BGSU beats Ball State 61-54
2/8/2012MUNCIE, Ind. -- A'uston Calhoun had 27 points and nine rebounds, and Dee Brown hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the game as the Bowling Green defeated Ball State 61-54 Wednesday in Mid-American Conference men's basketball.
"He was a big diofference for us," said BG coach Louis Orr about Calhoun. "A'uston carried us to that point. It was a tough place to play and we are thankful for the win."
Calhoun, who was averaging 13 points per game, hit 11 of 21 shots and was 5 for 6 from the free-throw line.
Brown, a senior, added 12 points for the Falcons (12-11, 6-4 MAC), who won their third straight game for the first time this season.
"We wanted to get the ball to A'uston as much as possible," Orr said. "But he created a shot for Dee since they were so concerned with him [Calhoun].
"You need your seniors to step up and make shots and I give credit to Dee. It was his only two 3s in the game, so he showed a lot of senior leadership to take those shots."
The game was close throughout and featured eight lead changes -- the last of which came with 3 minutes left.
Brown hit a 3-pointer to break a 48-all tie, then came back with another long-range shot with 2:22 remaining to give the Falcons a 54-48 lead.
"I thought we were a little perimiter heavy in the first half, but we got some big stops before the break," Orr said.
"We knew it was going to be a fight."
Jarrod Jones had 14 points and eight rebounds for Ball State (12-10, 4-6), which has lost five straight games -- and four in a row at home. Aaron Adeoye added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
BG hit 24 of 52 shots (46 percent) from the field and went 10 of 13 at the free-throw line. Ball State made 23 of 51 (45 percent) field-goal attempts, but was 4 of 6 at the foul line. The Cardinals held a 32-28 rebounding edge.