Monday, March 06, 2000
MIAMI NOTEBOOK
Falcons go cold from field
BY JEFF CARLTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CLEVELAND — Bowling Green entered Sunday's game ranked second in the nation in field goal percentage. Only the Falcons and North Carolina make more than half their shots.
But a 2-of-11 start from the field set the tone in their 58-56 overtime loss to Miami in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Bowling Green made 35.2 percent of its shots, the team's second-lowest conversion percentage this season. It also was only the third time this season the team didn't top 60 points.
“On the defensive end we were very, very nervous all night, because you're talking about a team that scorched us this year,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “We seemed to have a great defensive game, so I thought that was key.”
Rare upset
Bowling Green's loss was the first time a No.1 seed lost in the quarterfinals in the 20-year history of the MAC tournament.
It puts the Falcons' NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy as well, because the selection committee has never been particularly kind to MAC teams.
But with a 22-7 overall record and a 45 RPI, Falcons coach Dan Dakich thinks he has a case for admission.
“If the MAC regular season means anything, we should be in the NCAA Tournament,” Dakich said. “If the MAC regular season doesn't mean a thing, we should be in the NCAA Tournament.”
Ensminger leads
Mike Ensminger's 12 points and seven rebounds don't do justice to how well he played against Anthony Stacey. Bowling Green's star scored his usual points but never took over the game.
Near the end of regulation, Coles relied on his scouting reports and decided to bench Ensminger and go with a smaller lineup. Ensminger refused, telling Coles: “No, no, no. I'm not going out. I'm guarding Stacey.”
Coles said that kind of leadership is a coach's dream.
“He's playing possessed right now,” Coles said. “Over the last three weeks, he can't even sit down.”
Odds and ends
The game saw seven lead changes and 10 ties. ... Miami now has played in five overtime games this season, equaling a school record. ... Until Sunday's loss, Bowling Green was 17-1 this season when leading at halftime. ... Miami knocked the Falcons out of the MAC tourney for the second straight year.
Sports Stories
Mitchell deal expected today
Real star of Reds is Bowden
Griffey downplays first homer
Reds' aces stack up well
New sliding style challenges Reese
Reds ship 9 to minor-league camp
Sunday's games report
XU gives Gardens proper sendoff
XAVIER NOTEBOOK
A-10 tournament preview
Xavier women reach A-10 finals
C-USA tournament preview
C-USA tournament schedule
