New Mexico State deferred and started the game as the better team as their defense made the first big play, an interception of quarterback Matt McDonald by Trevor Brohard on Bowling Green's first drive.

New Mexico State scored the game's first points in response, with a 15-yard pass thrown by Diego Pavia caught by Star Thomas for a touchdown.

The Aggies' scheduled game against San Jose State was cancelled in the wake of the death of Spartans freshman running back Camdan McWright.

With a 5–6 record heading into the last week of the season, the Aggies applied for a waiver with the NCAA to allow them to play in a bowl game, which was granted.

The Falcons offense started quickly with a gain of 17 yards on their first play as the result of a pass from Matt McDonald to Odieu Hiliare followed by a 9-yard rush by Ta'ron Keith.

On third down, McDonald's third pass of the game was intercepted by Trevor Brohard at the New Mexico State 30-yard-line, giving the Aggies defense an early takeaway.

After a 17-yard pass from Pavia to Kordell David on the second play of their next drive, New Mexico State stalled as well and punted on 4th & 12, with the kick downed at the Bowling Green 15-yard-line.

[20] Jaison Patterson began the second quarter with a 4-yard rush for the Falcons, and Orth passed to Christian Sims for a 16-yard gain two plays later, moving the ball to the Bowling Green 47-yard-line.

Bowling Green's offense was also sparked by a big play early on in their next drive: a 28-yard pass from Orth to Keith that moved the ball to the New Mexico State 29-yard-line.

The Aggies soon thereafter found themselves facing 4th & 6, and on that play Pavia's pass was intercepted by Bacon and returned to the Bowling Green 32-yard-line, giving the Falcons one final possession with 22 seconds remaining in the half.

Bowling Green gained 17 yards in their first three plays and attempted a Hail Mary pass with one second left from their own 40-yard-line, though it was batted down and the game went to halftime.

Immediately after, Brady broke off a 37-yard rush that reached the Bowling Green 25-yard-line, and despite a lack of progress afterwards from the offense, Ethan Albertson was able to make a 35-yard field goal to stretch New Mexico State's lead to 17 points.

This would not stand for long: on the ensuing kickoff, Keith fielded the short kick at his own 25-yard-line and returned it for a touchdown, giving Bowling Green their first points of the contest.

George Eberle's kick was downed at the Bowling Green 5-yard-line, and the Falcons were not able to make much of it, as they went three-and-out and punted back to New Mexico State at the Aggies' 47-yard-line.

A holding penalty called against Bronson Warner then set them back, but a 21-yard pass from Orth to Sims picked up all of the required yardage and gained them a first down.

[20] Mason Lawler made a 49-yard field goal for the Falcons on the first play of the fourth quarter, narrowing their deficit to 14 points with five seconds off the clock.