MBB Beats Hated Rockets

Sweet victory.

Oh man.  Sweet victory.

That one is one for the record books.  So proud of our boys.  As Coach said after the game, we had every reason to mail it in.  You're already undermanned and Trey Thomas goes down.  Easiest thing in the world is to say "it's not our fault" and take a beating.  (I might point you to March 2022 in the season finale at Savage, for example).

And yet they didn't.  BG essentially played 6 guys for the game.  And yet, we led for 31 minutes.  Here's the amazing thing....never by more than 6.  There were 14 lead changes in the game.  It was a highly compelling college basketball game.

And add in the rivalry.  It doesn't get much better.

And we looked like we were heading down the same path as we have been late in games. Starting at about 11 minutes to go, BG went 4 minutes without scoring.  But, they also played strong D and only lost 1 point over the period--you're still nervous, you feel like we missed chances in there to stretch the lead. 

BG steadied and UT kept coming.  The game was tied with 2:23 left.

UT got a stop and had the ball.  Sonny Wilson was driving, guarded by DaJion Humphrey, who had missed time with a hernia earlier in the year.  Humphrey stayed with him and Wilson eventually pushed off for space and Humphrey drew the foul.

Humphrey came down and turned it over, but on the next possession Simmons was driving to the basket and Humphrey took a charge, this one with his feet just outside the restricted area.

BG missed another shot and then UT drew a foul.  With :20 left, Lewis split the pair and UT led by 1. BG called time and set a play up.  They got Campbell on the baseline, but he missed.  Exacte had a second chance.  He missed.  There was a battle for the ball and Exacte had it again. Most guys would have pumped up what would have been a 12-footer. 

But Exacte saw Campbell alone on the baseline and made a pass that shows high IQ.  Campbell then went under 2 UT defenders and finished the play like a boss. Watch it here. It's worth it.

The lesser Tod failed to work him OB magic and BG hung on to win the game.  From Humphrey to Exacte to Campbell, we made the plays we needed coming home.

And, as Derrick Butler noted post-game, they savored the sweet silence of Savage Hall.

And the team's joy.  Man, these guys have persevered this year.  Injuries, flu, etc.  You'd like to think all that will be rewarded, but it's not a given.  So they enjoyed it when it was.  It would have been sweet anywhere...but on UT's floor, it won't get any sweeter.

I have nothing but admiration.  I'd recommend listening to Coach Simon's presser, too.  This is a guy I would follow anywhere.

One thing is that he makes adjustments to try and win.  I feel like under previous regimes we sort of said "we just have to do what we do."  We switched defenses he said we implemented some "unique" things and we had Campbell off the bench to try and make sure we always had a scorer on the floor. In all walks of life, that kind of thinking is the difference.  I have done it myself. How can you change the dynamic?

Anyhow, it worked.  BG scored 1.03 points per possession, which is not a great game.  UT scored 1.01, which is, you know, less.  Fewer.  It is their lowest in a MAC game.  

The difference was shooting.  BG made 54% and 33% and UT made 42% and 31%.  UT had fewer turnovers, rebounding was very close and UT had a clear advantage at the line.

Campbell had 23 points on 9 of 13 and 1 of 5 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 turnovers.  Butler was 5 of 7 and 3 of 9 and 5 rebounds. Johnson struggled at 1 of 4 and 2 of 4, 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

How about Exacte?  How does 12 rebounds and 4 assists work, especially the one that won the game?  I hope we can hang onto him.

Anyway, three cheers to our guys.  I said earlier in the year...I think this staff is going to get it done.  It's been a rough year, but we have the right guys.  

Meanwhile, savor it.