Kent State University
19-13
Bowling Green
15-17
Bowling Green upsets Flashes in MAC Tournament opener, 70-69
3/7/2016 9:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
KENT, Ohio – No. 12 Bowling Green spoiled Kent State's hopes of advancing to Cleveland with a 70-69 upset of the No. 5 Golden Flashes at the M.A.C. Center in Monday's first round of the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Tournament.
Senior Chris Ortiz recorded an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double in what could be his final game at the M.A.C. Center. Kellon Thomas added another 18 points for the Flashes (19-13) while Khaliq Spicer finished with nine points, nine rebounds, and four blocked shots.
Those efforts were not enough, however, as the Falcons used an 11-0 run to open the second half to take control of the game. They kept the Flashes on their heals for most of the final 20 minutes.
Bowling Green shot 68 percent from the field, hitting 13-of-19 and doing most of its damage getting to the rim. For the game, the Falcons outscored the Flashes 30-18 in the paint.
After building a 39-32 halftime lead, Kent State dipped from 48-percent shooting in the opening half (13-for-29) to just 33 percent after the break (9-for-27). The Flashes missed their first eight shots of the second half before an Ortiz layup at the 13:30 mark finally broke the ice.
KSU suffered two turnovers and a missed layup in the final 38 seconds while trying to cut into a one-possession Bowling Green lead. J.D. Tisdale hit two free throws with one second remaining to finally seal the game for the Falcons.
Jimmy Hall, who was named All-MAC First Team for the second year in a row earlier in the day, finished with just six points on 2-of-10 from the field to go with four rebounds and three assists. He scored his 1,000th point in a Kent State uniform on a free throw that tied the game, 62-62, with 3:30 to play. Hall is the 31st Golden Flash to reach the milestone and only the fourth to accomplish the feat during his first two seasons.
Spencer Parker led Bowling Green with 18 points. The Falcons added another 14 points from Wes Alcegaire and 13 points from Antwon Lillard.
Bowling Green (15-17) will meet No. 4 Central Michigan on Thursday at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena.
Postgame Press Conference
