Falcons fall to Buffalo on final day of regular season

With seeding placement in the Mid-American Conference Tournament on the line, the BG men's basketball team fell to Buffalo Saturday afternoon, 68-64.

With the loss, the Falcons will be the No. 6 seed in the MAC Tournament, giving them a home game Monday night at 7 p.m. against No. 11 seeded Central Michigan. The Falcons defeated the Chippewas 71-58 earlier this season.

A'uston Calhoun paced the Falcons with 23 points, while Dee Brown (15) and Jordon Crawford (13) also scored in double figures for BG.

The Bulls used an aggressive inside presence throughout the game, attempting 25 foul shots, while BG had only eight free throw attempts.

Mitchell Watt led the Bulls with 20 points, who shot 47.9 percent from the field, including 38.5 percent from three-point distance.

BG Men's basketball vs. Central Michigan live in-game updates

Tonight's starters for the Falcons:
C Cam Black
F Scott Thomas
F A'uston Calhoun
G Dee Brown
G Jordon Crawford

For Central Michigan:
F Oliver Mbaigoto
F Andre Coimbra
G Derek Jackson
G Trey Zeigler
G Austin McBroom

20:00 CMU wins opening tip
19:36 Trey Zeigler makes the first bucket of the game for CMU
17:59 Goaltending called on Central on a Cam Black layup attempt, 2-2
16:41 Crawford hits a layup on the fast break to give BG a 4-2 lead
15:13 Timeout BG, CMU with a 7-6 lead
14:16 Scott Thomas drops a 3, scored tied 9-9
12:49 official timeout, 12-11 CMU
12:10 Oglesby hits a layup and is fouled, hits the free throw. 15-13 BG
9:01 Dee Brown fouled, makes both shots, 19-15 BG
7:40 official timeout 19-17 BG
4:10 timeout CMU, 25-19 BG
:30 timeout Central, 29-21 BG
End of half. 31-21 BG'

Second hafl
19:42 Zeigler makes the first bucket of the second half
18:39 Dee Brown drains a 3, 36-25 BG
16:55 Scott Thomas with a steal and score, 42-28 BG and CMU calls a timeout
15:37 official timeout, 44-28 BG
13:09 timeout BG, 48-37 Falcons
8:46 Scott Thomas drills a 3. 56-43 BG
3:42 timeout CMU. 64-48 BG
1:48 timeout CMU. 69-52 BG
Final: BG wins 71-58

BG Men's basketball vs. Akron in game updates

A'uston Calhoun hits a 3 too start the scoring
18:29 Scott Thomas with a layup off an offensive rebound
17:29 Akron's Zeke Marshall picks up a charging foul.
17:05 Thomas nails a 3 to make it 8-0
16:48 Walsh responds with a 3 for Akron
15:35 Calhoun with a thunderous dunk off an offensive rebound
13:55 Dee Brown hits a jumper to extend the lead to 12-3
12:23 Craig Sealey hits a layup off another offensive rebound
11:14 Officials timeout. 16-7 BG
10:05 Marshall with an easy dunk to make it 16-9
9:16 BG calls timeout after Akron hits a 3 to make it 16-12
6:22 Gilliam hits an alley-oop dunk to tie the score at 16
4:51 Cam Black with a hook shot to make it 18-16
4:02 Intentional foul called on Akron. Thomas hits 1 of 2 free throws to make it 20-18 BG
2:19 Jehvon Clarke hits a 3 to make it 23-18
1:13 Akron calls timeout after Thomas drains a 3. 26-20 BG
0:00 at the half BG leads Akron 26-20

