Frustrating Loss to the Zips (MBB)

So, in basketball there are hundreds of individual plays.  This game had 73 possessions, which means a total of 146 times down the floor.  Each of them contributes to the outcome.  But in the Akron game Saturday, one action, one moment was decisive.

Akron had the ball with a tie game and less than a minute to play.  They had to shoot by about :19, so BG can expect to get the ball back.  Even if they score, you can get the ball back.  What BG really needs is a stop, though.  That way, you get the last shot and worse case is you get overtime against a team that had fouled 3 players out. 

BG got 90% of the way there.  Ivey missed a 3 with :22 left.  If BG clears the board, you have exactly what you need.  Except, Akron gets the board and resets and now they are holding for the last shot.  Which they hit, despite forcing the Akron player to go up in a crowd.  That happened with about 3 seconds left.  Akron fouled BG to prevent a 3 getting off and won 80-78.  (It was pretty funny listening to Reghi and his broadcast partner talk about what Akron's defensive strategy might be without once broaching the idea that Akron would foul, which is the obvious call.  That was right after several mentions of true freshman Justin Turner.  Anyway).

Coach was clearly frustrated in the post-game.  Between the lost offensive rebound and missed FTs, BG could and probably should have won this game, despite not having the lead for the last 37 minutes of the game.  BG is on a streak of four out of 5 on the road and picking this one off would have been a great way to start that run.

BG trailed by 14 with 7 minutes left, a point where you'd have to think that winning didn't look very likely at all.  Prior to that, BG just hadn't been able to string any stops together and make a run.  This time they did.  BG scored 12 straight points and had the lead to 2 with 4 minutes left.  With 2 minutes left it was tied.  And with :49 left it was tied, leading into the finish described above.

Akron ended up at 1.09 points per possession and BG ended up at 1.06 points per possession.  It was a 73 possession game, which is a pace BG typically plays at. 

A couple key elements here.  First, BG is shooting awfully.  Their EFG has been under 48% in every MAC game.  BG made 38% of its 2FGs for the second straight game, which is just awful.  What salvaged it was that BG made 44% of its 3FGs, did a great job protecting the ball, an average job on the offensive boards and a ridiculous job getting to the line.

BG's offensive plan is pretty clear.  Attack the rim and get fouled.  It worked.    Akron committed 31 fouls in a game they led almost the whole way.  BG shot 43 FTs.  43!  Are you kidding me?  Unfortunately, BG only made 29 FTs.  That's about 67% and BG usually shoots 72%.  At their normal rate, that would be 31 FTs and probably a win.  Even as it was, BG was +13 on FTs.

Justin Turner had 30 points for BG.  He shot 8 of 15 overall, made all 4 of his 3s and 10 out of his 12 FTs.  Also 5 rebounds and 3 steals.  Wiggins had a good game as well, scoring 18 and grabbing 12 rebounds.  Shooting wasn't great at 4 out of 9, but he made 10 out of 14 FTs.  Dylan Frye had 14 on 5 of 14 and 3 of 7 shooting.  Not to get too far into it, but other guys are really having a hard time right now.

Anyway, with all that, BG should have won this game.  Akron is not what they normally are, but it would have been a good one to get.  BG now goes to Oxford to take on Miami, a team they lost to at home but also could have beaten.  Miami seems to be a little better than expected so the rematch shiould be interesting.