BG MBB Gets Needed Win

So, there it was.  BG needed to get a win and they did.  Even on the road, this one was winnable and the Falcons got it done in a way they probably won't replicate, but they needed a win.

The first half was defined by Daeqwon Plowden getting his second foul about 3 minutes in and being put into Michael-Huger-Two-Foul-Jail.  Even so, BG led most of the first half until a late 3FG by the Huskies left the game tied at the half.

Three minutes in the game was still tied. BG went on an 11-2 run, with three of the baskets by Plowden, and BG had a 9 point lead with 13:27 left.  The lead was down to 6 a couple minutes later when BG hit 3FGs on 3 straight possessions--Matiss x 2 and Fulcher with 1--and the lead was up to 15 with 9 minutes left. It was over 8 for almost the entire remainder of the game and the Falcons won by 9.

How it happened is this.  BG scored 1.24 points per possession, which is really good--second best this year.  BG shot 67% from 2FG and 52% from 3FG, with a 72% EFG, which is really high.  It's better than they shot against Carlow. It's the best they have shot since 2019, also in DeKalb.  Before that, you gave to go back to 2012 to get a game where BG shot this well.  BG had a lot of turnovers under some pressure.  No one was on the offensive boards and BG was 19 of 25 on the line, much of it in the last minute.

BG did not play great defense, allowing 1.12 points per possession. NIU shot the ball well, at 60%. That's 56% on 2FG and 46% on 3FG.  They actually won the turnover battle but only made 62% of their FTs.

BG put 6 guys in double figures. Samari Curtis was very effective, with 21 points.  He made all 4 of his 2FGs and 3-4 from 3FG, 4 of 5 at the line, 5 assists and 4 turnovers. Plowden had 17 on 6 of 9 on 2FG and 1 of 3 from 3FG, adding 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in 21 minutes.  Diggs had 16 on 4 of 7 on 3FGs with 5 rebounds.  Fulcher had a great game, 25 minutes, 13 points, 5 of 7 on 2FG and 1-1 on 3FG, which came on the big 9-0 run that set the game on a decisive course. He added 7 rebounds. Matiss had 12, 4-5 on 2FG and both his 3FGs, both of which were in the 9-0 run.  Myron Gordon had a 10 point game, 8 of 11 at the line, with 6 assists over 2 turnovers.

Reece, Young and Matheny did not play.

Keshawn Williams (Tulsa), off the bench, had an incredible game.  He scored 32 points, 7 of 10 from 2FG and 5 of  from 3FG.  Made all 3 of his FTs and 4 steals.

BG moves to 2-4.  Key home game coming up tomorrow against Akron.  It's a key home game as BG looks to climb back into the middle of the MACpack.