 run that made it 30-18 with fewer than six minutes to play in the first half. With the Phoenix desperately in need of a run of their own, BG instead added to its lead.
The Falcons outscored the Phoenix 19-7 in the final five minutes of the first half and took a 49-27 lead into halftime.
There was no hint of a comeback, as Bowling Green pushed its lead to as many as 35 points in the second half.
Game MVP: Turner had stiff competition from his teammate, but he was remarkably efficient all game. He added a game-high six assists and committed just one turnover, shot 8-for-14 from the field, and made eight of his 10 free-throw attempts.
He said it: “I thought with our stops, we were able to get out in transition. Maybe not the primary break, but we were able to get secondary stuff out of that, and I thought that was the difference in the game for us. [It was] just strictly the defense. The defense led to the offense, and that was the game for us.” — Falcons coach Michael Huger.
Make a note of it: Wiggins, who came into the game leading the country in rebounding, recorded his ninth double-double in 10 tries so far this season. The senior now has 31 for his career. … Ninety-seven points is the most Bowling Green has scored in a game this season. … The Falcons lead the Mid-American Conference in rebounding margin and only added to it. BG finished plus-22 against Green Bay, outrebounding the Phoenix 51-29. ... BG is now 4-0 at home.
A look ahead: Starting with this one, Bowling Green will play four consecutive games at home, albeit with a seven-day break for exams. The Falcons will return to the floor at 4 p.m. Dec. 16 against Findlay.
First Published December 9, 2018, 1:54 a.m.
