Miami OH defeats Bowling Green 83-93
Miami OH Edges Bowling Green in Conference Thriller
In a back-and-forth contest, the visiting Miami OH RedHawks took down their MAC rivals, the Bowling Green Falcons, 93-83 at Stroh Center on New Year's Eve.
The game got off to a sluggish start for both teams, with Bowling Green leading 28-54 at halftime. However, it was clear that Miami OH had adapted to the slower pace and were poised to make a push in the second half. As the clock ticked down, the RedHawks' offense began to find its rhythm, outscoring the Falcons 39-55 in the third quarter.
The turning point came early in the fourth quarter when Brant Byers hit two clutch three-pointers, putting Miami OH up by 10 with just over five minutes remaining. The Falcons fought back, but it was too little, too late. Bowling Green never fully regained the lead and eventually fell to the visitors.
For Miami OH, Brant Byers led the charge with 17 points, including five threes on six attempts. Peter Suder chipped in with a strong all-around performance, scoring 17 points while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out five assists.
On the other side of the court, Sam Towns was unstoppable for Bowling Green, scoring 24 points on 2-4 three-point shooting and 60% field goal percentage. He also brought his A-game on defense, snatching six rebounds, stealing three balls, and blocking two shots.
In terms of team statistics, Miami OH outplayed the Falcons in many key areas. The RedHawks shot an efficient 55% from the floor, including 48% from beyond the arc, while Bowling Green struggled with accuracy at 49%. Meanwhile, Miami OH turned the ball over just 16 times to the Falcons' 13.
The win marks a significant road victory for Miami OH and keeps their conference hopes alive. For Bowling Green, it's a tough loss against a team they should have been able to contain.
In a closely contested matchup, neither team could separate themselves in the first half. But as the game wore on, the RedHawks began to assert their dominance. In the end, it was Miami OH's balanced performance that proved too much for Bowling Green to handle.