Second half
19:32 Black hits the first bucket of the half, 28-20 BG
17:55 Black makes a layup and is fouled. Misses the free throw. 32-25 BG
16:37 Abreu hits a layup and is fouled by Black. He misses the free throw
15:28 Officials timeout. 34-27 BG
14:27 Clarke hits a 3 to make it 37-29 BG
12:06 Clarke hits a layup to make it 39-35 BG
9:35 Oglesby picks up his fourth foul. Marshall hits both free throws to make it 43-39 BG
7:52 Akron calls timeout after three straight baskets from BG. Falcons lead now 49-39
6:04 BG calls timeout after two quick Akron buckets make it 49-46
2:46 Calhoun throws down a dunk to make it 53-50 BG
1:30 Akron hits a 3 to tie the game at 53
:31 Thomas picks up a foul, Diggs hits one of two free throws
:11 Black hits a layup and is fouled. misses the free throw 55-54 BG
:8 timeout Akron
0.5: Akron hits a layup. Last second shot by BG no good. 56-55 Akron, final

Falcons fall to Duquesne

The BG men's basketball team was unable to hang onto a 12-point first half lead as it fell to Duquesne, 86-76.

The Falcons came out strong, taking a 29-17 advantage mid-way through the first half, but that lead had evaporated by halftime, as BG trailed the Dukes by six at the break.

For one of the few times this season, BG had success on the offensive boards, outscoring Duquesne 16-6 on second-chance opportunities. However, turnovers plagued the Falcons, as they coughed up the ball 18 times — compared to only seven turnovers by the Dukes — and allowed Duquesne to score 22 points off those turnovers.

While the Falcons' bench had been playing well of late, BG only got seven points from the bench in this game — all coming from Chauncey Orr, who also had five rebounds in 17 minutes of action for the most successful game of his young career.

Scott Thomas and A'uston Calhoun once again paced the BG attack. Both played a team-high 37 minutes, while Calhoun led the team with 24 points and eight rebounds. Thomas wasn't far behind, as he tallied 20 points, two rebounds and four assists.

BG closed a five-game road trip with a New Years Day tilt with Texas-San Antonio, before returning home Jan. 7 for a conference matchup against Ohio.

Falcons take down FIU, 61-53

The BG men's basketball team picked up its first road win Thursday night with a 61-53 win over Florida International.

Scott Thomas led the way for BG, dropping a double-double. He played 39 minutes, dropping 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and seven assists. He also had four steals.

Jordon Crawford and Torian Ogelsby also scored in double figures. Crawford had 15 points, while Ogelsby had 11 on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night.

The Panthers entered halftime with a four-point lead, but 36 second-half points paced the Falcons to victory.

This was helped by a huge shooting advantage for BG. The Falcons shot 58.3 percent from the field in the second half, while the Panthers only shot 32.1 percent.

BG is off until Dec. 28, when it takes on Duquesne on the road.

MSU drops Falcons, 74-60

The BG men's basketball team fought valiantly, but in the end, Michigan State was too much.

The Falcons only trailed 35-33 at the half, but 16 points from Brandon Wood and 39 second-half points helped the No. 21 Spartans come out on top, 74-60.

The Falcons received very little production from their starting lineup. The starting five of Scott Thomas, Luke Kraus, Anthony Henderson, Dee Brown and Cam Black combined for only nine points — seven of which came from Thomas — on 4-for-28 shooting.

The Falcons' bench was forced to pick up the slack, and it did, led by a career game fro Jehvon Clarke. The freshman guard dropped a career-high 14 points, while adding two assists and two steals.

Jordon Crawford and A'uston Calhoun also had strong games off the bench. Crawford had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Calhoun chipped in 12 points and six rebounds. However, he was limited by foul trouble, as he picked up four in the game.

That bench effort was matched by Michigan State, led by Draymond Green's double-double off the bench. He had only 12 points, but had 10 rebounds — four being offensive — and six assists. Braden Dawson and Derrick Nix also scored in double figures for the Spartans.

The Falcons are off until Thursday, when they take on Florida International in Miami.

BG men's basketball vs. Malone in game news and notes

Hello Falcon fans. In about 35 minutes, the Falcons and Pioneers will tip off here at the Stroh Center. If you can't make it out to the game tonight, check back here for live updates from the game.

Pre-game notes:

-For Malone, freshman guard Michael Shull and freshman forward Zach Wasson will not dress tonight.

