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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Travels To Akron
January 22, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2002
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Bowling Green (14-2, 4-1) at Akron (4-13, 0-6) 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 23, Rhodes Arena (5,942) Series Record: BGSU leads 19-9 Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7) Internet: bgsufalcons.com
BGSU IS ROAD TESTED
Wednesday's game at Akron will be the 10th away from Anderson Arena in 17 games. With neutral site and true road games, BGSU has posted a 7-2 record, including a 2-1 road record in the league. The Falcons have the best overall record away from home among MAC schools and join Ohio (6-3), Ball State (6-4), and Kent State (6-5) as the only league schools with a record above .500 away from their home courts. Since February of last season, BGSU has won six of its eight MAC road games.
THE EAST IS A BEAST
With the Falcons becoming the last team in the MAC to suffer a defeat, BGSU is currently one of three teams in the East Division to enter this week's play with just one loss in MAC play. Ohio and Kent State are 5-1, while the Falcons stand at 4-1. The East Division teams have a 25-18 (58.2) league record, while West schools have a 14-21 (40.0) conference record. The East also holds a 12-6 advantage in head-to-head meetings with its West counterparts. Overall this season, five of the East schools (BGSU, Kent State, Ohio, Marshall, Buffalo) boast .500 or better records, while the West side has two teams above .500 (Ball State, Western Michigan). Over the last three-plus years, BGSU has the league's second best winning percentage in MAC games (40-19, 67.7).
FALCONS WILL APPEAR ON TELEVISION TWICE MORE THIS SEASON
This Saturday, the Falcons will host Kent State at noon instead of the scheduled 3:30 p.m. to appear on Fox Sports Ohio. Next month's rematch with Toledo on February 18 at Savage Hall is slated to be televised by Fox Sports Ohio at 7:30 p.m. BGSU is 3-0 this season in games that were on television (Michigan, Detroit, Indiana State).
BGSU AND AKRON
This will be the 29th meeting between the two schools with BGSU holding a 19-9 advantage. The Falcons have won four of the last five meetings, including two of the last three encounters in Rhodes Arena. Last year, Akron held on for an 83-80 triumph at home, while BGSU took an 86-78 decision in Bowling Green. Last year's triumph over Kent State gave the Falcons their 13th win of the season on February 24th. This year, BGSU won its 13th game (at Buffalo) on January 12. Akron Coach Dan Hipsher is a BGSU graduate (1977) who played basketball for the Falcons from 1974-77.
NCAA LEADERS
The Falcons are fourth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (42.5) and are 16th in the country in overall FG percentage (48.8). Senior Keith McLeod is sixth in the nation in scoring (23.4).
THE FALCONS UNDER DAN DAKICH
Coach Dakich is 79-50 and is second in BGSU men's basketball history in winning percentage (61.3) and fifth in victories. In addition, he has seen seven of nine seniors earn their degrees and had five players sign professional contracts. Dakich has the highest conference winning percentage (61.0) among active MAC coaches and has guided the Falcons to three straight winning seasons in the league, averaging 18 wins during the last three years. The Falcons have posted back-to-back winning seasons in the conference on the road for the first time since 1962 and 1963. Since February 1999, BGSU is 58-26 (69.1). BGSU won the 2000 MAC regular season title and was invited to the NIT that same year.
KEITH MCLEOD ENJOYS THE ROAD
Senior All-American candidate Keith McLeod has been explosive on the road averaging 28.8 points per game with five games of 30 points or more. Last week, he established career-highs for points in a game, field goals, field goals attempted, and rebounds during games at Buffalo and Ball State. McLeod also played every minute of each game. Against Buffalo, McLeod scored a career-high 42 points in leading the Falcons to an 85-73 road win. For his efforts, he was named MAC East Division Player of the Week for the third time this season. At Ball State, he had 36 points and a career-high eight rebounds. His 11 field goals in each game was a new career-best as were his 27 shots against the Cardinals. In the two games, he made a combined 27 of 32 free throws (84.4).
MCLEOD AND MATELA STEP UP IN MAC PLAY
Last season, McLeod (19.4) and teammate Len Matela (14.8) formed the top scoring duo in MAC games averaging 34.2 points per game. This year the duo is averaging a combined 44.0 points per game in league games, the highest of any teammates in the conference. McLeod is averaging 25.4 points, while Matela is contributing 18.6 points per game through five contests.
MOVING UP
With 15 points against Toledo, McLeod moved past Marcus Newbern into ninth place on the BGSU all-time scoring list with 1,514 points. He needs 12 points to surpass eighth-place David Jenkins (1,525). With 28 points against Toledo, Matela is now 20th with 1,239 points. He needs 11 points to surpass Jay Larranaga (1,249) who is in 18th place.
PARDON ATOP THE MAC IN ASSISTS AGAIN
Senior Brandon Pardon leads the conference in assists (6.06) and is looking to become the third Falcon to lead the MAC in that category in consecutive years. Last year, Pardon finished fourth in the country averaging 7.0 assists. Antonio Daniels (1996 and 1997) and David Greer (1981, 1982, and 1983) also led the MAC in dishes for more than one season. Pardon is third on the BGSU all-time assist list with 420. Greer is BGSU's all-time leader with 768, while Daniels is second at 563. Pardon is perhaps the most underrated player in the MAC. He averages 34.9 minutes per game and leads the MAC in assist/turnover ratio with 100 assists and just 46 turnovers. When he is not directing the Falcon offense, he can also beat you with his scoring, as he did with season-best 20-point performances against Central Michigan and Detroit. He also is fourth in the league in three-point field goal percentage at 46.9. He dished out a career-high 14 assists against Northern Illinois and had the sixth double-double of his career with 10 points. With his two-for-three effort beyond the arc against Toledo, the Falcons improved to 21-4 in his career and 7-0 this year when he hits two or more three-point baskets. Since Pardon joined the Falcons midway through his sophomore year, BGSU has gone 43-22 (.662). Against Buffalo, Pardon saw 40 minutes of action for the eighth time in his career.
