Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Host Urbana on Saturday Night
December 20, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2002
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Urbana (5-8) at Bowling Green (3-4, 1-0) 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 21 Anderson Arena (4,700) Series Record: BGSU leads 3-2 Last Meeting: at BGSU 107, Urbana 68 (12/9/00) Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7) Internet: bgsufalcons.com
CAREER-NIGHT HELPS BGSU HOLD OFF OAKLAND
Five of the seven players who saw action in the Falcons 75-68 win over Oakland tied or established career-bests in a variety of categories. Junior Kevin Netter, who finished with a team-high 17 points, notched his first career-double-double when he hauled in a career-high 10 rebounds. Junior Jabari Mattox established career-bests for points (15), rebounds (9) and three-pointers (2). Sophomore Cory Eyink played a career-high 38 minutes and pulled in a best-ever eight rebounds. Senior Cory Ryan established a career-high with five assists, while Ron Lewis tied his career-best with 14 points.
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 16.5 points per game, is third in the MAC in scoring (20.9) and sixth in field goal percentage (60.9). 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 (57).
MATTOX GAINS CONFIDENCE
Junior point guard Jabari Mattox has handled his transition into the starting lineup and gains confidence with each game. He had a career-high 15 points and nine rebounds along with seven assists against Oakland. Mattox tied his previous 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-leading 34.6 minutes per game. In the last three games, he is shooting 57.9 from the field (11/19).
TOUGH AT HOME
Since the 1998-99 season, BGSU is 50-7 at home. The Falcons have posted 17 straight wins against non-league foes and were 13-1 at home last season.
BEST LONG DISTANCE DEFENSE IN THE MAC
The Falcons are the top-rated team in the MAC in three-point field goal percentage defense. Following Oakland's four for 16 effort on Thursday night, BGSU opponents are now shooting 27.3 % (35/128) beyond the 19' 9" arc.
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 URBANA
This will be the fourth meeting between the two schools since Dan Dakich became the head coach at BGSU. The Falcons have won all three previous meetings with the Blue Knights. Urbana has won four straight games and are led by junior center Jarrod Brumbaugh who is averaging 14.5 points.
EYINK STEPPING UP
Sophomore forward Cory Eyink had 11 points and a career-high eight rebounds in 38 minutes of action against Oakland. He is averaging 11.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in his last two games. He also has knocked down 43 % of his three-point attempts in that same span (3/7). He keyed the Falcons comeback against #2 Alabama with two big three-point baskets and finished with a career-high 12 points and seven rebounds.
REIMOLD
Sophomore forward John Reimold, who was the MAAC Freshman of the Year for Loyola (Md.) in 2001, is averaging 13.0 points and 4.4 rebounds and is third in the MAC averaging 2.8 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. In the last two games, Reimold is shooting 50% from long distance (5/10).
LEWIS STEPS INTO THE FIRE
Freshman Ronald Lewis could emerge as one of the top freshmen in the MAC as the season progresses. He matched his previous career-best with 14 points against Oakland. He also scored 14 points at Michigan. He has been a solid contributor averaging 8.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He had 11 points at Northwestern and also scored double figures with 10 against Tiffin. Lewis leads the Falcons with 11 steals.
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 8.1 points and 2.7assists. He had a season-high 19 points against Tiffin. He had 10 points, two steals and a career-high five assists against Oakland.
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. The Falcons also added Keon Newson (DB) to the team this week. 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.
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.
