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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Visit Michigan
December 09, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2002
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Bowling Green (2-2, 1-0) at Michigan (0-6)
7 p.m., Wednesday, December 11
Crisler Arena (13,751)
Series Record: Michigan leads 6-3
Last Meeting: at BGSU 65, Michigan 59 (11/28/01)
Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7)
Internet: bgsufalcons.com
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 during this stretch which takes them on the road to two Big Ten facilities followed by a matchup with #5 Alabama in seven days. Almanson will be out until late December. To help with practice, the Falcons have added football players Cole Magner and Will Myles to the active roster.
NORTHWESTERN PROVIDED A FIRST-TIME EXPERIENCE FOR SEVERAL
Despite the disappointment of losing a close game on the road in the final seconds, the Falcons can take away the benefit of several areas of growth because of that game. BGSU rallied from a nine-point first-half deficit on the road and outscored the Wildcats 22-3 for a 10-minute period in the first half. The Falcons also rallied from a five-point second-half deficit and led 57-56 with 3:01 remaining and 60-59 with 36 seconds left when Jabari Mattox hit the first three-point basket of his career. Mattox, senior Cory Ryan, freshman Ron Lewis, junior Kevin Netter, and sophomore Cory Eyink, all were on the floor in the closing seconds of a close game for the first time in their careers with the Falcons.
NETTER IS BETTER
Junior center Kevin Netter had quite a week for the Falcons. He scored a career-high 36 points in the Falcons win against Buffalo and followed that up with a 20-point, six-rebound effort against Northwestern. He shot 58.8 from the floor (20/37) and 80.0 (16/20) from the line. He also had career-bests with three steals in each game. He is averaging 25 points in the last three games.
REIMOLD FINDS HIS STROKE
Sophomore forward John Reimold, who was the MAAC Freshman of the Year for Loyola (Md.) in 2001, shot 81.3 from the field last week (13/16) and 76.9 (10/13) from three-point range last week. He had his best game as a Falcon when 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. For the season, he is averaging 16.5 points and is shooting 57.9 from the field and 55.6 from three-point range.
THE FALCONS' BIG TEN/SEC ROAD TOUR
Saturday's game at Northwestern began a difficult stretch for BGSU as they face tough road tests in visiting the Wildcats, Michigan (December 11) and #5 Alabama (December 14) in the Coors Classic in Mobile, Alabama. Wednesday's game at Michigan is the fourth time a Dan Dakich-coached team will visit a Big Ten facility, and second in two games. In 1998, the Falcons played at Indiana, while in 2000 they visited Michigan. The Falcons' last win on the road against the Big Ten came in November of 1996, when they topped Purdue, 86-83. BGSU was 1-0 last year against the Big Ten defeating Michigan, 65-59, in Bowling Green. Michigan is 0-6 and have lost two games at home to MAC opponents Western Michigan, 56-52, and Cental Michigan, 65-58.
FITCH OUT FOR THE SEASON
Sophomore forward Germain Fitch suffered what is believed to be a season ending injury to his left knee Tuesday in practice and will likely miss the remainder of the season. He will undergo an MRI on the knee, but it is believed he has a torn ACL. 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.
MATTOX LOOKS IN CONTROL
Junior point guard Jabari Mattox looked every bit the floor general against Buffalo with his outstanding defense and ball distribution. Mattox tied his career-best with seven points and added six assists and three steals. 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. For the season, he has 21 assists and just 10 turnovers in leading the team averaging 35 minutes per game.
LEWIS STEPS INTO THE FIRE Freshman Ronald Lewis has been a solid contributor averaging 7.8 points and is leading the team with 4.8 rebounds per game. He had a season-high 11 points at Northwestern and also scored double figures with 10 against Tiffin.
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.
RYAN IS THE LONE SENIOR
Shooting guard Cory Ryan is the Falcons lone senior. He is averaging 10 points and 3.0 assists. He had a season-high 19 points against Tiffin.
LOOKING FOR DEPTH
Two football players, Will Myles (QB) and Cole Magner (WR), have been invited to join the team. Myles, a 5-11 freshman, was an All-Blue Catholic Division performer at Chicago's St. Rita High School, while Magner, a 6-2 freshman, was an All-State selection at Colony High School in Palmer, Alaska. Freshman Patrick Phillips also joined the squad as a walk-on and had five points against Tiffin.
