Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Akron
January 17, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Akron (7-5, 2-1) at Bowling Green (8-5, 4-1) 4 p.m., Saturday, January 18 Anderson Arena (4,700) Series Record: BGSU leads 21-10 Television: Fox Sports Ohio Last Meeting: BGSU 60, Akron 58 Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7)/WLQR-AM (1470) Internet: bgsufalcons.com
FALCONS LOOK TO START NEW STREAK
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team leads the MAC West Division with a 4-1 record, but saw its six-game winning streak snapped at Eastern Michigan, 73-67.
FALCONS AND THE ZIPS
BGSU holds a 21-10 advantage in the series which began in 1938. Last year the Falcons won two out of three, including a 76-46 contest in Anderson Arena. BGSU needed a late three-point field goal to capture a MAC Tournament quarterfinal game, 60-58, while Akron won an overtime thriller, 87-86 on its home floor. Since the 1997-98 season, seven of the 11 meetings have been decided by six points or less, with Akron winning four of the seven nailbiters. The Zips are coached by Dan Hipsher, who played for the Falcons from 1973-77.
ALMANSON JOINS FITCH ON THE SHELF
Junior Josh Almanson, the team's most experienced player entering the season, will undergo surgery on his left ankle and will miss the remainder of the season. He will apply for a medical hardship. Almanson has been hobbled by a stress fracture in the ankle all season long and missed six games in November and December. He attempted to return two weeks ago but usually was limited to action in one half per game. He was averaging 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds. Sophomore Germain Fitch underwent knee surgery on January 6 to repair a torn ACL and also will apply for a medical hardship. He played in just two games this season and averaged 6.5 points. Both were preseason starters for the Falcons.
DEFENSE FUELS FALCONS
The Falcons are second in the MAC in steals (8.6) and rank third in the conference in scoring defense (66.4), third in field goal percentage defense (42.6), first in three-point field goal percentage defense (28.3), and third in turnover margin (+1.0). Since the 2000-2001 season, BGSU is 16-0 when it holds opponents to 60 points or less and 33-3 over the course of Dakich's six-year tenure.
MAKING A STOP
When BGSU made a defensive stop in the final 12.9 seconds to win the game at Kent State, it marked the eighth time in 10 games over the last two seasons that BGSU has won a game on defense when leading by one or two points in the final 30 seconds of a game.
FALCONS ON FOX SPORTS OHIO
The Falcons will make three more appearances on Fox Sports Ohio this season. Home games against Akron (January 18, 4 p.m.), Kent State (February 6, 8 p.m.) and Western Michigan (February 15, 2 p.m.) will be aired on regional television. Please note the time changes for all three home games. The ESPN Bracket Buster scheduled for February 22 will be on ESPN, ESPN 2 or ESPN Regional television.
EYINK COMES UP BIG ON THE ROAD
Sophomore forward Cory Eyink is averaging 9.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in his last six games. He had his best ever MAC game with 14 points at Eastern Michigan after he scored 11 points at Kent State and made the game-winning layup at Northern Illinois. He had a career-high 16 points and nine rebounds in the Falcons' win over Urbana. He had 11 points and eight rebounds in 38 minutes of action against Oakland. He also has knocked down 47.3 % of his three-point attempts in the last eight games (9/19). He keyed the Falcons' comeback against #1 Alabama with two big three-point baskets and finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. He played all 40 minutes at Kent State.