-Tonight's projected starters for the Falcons are: Luke Kraus (G 4.9 ppg, 1 apg, 1.6 rpg), Dee Brown (G 9.6 ppg, 3.1 apg, 2.4 rpg), Cam Black (C 3.9 ppg, .6 apg, 4.1 rpg), Scott Thomas (F 12.7 ppg, 2.4 apg, 6.7 rpg) and A'uston Calhoun (F 9.6 ppg, .7 apg, 6 rpg).

-Tonight's project starters for Malone are: Kyle Lodermeier (G 2.8 ppg, 2 rpg), Isiah Elliot (G 10 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Eric Coblentz (G 15 ppg, 5 rpg), Zach Bates (F 8.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and Cory Veldhuizen (14.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg).

Tonight's starters:

For Malone: Richardson, Elliott, Coblentz, Bates and Veldhuizen.

For BG: Jordon Crawford, A'uston Calhoun, Cam Black, Scott Thomas and Dee Brown.

First Half:

20:00: Malone wins tip off

19:16: First basket of the game. Calhoun throws down a dunk off a slick pass from Thomas.

18:24: Three baskets for BG, three A'uston Calhoun dunks, two off alley-oops. 6-0 BG.

17:52: Timeout Malone after BG starts the game on an 8-0 run.

16:48: Foul on Veldhuizen after a Cam Black basket, but he misses the free throw.

15:44: Media timeout.

14:22: Luke Kraus drops a three to make it 15-7 BG.

13:40: Malone takes it second timeout; 19-7 BG.

12:23: Jehvon Clarke checks into the game for BG.

11:02: Media timeout. James Erger checks into the game for BG.

9:16: Foul on Ogelsby as Richardson makes a layup but misses the free throw. 24-14 BG.

7:10: Coblentz hits a three to cut the lead to 28-22 BG.

6:19: Calhoun completes a three point play for BG, making it 32-22 BG.

3:22: Media timeout.

0:00 Calhoun with a dunk at the buzzer. BG leads 41-24 at the half.

Second half

19:37: Thomas hits a layup to give BG the first points of the second half.

17:30: Timeout Malone.

15:17: Media timeout. 52-26 BG.

10:17: Media timeout. 62-31 BG.

7:27: Media timeout. 70-32 BG.

2:21: Malone timeout. 84-38 BG.

FINAL: BG 87, Malone 44.

Falcons defeat Austin Peay 82-72

A'uston Calhoun dropped 19 points and BG shot 62 percent on three-pointers as the Falcons toppled Austin Peay, 82-72, Monday night at the Stroh Center.

The game was a part of the first day of the three-day Progressive College Basketball Experience Classic that the Falcons are hosting. Detroit and George Washington, the other two teams playing in the Classic, faced off before BG and Austin Peay, with George Washington winning, 86-73.

Calhoun added seven rebounds, while Dee Brown scored 17 points for the Falcons, who shot 46.4 percent from the floor.

Head coach Louis Orr opened up his bench, after rolling with a primarily seven-man rotation the first two games of the season. Torian Oglesby played extended minutes for the first time this season, and he responded by dropping eight points on four-of-five shooting, with six rebounds — five of them offensive.

Anthony Henderson and James Erger played for the first time this season, albiet minimally. Erger had a rebound in six minutes off the bench, while Henderson played seven minutes, but he dropped both three-point shots he attempted.

Jordon Crawford had a strong game dishing the ball, handing out seven of BG's 15 assists, while also adding seven points.

Craig Sealey, one of BG's breakout players to start the season, was in foul trobule much of the night, and as a result, did not make much of an impact. He had two rebounds, but made only one-of-four shots and played only nine minutes for the Falcons.

Austin Peay had four players score in double figures, led by a double-double from Will Triggs, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jerome Clyburn led the Governors with 17 points.

BG continues the Progressive CBE classic Tuesday night with a game against Detroit at 7:30 p.m. The Falcons finish the tournament Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. with a game against George Washington.