Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Travel to Northern Illinois
December 30, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2002
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Bowling Green (5-4, 1-0) at N. Illinois (4-6, 0-1) 3:05 p.m.(Eastern), Saturday, January 4 NIU Convocation Center (9,100) Series Record: NIU leads 21-19 Last Meeting: at BGSU 91, Northern Illinois 61 (1/8/02) Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7)/WLQR-AM (1470) Internet: bgsufalcons.com
FALCONS LOOK TO EXTEND WINNING STREAK
Despite playing with just seven scholarship players over the last month, the BGSU Falcons have posted a three-game winning streak and a near-upset over the nation's #1 team, Alabama. Sophomore Germain Fitch suffered a season-ending knee injury and junior forward Josh Almanson suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle. Almanson could possibly return against the Huskies.
THE FALCONS AND THE HUSKIES
The Huskies own a 21-19 lead in the series with BGSU which began in the 1964-65 season. The Falcons have won the last five meetings since the 1997-98 season, with four of those coming in BGSU's Anderson Arena. In the Falcons' last visit to DeKalb, BGSU came away with a 78-67 triumph at Chick Evans Field House. This will be the Falcons first visit to the newly opened Convocation Center which boasts 9,100 seats. The Huskies are 4-6 overall and 0-1 in the MAC. They are 2-3 in their new facility, including a 75-57 loss to Marshall to begin MAC play. The Falcons are 5-4 and 1-0 in the MAC having defeated Buffalo, 76-59, at home in early December.
FALCONS GET OFF THE DECK AGAINST THE VIKINGS
Staring a first-half 10-point deficit in the face, the Falcons rallied for their first win away from Anderson Arena this season with an 80-72 triumph over Cleveland State in the Rock and Roll Shootout. Sophomore John Reimold led the Falcons with 24 points and scored 14 in two key Falcon runs. Trailing 26-16 in the first half, Reimold scored the next seven points to spark a 10-0 BGSU run. With the Falcons trailing by five at halftime, Reimold scored seven of the Falcons first nine points as BGSU built a four-point lead it would never give up. BGSU's tough man-to-man defense allowed the Falcons to seal the game with a 29-9 run over the first 14 minutes of the second half. Freshman Ron Lewis had a career-high 20 points and senior Cory Ryan had 13 second-half points to lead BGSU. The trio combined to make 27 of 32 free throws (Reimold 11/11, Lewis 9/10, Ryan 7/11) as the Falcons set a new tournament record by sinking 29 charity tosses (27, BGSU and Cleveland State-1999) and Reimold established a new tournament standard by making all 11 of his attempts (9, Danny Fortson, Cincinnati-1995). Along with his 24 points, Reimold had a career-best three blocked shots and added five rebounds in earning the Falcons' John McClendon Outstanding Player Award.
NOTES DURING THE three-game WINNING STREAK Six players are averaging in double figures during the streak including Reimold (16.0), Lewis (13.0), Ryan (12.7), Eyink (11.3), Netter (11.0), and Mattox (10.0)... the Falcons are shooting 41.4% from three-point range (24/58)... BGSU is averaging 11.7 steals... BGSU shot a season-high 85.3% from the line (29/34) against Cleveland State... BGSU opponents are shooting 40.4% from the field (61/151)... the Falcons had a season-best five blocked shots against Cleveland State...Reimold's 11 straight free throws made during the CSU game, matched the 2001-2002 top Falcon effort by Keith McLeod who also made all 11 shots against Evansville.
REIMOLD NAMED MAC WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore forward John Reimold, who was named MAC West Player of the Week, is averaging 14.6 points and 4.4 rebounds and is third in the MAC averaging three treys per game. He is coming off a season-high 24-point effort against CSU and is averaging 20 points in his last two games. Against Buffalo, he scored 19 points and hit five-of-seven from three-point range. He followed that up with 17 points at Northwestern, including five of six from long distance. In the last three games, Reimold is shooting 41.4% from long distance (12/29). Reimold was the MAAC Freshman of the Year in 2001 at Loyala (Md.).
RYAN PROVIDING LEADERSHIP AS THE LONE SENIOR
Shooting guard Cory Ryan is the Falcons' lone senior. He is averaging 9.4 points and 3.2 assists. Against CSU, Ryan scored 13 second half points, but also added four assists and three steals. He is shooting 50.0% from the floor over the last two games (9/18). He had 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals against Urbana. He had a season-high 19 points against Tiffin and had 10 points, two steals and a career-high five assists against Oakland. Ryan also has 26 assists (2nd on the team ) with just 11 turnovers.
LEWIS MAY BE ONE OF THE TOP FROSH IN THE MAC
Freshman Ronald Lewis could emerge as one of the top freshmen in the MAC as the season progresses. He had a career-high 20 points against CSU and added six boards, two assists, two blocks and two steals. He had previously scored 14 points against Michigan and Oakland. He has been a solid contributor averaging 8.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He had 11 points at Northwestern and also scored double figures with 10 against Tiffin. Lewis leads the Falcons with 16 steals.
