BGSU Tops Division I Czech Republic Squad; Falcons Advance to 2-0 In Europe
PRAGUE, Czechia – The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team continued their European Tour with their second game of the trip on Tuesday (Aug. 6). The Falcons took on SRSNI Pisek, a Division I Czechia team that started their typical starting five in the game against BGSU. The two teams played four 12-minute quarters with the Falcons tallying an 87-86 victory to move to 2-0 on the trip.
The Falcons registered the first points of the game with Youssef Khayat hitting a jumper off a DaJion Humphrey defensive rebound. Preston Squire added a putback and Humphrey scored a driving layup off another Khayat rebound, this time on the offensive end. A triple from Humphrey pushed BGSU in front early, 9-8.
SRSNI put the pressure back on before a Khayat three tied the game at 12-12. Marcus Johnson hit a fade to make it 14-12 Falcons, but SRSNI moved back in front 17-14 with a timeout following. Javontae Campbell joined the scoring column with a pair of free throws before Derrick Butler drilled a three and Sam Towns got a layup to fall for a 25-25 tied score at the end of the first quarter.
SRSNI opened the second quarter strong with a 7-0 run before a Campbell layup ended the Bowling Green drought. The two teams began trading baskets with Towns logging a steal and slam before Butler added a steal that ended with a Braelon Green layup. Another layup, this time from Squire, paired with an and-one layup by Green off a Jaxon Pardon pass drew the Falcons within three at 39-36.
Squire continued the offensive barrage for BGSU, hitting a three to pull within two, but SRSNI responded to rebuild their lead. Towns hit a turnaround jumper and Green got a fade to fall to send the teams to half with a 50-43 halftime score in favor of SRSNI.
Coming out of the half, the two teams continued the back-and-forth battle. Towns and Green hit back-to-back triples followed by a Towns transition dunk to move the score to 55-51. Butler hit a jumper with Campbell converting a free throw for a 59-55 tally, but SRSNI extended their lead.
The Falcons closed the third quarter strong with a floater from Squire, a free throw from Khayat, a three from Khayat and a free throw line jumper from Squire off a Green assist, pulling within a possession at 66-63 at the end of the third quarter.
Bowling Green opened the fourth quarter with a Towns hook off a Green assist to draw within one, 66-65. The back-and-forth battle continued with Green hitting a fade followed by a second chance jumper from Johnson off a Khayat rebound to stay within one, 70-69.
The score stayed close with a Humphrey free throw. Campbell cleaned up the glass on the second free throw and converted a layup for a 73-72 score. The next time down, Campbell got an acrobatic layup to drop to tie the game at 74-74. The next possession saw Humphrey inbound to Towns for a layup and a 76-75 BGSU advantage.
Trey Thomas kept the Falcons in front late with a driving layup and a free throw for a 79-75 lead. Humphrey added a pull-up jumper before a Thomas floater for an 83-77 score. Khayat continued the offensive pressure with a second chance jumper followed by a Towns tip in the next time down for an 87-79 lead.
SRSNI put the pressure on down the stretch, challenging the Falcons on both ends of the court and drawing within one, but a key volleyball-style block on the final possession by Towns and Green secured the 87-86 final, pushing BGSU to 2-0 during their European Tour.
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