BGSU men’s basketball (7-4) bounced back overwhelmingly on Saturday, rolling past the Aquinas Saints (3-7) with a commanding 131-50 win. This marked their highest point total of the season.
Bowling Green set the tone immediately, winning the opening tip and unleashing a full-court trapping press that produced easy baskets and early momentum. After Aquinas briefly stayed close by hitting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc to cut the game to 10-9, BGSU’s bench lit the spark that broke the game open.
Fresh off the bench, Aiden Goins, Mayar Wol, and Josiah Shackelford delivered instant energy. Goins scored six quick points on perfect shooting, while Wol added back-to-back buckets at the 14-minute mark. That group powered BGSU to an 18-9 lead before igniting a massive 16-2 run fueled by defensive pressure, deflections, and transition scoring.
With hands constantly in passing lanes, the Falcons’ length and physicality overwhelmed the Saints. BGSU racked up 12 steals before the final five minutes of the half and forced 21 turnovers by halftime. Although Aquinas shot a strong 5-6 from three early, they struggled everywhere else, going just 2-11 from two and repeatedly giving up fast-break opportunities.
By halftime, Bowling Green led 71-26, shooting an incredible 77% from inside the arc and dominating the glass 18-10. The Falcons were led at the break by Justin Thomas, Goins, and Wol, who each had 13 points on 16-of-20 combined shooting.
The second half brought more of the same. Troy Glover II opened the scoring, followed by a Javon Ruffin three-pointer as BGSU extended the margin with an 11-5 run. Moments later, Javontae Campbell got a steal leading to a Thomas dunk, prompting another Aquinas timeout with the Falcons up 88-31.
Bowling Green continued to pour it on, attacking inside, getting to the free-throw line, and finally finding rhythm from deep. Shackelford connected on a three, pushing the Falcons to 5-12 from beyond the arc at that point. Meanwhile, the Saints, despite shooting efficiently from three (7-13 at that point), couldn’t keep pace due to their avalanche of turnovers, finishing the game with 30 giveaways.
Goins stayed hot, knocking down a late three and finishing with a team-high 24 points. BG closed the game on another extended run before emptying the bench with three minutes to play.
“Our group is a smart group. They saw an opportunity to kind of get AG going and saw his aggressiveness. He had an advantage there, and the guys kept feeding him,” head coach Todd Simon said. “That doesn’t happen everywhere. So, hats off to them, but also to him. He’s a unique player and can really score.”
The Falcons finished the night shooting 68.6%, scoring 51 points off turnovers, and posting 79 bench points in the blowout win. They topped their previous season high of 120 points set against Bethany College. Bowling Green showcased balanced scoring throughout the night.
Justin Thomas delivered an exceptionally efficient performance, finishing a perfect 8-for-8 from the field, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, to score 20 points.
“JT is just so wise, such a wise basketball player, and he’s such a playmaker for everyone else,” Simon said. “It was good to see him be aggressive, and 8-of-8 is pretty efficient, so it was good to see.”
The Falcons had four players reach double figures, with strong production coming from the bench, including impactful outings from Wol and Jason Kimbrough Jr.
“It’s huge to have a bench that’s deep that doesn’t fall off whenever the starters come out of the game,” Wol said. “That’s a major key for our team, for sure.”
While he didn’t post his usual scoring numbers, Campbell put together one of the most complete stat lines of the game, contributing seven points, nine assists, two blocks, six steals, and seven rebounds.
It was a dominant all-around performance for the Falcons, who controlled every phase of the game from start to finish. The win showcased their depth, defensive intensity, and offensive efficiency, giving the team a strong response after Saturday’s loss.
Bowling Green will look to carry this momentum into their next matchup on Tuesday, Dec. 16, when they return to the Stroh Center to take on the Chicago State Cougars.
https://bgfalconmedia.com/175030/sports/bgsu-dominates-aquinas-sets-season-high-in-131-50-victory/
