BG snaps 3-game skid with tourney win

11/26/2013

PUERTO AVENTURAS, Mexico — The Bowling Green State University men’s basketball team had all five starters finish in double figures in a 67-45 win over Presbyterian College on Tuesday.

The Falcons’ win, which snapped a three-game losing streak, came in the first round of the Cancun Classic played at the Hard Rock Resort.

Anthony Henderson finished with a career-high 17 points to lead BG, which improved to 2-3 on the season. Spencer Parker and Cameron Black each scored 12 while Jehvon Clarke and Richaun Holmes added 10 apiece for the Falcons.

Jordan Downing scored 14 points to lead the Blue Hose (1-6), while William Truss finished with 12.

Bowling Green dominated play from the start, jumping to a 7-0 lead in the opening four minutes and pushing to a double-digit spread with a 14-3 advantage with 10:57 still to play in the first half.

The Falcons expanded the lead to 27-12 after a layup by Craig Sealey with 4:53 still to play in the period, and took a 33-19 into the lockerroom at the half.

Bowling Green allowed the Blue Hose to make just 5-of-19 shots in the first half (26.3 percent) while forcing nine turnovers. The Falcons connected on 14-of-26 first-half shots (53.8 percent) and had just three turnovers.

Presbyterian scored the first five points of the second half, but BG responded with baskets by Henderson, a Start High School grad, and Parker to restore order. The Blue Hose came as close as eight points, but Bowling Green eventually expanded its lead to as many as 24 points in the game’s late stages.

The Falcons outrebounded Presbyterian 34-28, with Black posting 14 rebounds to complete a double-double. BG dominated play in the paint, outscoring the Blue Hose 48-14.

Clarke nearly had a double-double as well, finishing with nine assists while turning the ball over only once as the Falcons had just 12 turnovers compared to 14 by Presbyterian.

Today, Bowling Green will play Oral Roberts at 4 p.m. for the championship of the Mayan Division of the tournament. The Golden Eagles advanced to the championship game by knocking off Georgia Southern 67-65 Tuesday.