PITTSBURGH — Late in Monday’s game against Robert Morris, Bowling Green missed four foul shots in the span of a minute. Robert Morris made four of its own in a minute’s time, and opened a lead that held to the finish of what had previously been a close game.
The Colonials defeated Bowling Green 71-60 at the Charles L. Sewall Center in a game that was part of the NIT Season Tip-off.
Robert Morris (2-3) rode out Bowling Green’s hot 3-point shooting in the first half. When the Falcons (1-3) cooled off, the Colonials capitalized, especially at the foul line. Robert Morris made 11 of 14 second-half free throw attempts and hit 16 of 20 in the game.
“You always got to go to the line to make free throws to try to extend the game,” said Velton Jones, who led the Colonials with 16 points and made 9 of 10 foul shots. “That’s what I tried to do, just make free throws and help our team get a win.”
Mike McFadden and Coron Williams each scored 12.
Jones made four free throws in the span of a minute in the second half, opening a 63-55 lead with 4:17 left in the game. Falcons forwards Craig Sealey and Cameron Black each missed two around that time.
A series of three-point plays had kept Bowling Green’s lead at five, but 3-pointers from Velton Jones and Karvel Anderson put Robert Morris on top 56-49 with 7:53 left.
BG made 5 of 9 3-pointers in the first half. That improved in the second half, and the Falcons made only 3 of their 12 3-point attempts.
The score remained close midway through the first half, but Falcons guard Jehvon Clarke hit two 3-pointers in a two-minute span to give Bowling Green a 21-15 lead with 7:48 left in the half. James Erger hit a 3-pointer after a timeout to extend Bowling Green’s lead to nine.
A 10-2 Robert Morris run cut Bowling Green’s lead to 26-25 with 2:56 remaining in the half. McFadden and Velton Jones each scored four points during the run. The score was tied, 29-29, at the end of the first half.
Thomas leads OSU
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Deshaun Thomas made a case Sunday that he's ready to be Ohio State's next star.
Thomas tied a career high with 31 points and led No. 4 Ohio State to a 77-66 win over Washington and the championship of the Hall of Fame Tip Off tournament.
The 6-foot-7 junior, who also had eight rebounds, had 21 in the first half as the Buckeyes (3-0) built at 10-point lead and cruised through the second half.
Aaron Craft added 18 points for the Buckeyes. C.J. Wilcox led Washington (2-2) with 18 points and Abdul Gaddy had 15.
Ohio State led by double digits much of the way and by as many as 17 in the second half. Washington made one run, cutting the lead to 57-50 on a layup by Gaddy midway through the second half, before the Buckeyes stretched it back out.
Thomas, the Buckeyes' go-to player after the departure of Jared Sullinger to the NBA, scored 11 of his team's first 13 points. He showed off his versatility by hitting a 3-pointer, two jumpers, a layup and a hook shot, and connected on his first nine shots.
Thomas also cored 31 last season against Loyola (Md.).