KALAMAZOO — The Bowling Green State University men’s basketball team clinched a spot in the Mid-American Conference tournament with a 73-65 victory Tuesday at Western Michigan.

Bowling Green outscored Western Michigan by six points in the second half to claim the penultimate Mid-American Conference regular-season game for both teams.

The Falcons enjoyed a 42-36 scoring advantage in the second half after leading by two at halftime.

"I thought our physicality ramped up,” Bowling Green coach Todd Simon said. “We were able to get 46 points in the paint, which has to be part of our identity. We made 75 percent of our free throws and took care of the ball, so that's going to give you a chance every time."

Bowling Green (18-12, 9-8 MAC) currently sits tied for fifth with Miami (Ohio). Western Michigan (11-19, 8-9) is tied for seventh with Kent State, a game ahead of ninth-place Ball State with one game remaining. BGSU, which will fare no worse than the No. 7 seed, hosts Ball State at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Rashaun Agee led four Bowling Green players in double figures with 17 points. Jason Spurgin scored 16 points, Marcus Hill 13 points, and Trey Thomas 10 points.

Agee also had a career-high 15 rebounds, with 11 coming on the defensive end.

Seth Hubbard paced Western Michigan with 12 points. B. Artis White had 11 points, and Anthony Crump put in 10.

Western Michigan pulled to within a point, 62-61, with 2:36 to go on a JaVaughn Hannah basket. Spurgin responded with a 3-pointer at the 2:10 mark, and Agee converted on a three-point play with 1:11 to go to put the Falcons up by seven.

Hannah made a layup with 56 seconds to go to cut BG’s lead to five, but that was as close as the Broncos came the rest of the way.

First Published March 6, 2024, 2:37 a.m.