BG did what they needed to do to go 8-1 in MAC play...avoiding a trap game against WMU and grinding out a 85-72 win over the winless Broncos.
It was one of those games....WMU hung around for much of it, but you never really felt BG was out of control. You feared them hitting a couple threes around a TO and slashing into the lead, but the Falcons always seemed poised for victory.
With 9 minutes left in the first half they had built a 10 point lead. It got as high as 14 with 5 minutes left and was 13 with 3 minutes left. But, WMU closed on a 10-4 run with a buzzer-3FG and had to have some momentum to only be down 7 at the half.
Then they pulled a page out of BG's book and scored the first four points of the 2nd half to cut the lead to 4. That was as close as WMU would get. BG responded with a Wiggins and-on and then BG got a stop, cleared the board and Wiggins hit another layup and the lead was 9. WMU didn't go away. Mid-way through the half they had the lead at 5, to which Lillard responded with a 3FG to get it back to 8. With 5 minutes left BG was up 12 and got the lead as high as 18 after that, but WMU hit some late shots to get it back to the 13-point final margin.
Again, nice, solid, no drama win for BG. Just what the doctor ordered.
Looking at the stats, BG scored 1.15 points per possession, which is almost what they did against Buffalo. They allowed WMU .97 points per possession. Both of those are winning numbers. (For example, BG is 10-1 at that level of defense or better).
BG was outshot by WMU, but won every other facet of the game comfortably. Turnovers were ridiculous--and I thought WMU just made a bunch of lazy turnovers and unforced errors--BG was better on the boards against a team that works hard to rebound and BG got to the line more.
BG shot 40% on 2FG but continued great 3FG shooting at 43%. BG is #38 in the country in 3FG% shooting in all games and leads the MAC in MAC games only. Interestingly, they are #10 in the MAC in the proportion of 3s taken, which means they are taking good shots, not just jacking them up. BG is last in the MAC in 2FG shooting.
WMU shot 54% on 2FGs and 38% on 3FG, which is how they end up with shooting above MAC average.
BG was a strong 21 of 27 at the line for 78%, while WMU was 15 of 19.
Individually, Antwon Lillard had a career night off the bench. He scored 27 points on 7 of 16 shooting, 5 of 8 from 3FG and 8-10 at the line. He added 11 rebounds and no turnovers.
Dylan Frye was over 20 for the second straight game. At 20, actually. He was 7 of 13 and 4 of 9 shooting and had 4 steals. As I said after the Buffalo game, I just feel like he's maturing.
Wiggins double-doubled at 15 and 10, shooting a less than ideal 5 of 11. Also 5 of 7 at the line, and five turnovers.
Justin Turner had 8. Fun fact. That's his first game out of double figures all season.
So on we go. Rockets are next and playing well. Sounds like the Stroh will be rocking again....BEAT TOLEDO.
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