Monday, February 3, 2025

MAC (Bowling Green 1963) tops BW (Utah State 2003) in NIT OT Classic

With 11:58 (20 possessions) to go, all-time great Nate Thurmond seemed to be leading our all-time MAC champ Bowling Green 1963 to a victory against our all-time Big West Champ Utah State 2003. Thurmond already had 16 points and 9 rebounds to give Bowling Green a 45-40 edge and 29-18 edge on the boards.

But then despite playing to avoid fouls and switching from guarding Spencer Nelson to Desmond Penigar, who was a future NBA player but drew fewer fouls than Nelson, he fouled out. From there it was a back and forth game until Utah State's Toraino Johnson drew a foul in what would have been the last possession to add a possession and hit both free throws to pull Utah State within 70-68. After a stop, Penigar, who had a game-high 23 points, scored at the buzzer to force overtime 70-70.

However in overtime it was the third future NBA player in the game, Howie Komives, who lit it up to help Bowling Green win 86-82 in overtime. 

Both proved they could be giant killers. Bowling Green shocked eventual 1963 champ and at that time No. 2 Loyola-IL 92-75 during the season for the greatest win in Bowling Green history. Utah State came within two 3-point shots at the end of their 15-seed vs. 2-seed game against Kansas of going to overtime, Kansas cruised through the tournament including destroying Dwyane Wade and Marquette in the Final 4 before losing to Carmelo Anthony and Syracuse in the title game.
 
PosUtah St. 2003 (BW)             Pts3pt2ptFTAttRebStlBlkFlHeightSummary                       
1-PGMark Brown2010022055'108.6 Pts, 2.3 Rebt
2-SGCardell Butler14054431026'48.7 Pts, 2.6 Reb
3-SFToraino Johnson7015571046'47.6 Pts, 3.6 Reb
4-PFDesmond Penigar23011149002nba-6'715.7 Pts, 6.6 Reb
5-CSpencer Nelson16064961136'810.2 Pts, 7.4 Reb
1-PGGreg Patton2010010016'11.2 Pts, 0.6 Reb
2-SGRonnie Ross4020010016'15.8 Pts, 1.5 Reb
3-SFChad Evans2010020016'71.8 Pts, 2.1 Reb
4-PFNate Harris4020011016'75.1 Pts, 3.2 Reb
5-CMike Puzey8040030026'91.8 Pts, 2.7 Reb
 Turnovers 19820341422356122  
             
PosBowling Green 1963 (MAC)Pts3pt2ptFTAttRebStlBlkFlHeightSummary
1-PGHowie Komives2025467102nba-6'120.2 Pts, 3.5 Reb
2-SGPat Haley4012253126'35.9 Pts, 2.6 Reb
3-SFWavey Junior8121270056'211.8 Pts, 7.0 Reb
4-PFElijah Chatman12060160126'37.2 Pts, 6.7 Reb
5-CNate Thurmond1614569035nba-6'1119.9 Pts, 16.7 Reb
1-PGBill Reynolds12044421015'104.6 Pts, 1.1 Reb
2-SGLyle Pepin4020010016'22.2 Pts, 0.7 Reb
3-SFMel Gilbert4020010016'43.3 Pts, 2.7 Reb
4-PFBob Carbaugh4020030016'41.9 Pts, 0.9 Reb
5-CTom Baker2010020016'52.9 Pts, 1.5 Reb
 Turnovers 16864291621435521 

Here is the All-Time NIT, which includes our all-time champion from all 20 non-power conferences.



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