Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Oakland
December 17, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Oakland (3-2) at Bowling Green (2-4, 1-0) 7 p.m., Thursday, December 19 Anderson Arena (4,700) Series Record: BGSU leads 2-0 Last Meeting: BGSU 69, at Oakland 57 (12/7/99) Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7)/WLQR-AM (1470) Internet: bgsufalcons.com
NETTER MAY BE THE NATION'S MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
If anyone had doubts about whether the sudden emergence of junior center Kevin Netter would last, they probably vanished after his performance against #2 Alabama. Netter had 26 points and six rebounds and outplayed the SEC Player of the Year, Erwin Dudley who finished with five points. It marked the fourth straight game that Netter has scored 20 points or more as he finished off a three-game stretch against the Big Ten and SEC averaging 22 points in those three contests away from home.
"He would start for Oklahoma and Ohio State," said Alabama Coach Mark Gottfried. "He's better than any post player those two teams had."
Netter, who has improved his scoring average by 17.1 points per game, is third in the MAC in scoring (21.5) and sixth in field goal percentage (62.2). He had a career-high 36 points earlier this season against Buffalo and had 20 points each against Michigan and Northwestern. He also has shot more free throws than any player in the MAC (50).
TOUGH AT HOME
Since the 1998-99 season, BGSU is 49-7 at home. The Falcons have posted 16-straight wins against non-league foes and were 13-1 at home last season.
FALCONS BATTLE INJURIES
With the season ending knee injury to Germain Fitch and a stress fracture in the left ankle of forward Josh Almanson, the Falcons will dress just seven scholarship players until late December, when Almanson could possibly return.
THE SERIES AGAINST OAKLAND
Thursday night's matchup with Oakland will be the third meeting between the two institutions. The Grizzlies are coached by BGSU alum Greg Kampe who is in his 19th year at the Rochester, Michigan school. BGSU leads the series 2-0 with the Falcons winning in BG, 70-59 in 1998 and at Oakland, 69-57 in 1999. Kampe was the last BGSU athlete to play both football and basketball in the same season (1978) prior to the Falcons' Cole Magner playing for both squads this year.
EYINK BREAKS OUT OF SLUMP
Sophomore forward Cory Eyink keyed the Falcons comeback against #2 Alabama with two big three-point baskets and finished with a career-high 12 points and seven rebounds. Eyink has started four games this season and is averaging four points and 4.5 rebounds.
REIMOLD FROM THE OUTSIDE
Sophomore forward John Reimold, who was the MAAC Freshman of the Year for Loyola (Md.) in 2001, is averaging 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds and is third in the MAC averaging three treys per game. He had his best game as a Falcon when he scored 19 points and hit five-of-seven from three-point range against Buffalo. He followed that up with 17 points at Northwestern, including five of six from long distance.
MATTOX LOOKS IN CONTROL
Junior point guard Jabari Mattox has handled his transition into the starting lineup with ease. Mattox tied his career-best with seven points against Michigan and Alabama and is seventh in the MAC in assists at 4.2. Against Northwestern, he played all 40 minutes and hit his first career three-point shot with 36 seconds remaining to give BGSU a 60-59 lead. He is averaging a team-best 33.8 minutes per game.
LEWIS STEPS INTO THE FIRE
Freshman Ronald Lewis could emerge as one of the top freshmen in the MAC as the season progresses. He had a career-best 14 points at Michigan. He has been a solid contributor averaging 7.5 points and four rebounds per game. He had 11 points at Northwestern and also scored double figures with 10 against Tiffin.
FITCH OUT FOR THE SEASON
Sophomore forward Germain Fitch suffered a season ending injury to his left knee Dec. 3 in practice and will likely miss the remainder of the season. He will be eligible to apply for a medical redshirt should he not play the rest of the season. Fitch averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds as a freshman and was second on the team with 32 offensive rebounds.
MOSS GETS HIS FEET WET
Freshman Raheem Moss scored his first points with the Falcons and had six points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals against Northwestern in a season-high 18 minutes of action. He had four points against Michigan.
RYAN IS THE LONE SENIOR
Shooting guard Cory Ryan is the Falcons' lone senior. He is averaging 7.8 points and 2.4 assists. He had a season-high 19 points against Tiffin.
LOOKING FOR DEPTH
Football player Cole Magner (WR), has been invited to join the team. Magner, a 6-2 freshman, was an All-State selection at Colony High School in Palmer, Alaska. He connected on his only three-point attempt when he saw action against Michigan. Freshman Patrick Phillips also joined the squad as a walk-on and had five points against Tiffin.
