Bowling Green State Falcons Defeat Northern Illinois Huskies 68-52 Behind Balanced Attack

The Bowling Green State Falcons dominated the Northern Illinois Huskies 68-52, with Mayar Wol leading the charge with 15 points. Bowling Green State improved to 15-10 on the season, while Northern Illinois fell to 8-15. The Falcons' 16-point margin of victory exceeded the predicted 6.9-point margin, as they outscored Northern Illinois 38-19 in the first half. Bowling Green State's strong performance was fueled by 45.5% shooting from the field, including 7 three-pointers.

The game was essentially decided in the first half, as Bowling Green State built a 19-point lead by halftime. Northern Illinois struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 25% from the field in the first half. The Huskies' Makhai Valentine led the team with 15 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Bowling Green State's Javontae Campbell added 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Justin Thomas chipped in 10 points and 5 rebounds. The Falcons' balanced attack proved too much for Northern Illinois, as they outscored the Huskies 30-33 in the second half to seal the 68-52 victory. Northern Illinois shot 35.7% from the field for the game, including 4-17 from three-point range.

Mayar Wol and Makhai Valentine were the top performers in the game, with Wol leading Bowling Green State with 15 points. Valentine paced Northern Illinois with 15 points, while Gustav Winther and Taj Walters added 8 points each for the Huskies. Javontae Campbell and Justin Thomas were also key contributors for Bowling Green State, with Campbell posting 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Thomas adding 10 points and 5 rebounds. The Falcons' bench outscored Northern Illinois' bench 15-10, with 5 players scoring at least 5 points.

Bowling Green State outshot Northern Illinois 45.5% to 35.7% from the field, including 7-20 from three-point range. The Falcons also outrebounded the Huskies 37-29, with a 12-8 advantage on the offensive glass. Northern Illinois committed 12 turnovers, while Bowling Green State had 9. The Falcons' 68 points marked their 12th game with at least 65 points this season, while Northern Illinois has scored 52 or fewer points 10 times.

The CHD Scout predicted a 69-62 victory for Bowling Green State, with a 6.9-point margin. While the predicted score was off, the model correctly picked the winner and was close on the margin. The actual 16-point margin of victory exceeded the predicted margin, as Bowling Green State's strong first half set the tone for the game. The model missed the extent of Northern Illinois' struggles, as the Huskies shot just 25% from the field in the first half.

The victory improved Bowling Green State's record to 15-10, while Northern Illinois fell to 8-15. This game was a Quadrant 4 game for Bowling Green State and a Quadrant 3 game for Northern Illinois. The Falcons' NET ranking remained at 152, while Northern Illinois' NET ranking stayed at 299. The win helped Bowling Green State's tournament resume, as they improved to 4-6 in Quadrant 1 and 2 games. Northern Illinois, on the other hand, fell to 2-10 in Quadrant 1 and 2 games.

Bowling Green State's next game is against the Toledo Rockets on February 15, while Northern Illinois faces the Western Michigan Broncos on February 14. Both games matters for the teams' conference standings and tournament hopes. Bowling Green State want to build on its momentum, while Northern Illinois will try to bounce back from the loss.