The BG men’s basketball team lost in overtime to the Xavier Musketeers 85-73 Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Junior forward Richuan Holmes recorded a career-high 26 points as the Falcon men’s basketball team pushed the Musketeers to the limit. The game saw 10 lead changes and was tied on nine different occasions.
“I was pleased with our guys efforts to fight,” head coach Louis Orr. “We knew they were undefeated at home but I believe in our guys and they believe in themselves.”
The Falcons had a good shot to win the game as they had the final possession with about five seconds left in the game. Jaevon Clarke attempted a game winning three point field goal but he missed wide left to the rim.
In overtime the game was all Xavier as the Musketeers were 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from the floor and 7-of-8 (87.5 percent) from the charity stripe.
Bowling Green was only 1-of-6 (16.7 percent) and 2-of-4 (50 percent) from the free throw line during that span.
Holmes also hauled in nine rebounds and registered five blocked shots in 39 minutes of play.
“I thought Richaun had his best game here,” Orr said. “He is a big talent and starting to step into his shoes.”
Guards Anthony Henderson and Jaevon Clarke chipped in with 13 points apiece, while Clarke also dished out a team-best five assists and picked up four steals.
The two teams traded the lead five times in the first five minutes of the game until a jump hook from the right baseline by Sealey put the visitors in front by one at 7-6 heading into the first media timeout.
The next four minutes saw two ties and yet another lead change, as a three-pointer from the right wing from Bowling Green’s Demarkeo Lyshe knotted the score up once more at 17-17 with 8:59 before the halftime break.
The Falcons’ defense shut down the Musketeers and answered with a 12-0 run, highlighted by four points apiece from both Henderson and Holmes, to close the half out and take a 33-29 lead into the halftime break.
BG refused to quit as after a couple Falcon baskets cut the Xavier lead back to one at 62-61 with just over four minutes to go in the contest.
With a one point lead, Henderson would get fouled with just 15 seconds to go and make 1-of-2 free throws to put the visitors in front by two at 68-67.
However, on the next possession Xavier’s Semaj Christon drove the ball down the lane towards the basket and was rewarded with a foul call on BG, sending the guard to the free throw line with just six seconds to play. Christon sank both free throws to give them another one point lead.
The Falcons, who had four players record over 30 minutes of game action on the day, took a 69-68 lead on a foul shot from Black early. Xavier came back to make a free throw to tie the game. Xavier then finished the game on a 16-4 run.
“I give Xavier credit they finished strong at the end,” Orr said. “It’s a tough loss but I’m proud of our guys effort.”
The Falcons will return home to play The University of North Dakota Wednesday Dec. 11 at 7 p.m.
