BG lost for the first time in 11 games Saturday in Oxford. This is why winning titles is hard, because league games are tough and that is especially true on the road. Buffalo lost @NIU and BG had one of those days in Oxford. To win, you have to string a bunch of win together multiple times, and sometimes it isn't going to happen. I believe in this team and await our next tests eagerly.
BG scored the first basket of the game, but did not lead again for the remainder of the contest. In fact, they trailed 24-11 before getting the lead back to 5 at halftime. BG came out hard in the 2nd half, as they usually do and had the lead to 2 with the ball early on, but failed to take the lead. The game was close for a few possessions, but by the time there was 12 left Miami had the lead at 10 again. This time, BG did not have an answer and Miami never led by less than 9 for the last 12 minutes of the game, eventually winning 67-53.
BG played defense well enough to win, but was simply not able to score enough baskets to take advantage. The game was played at Miami's pace...66 possessions...but BG scored only .8 points per possession, their worst offensive game of the season, which previously was VCU. BG shot well from 3FG at 10-22, but was a terrible 30% from the 2FG area. That's the worst since 2016. BG also had an unusual turnover rate (highest in MAC play) and had its second-worst offensive rebounding game of the season. As a cherry on the sundae, BG got to the line only 11 times and missed 6 of those.
Meanwhile, Miami didn't shoot great either, (48% on 2 FG and 28% on 3FG), but took better care of the ball, was better on the offensive boards and got to the line 24 times, making 17. It only added up to 1.02 points per possession, which is not great, but it was good enough to win because BG had such issues scoring.
Individually, the results are what you would expect. Justin Turner led BG with 12, but on 5 of 13 and 1 of 4 shooting. He added six rebounds and 2 steals, with 3 turnovers.
The only other double-figure scorer was Antwon Lillard with 10 on 4 of 6 and 2 of 4 shooting. Demajeo Wiggins had 10 rebounds but shot 2 of 7 from the field. Frye and Laster, in particular, struggled with their shots.
So the 10-game streak ends and the season's biggest game to date will take place at the Stroh on Friday when Buffalo comes to town. This is why winning titles is so difficult. You lose a road game against Miami and your toughest game of the season is next and you're looking at a possible two-game losing streak and things get tough. Coach has to rally our guys, remind them how they got where they are, and prepare them to play their best game of the season in front of what I hope is a rocking Stroh Center.
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