On Saturday, BGSU men’s basketball (4-5) defeated the Morgan State Bears (5-7) 102-81 in their first game back at the Stroh Center since Nov. 19.
“It feels great, and our team is thankful for each and every opportunity to play in front of the fans,” senior guard Derrick Butler said. “We want to build a great fanbase and corroborate with the students and make it a hard place to play.”
The win marks the first time BGSU has won back-to-back games this season.
It was also BGSU’s first 100-point performance against a Division I opponent since they scored 100 against Robert Morris on Dec. 19, 2021.
First Half
With the score tied 9-9 early, the Orange and Brown went on a 16-to-2-point run. Butler, junior guard Javontae Campbell, sophomore guard Braelon Green, senior forward Marcus Johnson, sophomore forward Preston Squire and redshirt freshman Jamai Felt all contributed during the run.
Butler was the leader of the Falcon’s offense in the first half, getting whatever he wanted in the paint and behind the arc. Bulter finished the first half leading all scorers with 22 points, shooting 8-14 from the field, 3-5 on three-pointers and 3-3 on free throws.
The Orange and Brown led heading into halftime up 55-37
Second Half
Morgan State opened the second half with the first basket as Will Thomas was able to get a midrange jumper to fall. Thomas would be the Bear’s leading scorer with 19 points.
Falcons guard Trey Thomas scored all his points in the second half, putting up 16 on 6-10 shooting from the field.
Thomas hit one last three with 13 seconds left to make the final score 102-81 as the Bowling Green Falcons took down the Morgan State Bears.
Morgan State would keep the second half scoring close as they were able to put up 44 points as a team to keep pace with the Falcons 47.
Although the Falcons were able to win, they were outrebounded by Morgan State, with the Bears corraling 16 offensive rebounds compared to the Falcons nine.
Bowling Green shared the wealth, as six players ended the game in double figures, the most by the Falcons since Dec. 11, 2022.
Butler finished with 35 points, the most by a Falcon this season and a new career high. At one point, he scored 12 straight points for Bowling Green.
“That’s who he is,” head coach Todd Simon said postgame. “Our team has gotten mature enough to understand that when Derrick [Butler] gets going, we are going to find him looks.”
Next, the Falcons will face the Kansas City Roos on the road on Dec. 14.
