UMass Loses To Bowling Green In OT Thriller
The Minutemen dropped their third straight MAC game, 101-100, in overtime.
UMass missed a chance at a dramatic win at the Mullins Center on Saturday, when Bowling Green used a relentless scoring effort and a late push in overtime to slip past the Minutemen, 101-100.
The MAC showdown unfolded at a frenetic pace from the opening tip, with neither team able to build significant separation. UMass led in spurts behind a balanced offensive attack, but Bowling Green’s firepower — led by guard Javontae Campbell — ultimately proved decisive.
UMass led by three - 86-83 - after K’Jei Parker made a pair of free throws with 10 seconds to play in regulation, but Parker was called for a foul on Campbell’s three-point attempt with five seconds left. Campbell calmly sank all three free throws to push the game to overtime.
Bowling Green’s Javon Ruffin drained a three-pointer to start the overtime period and while Isaiah Placide’s three tied the game with just over a minute remaining, UMass could never regain the lead and Danny Carbuccia’s last-second shot was no good.
Campbell was the story of the afternoon, scoring a game-high 47 points and dishing out eight assists. His performance included key baskets down the stretch to force extra time, and in the end it was his presence in the bonus that helped the Falcons secure the narrow win.
For UMass, senior forward Leonardo Bettiol was the catalyst. He erupted for a career-high 32 points and added a game-best 14 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Bettiol shot efficiently from the floor and was a physical presence in the paint throughout regulation and overtime.
Parker provided a giant scoring lift alongside him, dropping 21 points off the bench. Daniel Hankins-Sanford (14) and Marcus Banks Jr. (11) also reached double figures, giving the Minutemen multiple offensive threats and pushing the pace in a game that rarely slowed.
Bowling Green’s supporting cast made the difference when it mattered most, though. Mayar Wol finished with 21 points, while Javon Ruffin and Josiah Shackelford each contributed 10, and Sam Towns was active on the boards with eight rebounds and three steals.
UMass’ depth showed early as guard Marcus Banks Jr. got the Minutemen started with a pair of threes to build an early 6-3 lead. A steady flow of baskets from Carbuccia and Bettiol kept UMass in command at several points, and the game went back-and-forth throughout.
Bowling Green, however, was never far behind. The Falcons used a mix of transition offense and precise shooting to keep pressure on the Minutemen, setting up the tense final minutes that eventually sent the game past regulation.
The overtime period saw both teams trade blows, but Campbell’s ability to create and convert in clutch moments gave Bowling Green the edge. Despite a valiant effort from UMass’ starters and bench alike, the Falcons hung on for the win.
Saturday’s loss dropped UMass to 9-6 overall and 0-3 in MAC play, while Bowling Green improved to 11-4 and 2-1 in the league with the victory.
The Minutemen will look to regroup as conference play deepens, taking lessons from a game that highlighted both their offensive potential and the defensive stops they still must find to close tightly contested matchups.
UMass returns to action at Ohio on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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Brutal loss. That Parker foul on Campbell's three with 5 seconds left is the kind of play that haunts a team all season, especially when it sends the game to OT. I watched a simlar situtation in college where the late-game foul changed an entire season's trajectory. Bettiol's 32 and 14 should've been enough but when someone drops 47 like Campbell did, defense becomes almost irrelevant.