FORT MYERS, Fla. — Bowling Green State University men’s basketball built a double-digit lead in the first half and held on for a 71-66 victory over Bucknell on Monday in the Fort Myers Tip-Off tournament at Florida Southwestern State College.

The Bison took an early 16-14 lead on Aleksander Pachucki’s 3-pointer with 11:15 left in the first half, but the Falcons responded with a 19-1 spurt over the next 9:17. Javon Ruffin hit a trio of 3-pointers during the run to help BGSU gain control.

Ruffin tied for the team-best scoring mark with 15 points and also added four assists. Bucknell made some headway over the final two minutes of the first half to pull within 35-24.

Bowling Green (4-2) maintained minimal leads for much of the second half, going up by 12 at 51-39 following two free throws

See Full Page