Falcons fall on road on last-second shot

12/21/2008

CONWAY, Ark. - Bowling Green just couldn't hold on down the stretch.

Central Arkansas beat the Falcons 67-65 on the strength of a last-second tip-in by Brian Marks. The basket fell with 0.2 seconds left on the clock. BG got one last chance to win or tie, but the Falcons were unable to get a shot off.

BG falls to 4-5 and has yet to win a game on the road this season, but Saturday night's loss is going to sting because it was a game that BG should have won.

"We hurt ourselves with turnovers, charges, we fouled," said BG coach Louis Orr. "We hurt ourselves."

Statistically, though, BG dominated in almost every category but the final score as the Falcons outshot Central Arkansas from both the field and the 3-point line. BG also outrebounded Central Arkansas. The Falcons also led in turnovers, giving up the ball 12 times, to Central Arkansas' four.

It looked like a game BG was going to win going away, as the Falcons never trailed in the game until 1:19 left in the second half when Mitch Rueter hit a conventional 3-pointer to go up 65-63.

Central Arkansas (6-4) looked to pad the lead, but Nate Miller stepped in front of a pass and was subsequently fouled. Miller then made both free throws to tie the game.

"I was proud of him knocking down his free throws," Orr said. "Stat wise he hasn't been a good free-throw shooter, but he is a guy who is going to compete."

Miller had entered the game 4-of-14 from the free throw line and is now 6-of-17 on the season.

"Statistically Miller wasn't a very good free-throw shooter," said Central Arkansas coach Rand Chappell. "But he made some plays down the stretch. He got the steal; he hit both those free throws. He put his team in a position to win this game. We just came out ahead."

Central Arkansas got the ball back, and that was the setup for Marks' final play.

BG only scored five points in the final eight minutes of the game.

Central Arkansas guard Brooks Taylor, who finished with 22 points and is a transfer from South Alabama, led all scorers.

Brian Moten and his 18 points led BG, while Miller had 12 to finish in double figures.

BG flies back to Ohio today, weather permitting, and will face Towson Monday night. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.