Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Travels to Bradley
November 27, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 27, 2003
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Bowling Green (2-0) at Bradley (3-1) 8:05 p.m. (EST), Saturday, November 29 Carver Arena (11,300) Series Record: Tied 2-2. Last Meeting: at BGSU 78, Bradley 63 (12/2/61) Local Radio: WPFX-FM 107.7, WFRO-FM 99.1, WCWA-AM 1230
FALCONS OFF TO 2-0 START
BGSU is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 1999-2000 season after its 64-50 victory over Findlay. The Falcons, who won the MAC title that season, began that year with six straight victories.
BGSU AGAINST BRADLEY
Bradley assistant coach Al Biancalana (4-28-60) is the game's only participant that was born when these two teams last met. BGSU and Bradley have split four meetings, with the last one coming in December of 1961 when the Falcons took a 78-63 win in the lone meeting in Bowling Green. Bradley captured both contests in Peoria, 99-72 in 1959 and 81-78 in 1953, but BGSU bested the Braves, 82-77, in the consolation game of the 1949 NIT.
FALCONS HAVE WON TWO STRAIGHT IN THE VALLEY
BGSU will be looking for its third straight win at a Missouri Valley Conference facility. In the 2001-02 season, BGSU won at Indiana State, 65-55, and at Evansville, 84-72. During Dan Dakich's tenure, the Falcons also have played at Illinois State, Southwest Missouri State and at Northern Iowa.
ABOUT BRADLEY
The Braves, who are guided by second-year head coach Jim Les, are 3-1 after defeating Miami (Fla.), 83-82, in Las Vegas. They also have two home wins over Louisiana-Monroe (73-65, OT) and Northeastern (92-86). Their lone defeat came at the hands of Lubbock Christian, 89-81, in Las Vegas. The Braves are led by senior guards James Gillingham (20.5 ppg.) and Phillip Gilbert (17.2 ppg.). They also have a talented sophomore forward in Marcus Sommerville (18.2 ppg., 8.8 rpg.). Gilbert was selected as the Valley's preseason co-player of the year, while the Braves were tabbed to finish third behind Wichita State and Creighton, in the MVC.
NETTER, HOBSON SHINE IN FINDLAY WIN
Senior center Kevin Netter posted the fourth double-double of his career with 19 points and 11 rebounds against Findlay in the Falcons, 64-50 victory on Tuesday night. For Netter, the 11 rebounds was a career-high. Freshman forward Chris Hobson added 11 points off the bench and hit a key three-pointer at the end of the first half to give the Falcons a 13-point advantage over the ninth ranked team on the NCAA II level.
MORE FINDLAY POSTGAME NOTES
The Falcons have now won 20 straight at home against non-conference opposition since November of 1998. The Falcons are 2-0 for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. BGSU's defense was outstanding limiting the Oilers to 27.9% shooting from the floor and just 50 points. Entering the game, Findlay (the 9th ranked team in NCAA II) was shooting 50.2 from the field and averaging 98 points per game. The Falcons are the second MAC team that Findlay has played this year. Miami defeated them 63-60 in an exhibition game earlier this month.
The Falcon bench outscored the starters 38 to 26. The Falcons outrebounded the Oilers 50-31. Freshman Austin Montgomery added eight points off the bench and had four rebounds and three assists.
TOUGH DEFENDERS
The Falcons, who finished third in the MAC in scoring defense (68.8) and field goal percentage defense (43.4) last season are currently allowing just 64 points per game on 36.0 percent shooting. BGSU also is outrebounding its opponents 42.5 to 31.5 and have posted an average of 6.5 blocks per game in the first two contests.
LEWIS TO THE LINE
In the last 10 games dating back to last season, sophomore guard Ron Lewis has made 103 free throws in 123 attempts (83.7%). This season, he has made 21 of 25 free throw attempts in two games (84.0%).
