The Bowling Green men’s basketball team (16-10, 7-6 MAC) dropped two more games this past week, falling to fifth place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) standings.
On Saturday, the Falcons started the week with a 69-60 loss against Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
BG shot just 34.4% (22-64) from the field, 23.1% (6-26) on three-pointers and 52.6% (10-19) on free throws.
Junior guard Marcus Hill finished with 19 points on 6-20 shooting, ending his streak of at least 20 points scored at nine games, the longest in the nation this season.
Senior forward Rashaun Agee finished with a team-high 13 rebounds. However, the Chicago, Illinois, native finished with just eight points, marking the first time he failed to score double-digit points since Dec. 2 against Southern Indiana.
Meanwhile, the Falcons were unable to contain EMU’s Tyson Acuff, who finished with 34 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double this season.
Then, on Tuesday, the Falcons traveled to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, seeking revenge for their double-overtime loss against Central Michigan at the Stroh Center on Feb. 3.
While Bowling Green once again pushed the game into overtime, they ultimately fell to the Chippewas, 62-60.
BG’s defense put on one of their better performances in the past few weeks.
CMU shot just 37.9% (25-66) from the field and 28.6% (6-21) on three-pointers.
However, the Falcons put on an offensive performance that can only be described as abysmal.
In the first half, BGSU scored just 15 points on 4-28 shooting. Yes, you read that correctly.
Overall, the Falcons shot just 27.7% (18-65) from the field, their worst overall shooting performance since they shot 27.5% (14-51) from the field against Wright State on Dec. 20, 2015.
The Orange and Brown also shot just 5.9% (1-17) on three-pointers, their worst three-point shooting performance since they shot 0-9 from deep against Kent State on March 5, 2013.
Agee registered his 12th double-double of the season, finishing with a team-high 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Hill, who shot just 6-23 from the field, nearly tallied his second double-double of the season, finishing with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Hill slowed down this past week, averaging 17 points per game on just 27.9% (12-43) shooting from the field across the two games.
The same team that led the MAC after non-conference play has now lost three straight games and six of their last eight contests, and the numbers explain why.
Over the past eight games, BG has shot just 41.4% (205-495) from the field and 25.3% (44-174) on three-pointers.
Three-point shooting has been a struggle for the Falcons all season.
Through 26 games, BG has shot just 29.8% from deep, the second-worst mark in the MAC.
Another recent problem for the Falcons has been their defense. However, this problem has not been an issue all season long, unlike three-point shooting.
Bowling Green’s defense was among the best in the MAC during non-conference play.
But during conference play, it has been a completely different story.
Against MAC opponents, BG has allowed 77.4 points per game and a 47.2% field goal percentage, the third-worst marks in the conference.
The Falcons have especially struggled guarding beyond the arc.
The Orange and Brown have allowed MAC opponents to shoot 37.7% on three-pointers, decimal points ahead of Northern Illinois for the worst mark in the conference.
While it is still very likely the team will make the MAC Tournament, a lot needs to change if the Falcons intend on being contenders in Cleveland.
This team is by no means out of contention to make a run in the tournament; however, their recent shooting struggles will spell an early end to their postseason if they continue.
The good news for the Falcons is they have five more games to iron out their struggles to prepare for a run in Cleveland, starting with the second matchup against their archrivals, the Toledo Rockets, on Friday.
Tip-off for round two of the Battle of I-75 at the Stroh Center is set for 7 p.m.
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