OMG BG>OU

 And there you have it....that's a WOW.  From out of nowhere, BG put together their best game of the year, the kind of game I think everyone felt they were capable of but never put together.  BG after losing 8 of 9, including to WMU, CMU and Miami, beat Ohio, who came in at 23-6 and still in the running for the conference title.

As I said on twitter, for all the heartbreaking moments, sometimes out of nowhere comes an exhilarating moment like that.  So happy for Daeqwon, Trey and Mattiss, who will leave the Stroh Center floor for the last time as winners.  It was a great night.

It's worth noting that this was BG's best win of the season...and it isn't close.

BG has won 11 D1 games.  Here is where the opponents are ranked on kempon.  Remember, there are 358 teams in D1.

• OU (115)
• Oakland (183)
• Miami (264)
• Duquesne (284)
• NIU two times (301)
• EMU (310)
• WMU (327)
• Robert Morris (328)
• Milwaukee (336)
• Chicago State (338)

All of BG's wins (until the OU game) were against teams in the bottom half of D1 and most of them in the bottom 16%.  It is difficult to capture how distinct this win was for BG.

The key here is the very first stat.  The most important skill in basketball is shooting the ball in the basket or stopping the other team from doing so.  In the 8 losses in 9 games streak, BG only outshot their opponent once and it was the game BG won against NIU.

BG made 63% of their 2FGs and 35% of their 3FGs--and took 46% of their shots from 3FG--the most in a MAC game this year.  Meanwhile, OU took an astounding 55% of their shots from 3FG and made 32%, but the key was the face they made only 38% of their 2FGs.  BG had a bad game for turnovers and a terrible game on the defensive boards, but got to the line (which includes the FTs that closed the game out) and made 76%.

You can't talk about the game without talking about Jason Carter.  Here's the scene.  With about 7 minutes left BG was up 13.  OU then went on a 12-0 to cut the lead to 1 and you could kind of feel them taking over.  Carter was called for a foul and had words with the BG huddle on his way to his bench.  Plowden made both FTs.  Then, with 3:41 left and BG leading by 3 on a big run, Carter was called for traveling.  

I don't want to impugn the young man, because I have known plenty of athletes who are very different on and off the court.  He had, however, complained insufferably on every call against him the entire game.  It was Bill-Laimbeer-whingeing, but with Jason-Carter-talent.  This time, he went too far and got T'd up.  Plowden made both FTs to make it a 5-point lead.  Carter got T'd up a second time, and left the floor egging the Falcon fans on as they cheered him off the court. Plowden made one more and then Matiss hit a 2FG and BG had a five-point play off the T and led by 8.

It was still 9 with :39 left.  OU rallied hard and had the ball with :11 left and a 3-point deficit, but missed their shot, BG cleared the board and that was that.

Plowden, Diggs and Matiss excelled in their last home games.

Plowden had 18 on 3 of 6 and 2 of 3 shooting, 6-8 at the line, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 blocked shots.

Matiss had 18 (career high) on 7 of 8 and 0 of 2 shooting, 4-4 at the line, 7 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

Diggs had 13 points on 2-2 and 2-6 shooting, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

Samari Curtis also had a strong game, with 16 points on 2 of 2 and 2 of 6 shooting, making all 6 FTs, five assists and 4 turnovers.

So that's that.  If BG beats UT and CMU loses Friday, BG will advance to Cleveland, probably to turn around the play Toledo again.  That's going to be a tall order.  UT is playing for the regular season title--if they tie Kent, then the Flashes would be #1 because they beat UT twice.  The place will be rocking and they are really good.

But who knows?  On paper we didn't have a shot in this one.

Last thing.  Here's an interview Jordan Strack did with Coach Huger.  I find it hard not to root for the guy.