Zips basketball: Three post-game observations

Zips (21-4, 12-0) 67, Bowling Green (10-14, 5-7) 50

The win streak continues courtesy of 10 consecutive FT shots at the end of the game.  You could see a difference in the Zips intensity to open the game.  Part of it could have come from an impressive crowd of 5,247 or they could realize it’s just time to step things up.  Either way it’s the most intense they’ve been since the Ohio game.  Intensity, however didn’t necessarily equal good.

• Early on Zeke Marshall  had the shots but wasn’t connecting on them, shooting 1-of-8 in the first half.  Whatever happened in the locker room, but he came out with a renewed purpose, scoring 11 points in the second half and grabbing nine rebounds. 
• Alex Abreu bounced back from the nine turnover outing against Eastern Michigan Wednesday.  He took care of the ball as did the team notching just eight turnovers.    He directed the Zips with confidence and set the tempo for the team and, ultimately the game. More importantly he showed his overall leadership on several occasions, including slowing the team down when they needed to run clock.  At the time he had a wide open three that was well within his range.
• The bench was outscored 18-12 on the night, a number that will have to improve, but considering the team shot just 37 percent on the night, this isn’t a huge surprise.  They have time to work on it.

Player of the game:  Zeke Marshall’s 15 points and nine rebounds led the way.

Stat of the game:  The Zips put this game away courtesy of the free throw line.  They shot 83 percent from it, more importantly hitting their final 10.