Heartbreaker for BG MBB at Savage

 Ooof.  BG and UT played an All-time classic last night at Savage.  This year, it was UT's turn to rip our hearts out of our chests... a highly entertaining basketball game that BG should have won, doing a lot right but not enough to beat UT in that arena.

It was a close game the whole way.  Neither team led by more than 7 points at anytime.  With 11 minutes left, the Rockets were up 6.  Over the next four minutes, BG went on a 17-4 run to take a 7-point lead. 

BG still led by 7 with 4:32 left.  Things are starting to feel good, but you remember where we are and who we are playing.

In fact, BG was up 7 WITH THE BALL.  But they turned it over,  UT turned it over, BG had a breakaway layup, which they missed. UT hit a 3FG and then BG turned it over again (+4).  BG got a stop and Campbell was fouled where he split the pair.  BG up 5 with 2:26 to play.

So, in two minutes, BG scored 1 point, should have had at least 3, and made two other turnovers that could have put the game away.

Even so, with 2:26 left, BG was up 5.

That was as good as it would look.  The teams traded stops, as the offense missed another opportunity to extend the lead.  Craig hit a 3FG, and it was a 2-point lead with 1:27 to play.

BG ran clock, but turned the ball over with :54 to play.  BG's defense delivered again, and BG had the ball with :43 to play.  They ran the clock down, and Campbell took a wild shot and missed everything. BG got the board and called time out, but there was only :02 left on the shot clock.

That shot hits the rim, we probably win.  Or the FT...or the breakaway layup.  But it didn't.  BG inbounded to Wol, who missed.

Down comes UT, down a bucket.  They don't take time...and BG loses their leading scorer, Blyden, in the wash.  As he winds up to shoot, wide open, he is 1-7 from 3FG for the night, and his eye looks like he was in the Golden Gloves.  And he drains it.  Because...rivalry magic.

Down 1, Shackelford for a 3FG off, but missed, and the Rockets had yanked BG's heart out.  Kowalcyk said after the game that UT did everything to keep Campbell from beating them on that possession, including kind words for Campbell.

BG did not execute down the stretch and didn't close out a game they should have won.

BG's defense was excellent.  They held UT to 1.08 points per possession. BG was focused on defending the shot, and held UT to 46% from 2FG and 32% from 3FG. That's a 47% EFG.  BG's other strength on defense has been turnovers, but UT took great care of the ball, with 11.3% turnover rate, BG's 2nd worst of the season.

The problem was that BG had 16 turnovers, 9 more than UT.  That was the 3rd worst of the season.  So even though BG outshot UT, the Rockets prevailed because they took 11 more shots.  They were also +3 at the line.  Despite what it felt like, BG actually had an edge in offensive rebounds because it missed fewer shots.

Of BG's 16 turnovers, 4 came in the last 4:03

Javonte Crawford is a stud.  He carried the club again, scoring 29 on 10 of 15 and 2 of 5 shooting. He was 3 of 4 at the line, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists...and evidence they were pressing him, he had 7 turnovers. Towns had 11 on 4 of 5 and 1 of 2 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 4 turnovers. Glover had 9 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes after a dumb first-half technical foul gave him a second foul.

They have to bounce back.  Can't lose this one twice.  A slumping UB Bull team comes in on Tuesday.