AKRON — Bowling Green State University’s men’s basketball team gave Mid-American Conference preseason favorite Akron a battle before the Zips took control in the final 14 minutes to post an 83-67 win on Friday at James A. Rhodes Arena.
BGSU (10-4, 1-1 MAC) had its eight-game winning streak snapped, while Akron (10-4, 2-0) remained unbeaten in league play.
The Falcons led for the first 28 minutes, including 33-19 late in the first half, before Enrique Freeman’s transition dunk off a BGSU turnover gave Akron a 52-51 advantage with 11:30 left. The Zips finished the final 14 minutes on a 40-16 run and held the Falcons to just three field goals during that span.
Marcus Hill led four BGSU players in double-figure scoring with 19 points as he played the entire game. Jason Spurgin had 14 points and four assists in 37 minutes, while Trey Thomas had 12 points, three assists, and three steals in 38 minutes.
Rashaun Agee, who dealt with foul trouble for nearly the entire game, had 12 points and six rebounds in 15 minutes. Only seven players took the court for BGSU, while Akron played nine.
Freeman had game highs of 24 points (12-of-13 free throws) and 11 rebounds for Akron. Greg Tribble (16 points) and Shammah Scott (10 points) also reached double figures.
STATS TO KNOW
BGSU shot a blistering 63 percent (17-of-27) from the floor in the first half, but just 25 percent (7-of-28) in the second half. Eight of the Falcons’ 12 turnovers came in the second half, mostly during the final 12 minutes.
Akron had a 20-3 advantage in points off turnovers, and a 25-5 edge in bench points.
QUOTABLE
“You’re happy with the first 28 minutes and you’re kind of holding your own, but you start to see with Rashaun getting in foul trouble, picking up his fourth pretty early in the second half, it really thins you out, especially with Jamai [Felt] and Sam [Towns] out. Our front court gets really thin, so you’re asking Da’Shawn [Phillip] and P.J. [Edwards] to play a four-spot against a very big and physical team. You start to see some of the cracks in some of those areas that we certainly miss some guys, but, taking care of the ball, that was a big difference in that last 12 minutes.” — BGSU coach Todd Simon.
UP NEXT
BGSU will look to bounce back against Ohio at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Stroh Center.
First Published January 6, 2024, 5:07 a.m.
