Dakich unhappy with effort by Falcons

11/12/2000

BOWLING GREEN - Pella Windows, an Iowa-based all-star team made up of former college players, took a 94-85 win over Bowling Green last night in the Falcons' final exhibition game of the season.

The Falcons cut a 17-point Pella lead to six over a four minute stretch late in the game, but could get no closer.

“We knew this was going to be a tough game because they've got some real good players,” Bowling Green coach Dan Dakich said, “but I just didn't like our effort out there tonight. We got it close because we decided to give a little effort on the defensive end, but overall that was as sorry an effort as we've given in the time I've been here.”

Bowling Green had one of its few leads of the first half with about 15 minutes to play before intermission when Brandon Pardon hit a running shot in the lane for a 13-12 advantage.

Using its size and power inside and a couple of long-distance shots from Luke Maher, Pella opened up a 29-17 lead about midway through the first half. The Falcons worked back into it, and after three straight field goals from Len Matela BG trailed 34-26 with about six minutes until the half.

The lead was down to 38-35 with two minutes left, but BG missed on two possessions that could have cut it closer, and trailed 45-37 at the break.

Pella stretched the lead to 77-60 with just under eight minutes to play, but at the 3:36 mark the Falcons had it down to 83-77. BG swapped baskets with Pella the rest of the way and did not get closer.

“We made some shots at the end just to make it look good, but overall this game showed our weakness in effort,” Dakich said. “I thought from the get-go we were lost and lazy.”

Matela had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead Bowling Green, while Keith McLeod also scored 22. Pardon added 14 and Trent Jackson scored 13.

Pella got 24 points from Maher and 20 from Kevin Sams.

The Falcons, the Mid-American Conference defending regular season champions, open at home Nov. 21 against Evansville.

SAGINAW, Mich. - Scott graduate Jeremy King scored 21 points and Lamont Ellis added 13 as unbeaten Owens Community College captured the championship of the Delta Community College's Tipoff Classic by beating Henry Ford CC 80-63.

The Express (5-0) outrebounded Henry Ford 44-28.

James Driscoll had 19 points for Henry Ford (1-1).