Falcons Ease Past Morgan State

BG got what they were supposed to get, with an easy win over Morgan State, the #347 ranked team in the country.  The Bears went up 9-4, but Derrick Butler scored 5 points in the next :31 seconds and it was tied.  Three minutes later the lead was 11, and it was never in single-digits again.  Two minutes into the second half, BG pushed the lead to 22, and the lead was over 20 until the last seconds of the game. BG led by as much as 28.

The Falcons got there through hot-shooting.  

It was BG's first 100-point game since Robert Morris in 2021 (D1 games).

BG had 1.34 points per possession, most against D1 opposition since the Jans-led Falcons beat Ball State in the first round of the MAC tourney...that game was played at 62 possessions, this one at an obliging 76. 

BG made 70% of their 2FGs, the most since 2013, also against Ball State.  BG also had low turnovers, had an average game on the offensive boards and made 13 of 16 at the line...good percentage, not a ton of chances.

On defense, BG allowed 1.07 points per possession, which is nothing special.  Coach said after the game that BG was workshopping a match-up zone and wanted to get a lot of possessions on tape so they could build it out later.

Derrick Butler had a night,  He scored 35 points, on 7 of 12 2FG shooting and 6 of 9 3 FG shooting, added 6 rebounds.  He was #3 on kenpom's lines o' the night. 

BG ended up with 6 guys in double figures. Most notably, Javonte Campbell had 13 points on 6 of 7 from 2FG, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.

Speaking of which, Javonte Campbell is #5 in steals per game in the nation.  Johnson is #5 in FT%.  In fact, the team is #10 in FT% (all of these include all games).

The team is facing a serious issue as we work through December.  BG is 26 days away from the MAC opener.  Sam Towns, Da'Jion Humphrey, Youssef Khayat and Greg Spurgin all did not dress.  Khayat was on a scooter.  Coach was asked about the injuries, and said that a couple of them were "indefinite," which I assume means a long-term injury. He didn't go into specifics, but that's a serious problem.  Further, he indicated that a couple of the guys who played (including Campbell) were close to not playing.

Clearly, that's a challenge this team does not need.  No reason to rush anyone back until the Akron game...next up is KC on the road next Saturday night. But think healing thoughts.