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Bowling Green // Northern Illinois

VIDEO
Bowling Green Press Conference
Northern Illinois Press Conference

2019 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament Semifinals
No. 3 Bowling Green 71, No. 7 Northern Illinois 67
Box Score

CLEVELAND, OH – No. 3 seed Bowling Green held on for a 71-67 win over No. 7 Northern Illinois in the MAC Men's Basketball Tournament, presented by Visit Myrtle Beach, Semifinal action on Friday, March 15 at Quicken Loans Arena.  

Northern Illinois eliminated a 23 point halftime deficit to tie the game with five minutes left in regulation. Bowling Green used a 7-0 run with under three minutes left as Dylan Frye's two free throws, a Justin Turner floater and Frye's three pointer pushed the Falcons lead to 65-58 with 2:17 left. 

After falling behind 7-1 to open the game, Bowling Green outscored the Huskies 45-16 the rest of the first half to take a 46-23 halftime lead. The Falcons were 17-28 shooting from the field (60.7%) in the first half and hit six three pointers to open ther 23 point halftime lead.  

Northern Illinois stormed back in the second half and cut the deficit to seven points, 48-41, as Eugene German's driving layup at 13:13 mark.  German struck again with consecutive layups to bring the Huskies within five points, 56-51, with 8:31 left in the half. Northern Illinois completed the comeback and tied the game at 56-56 as Noah McCarty nailed a three pointer with 5:10 left in regulation.

Bowling Green was led by Frye with 25 points, while Turner added 14 points. Northern Illinois was led by German with 31 points, while forward Levi Bradley posted 16 points.

Bowling Green will play No. 1 Buffalo in the MAC Championship Game on Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 pm ET on ESPN2.