The BG men’s basketball team needed all 40 minutes Sunday afternoon to hold off the Detroit Titans by a score of 64-62.
The Falcons got contributions from the entire team on both sides of the court against the Titans. Guard Anthony Henderson had a team-high 15 points while point guard Jaevon Clarke added in 14 points. Richaun Holmes who has been on a tear lately added 13 points and five rebounds.
Titans forward Juwan Howard, Jr., scored 17 points and six rebounds, while guard Anton Wilson was hot from downtown, totaling 16 points on five three-pointers in the loss.
The Falcons recent turnover woes seemed to plague them early on as they turned the ball over three times in their first five possessions and saw themselves down 5-0 with 17:40 to go in the opening half of play.
After back-to-back free throws from Henderson put BGSU on the scoreboard, the Titans answered with another 5-0 run, capped off by a three-pointer from guard Matthew Grant. They would then take a 10-2 lead and force an early Falcons’ timeout.
The final five minutes of the first half would see both teams got to the free throw line multiple times, as the Titans held on to a slight 36-35 lead at the break.
The second half would turn into a game of runs, as the Falcons followed an early Detroit layup with a 12-2 run over the first seven minutes of the second half to take a 47-40 lead.
The Titans turn to take an offensive surge came very soon, as the they countered with a 14-3 run of its own over the next four minutes of play to retake the lead at 54-50.
Bowling Green ended the Titans run with back-to-back fast break layups from Tisdale and Clarke to tie the contest up at 54-54.
Howard, Jr., hit two straight free throws to push the Titans lead back to 56-54 with just over six minutes remaining in the contest.
The Falcons defense picked up its intensity after those free throws, as BGSU held Detroit to just one made basket and two free throws over the next five minutes of play.
On the offensive end the Falcons picked up a fast break dunk from Holmes, a three-pointer from Clarke and an offensive rebound and put back basket from Henderson to give the, a 63-60 lead with 1:36 left.
After a tough driving layup by Howard, Jr. put the Titans down just one at 63-62 with 1:22 on the game clock, the Falcons were unsuccessful in adding to its lead on the ensuing possession.
Out of a timeout, the Titans were called for a traveling violation which gave the ball back to the Falcons with just 23 seconds left to play.
BGSU’s Holmes was fouled on the inbounds pass and made one out two from the free throw line to push the lead to 64-62.
Grant hoisted a contested three-pointer from just right of the top of the key with 11 seconds on the game clock, which missed off the right side of the rim where Howard, Jr., got the rebound.
Howard, Jr’s., shot was well contested and off the mark as Holmes grabbed the rebound to seal the 64-62 home win for the Falcons.
This win pushes the Falcons over .500 for the first time since their season opening win over Earlham College. They will be back in action Dec. 29 when they host the Wright State Raiders.
