Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Take On Central Michigan
March 11, 2003 | Men's Basketball
March 11, 2003
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2003 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament, Quarterfinal #9 Bowling Green (13-15, 8-10) vs. #1 C. Mich. (21-6, 14-4) 7 p.m., Thursday, March 13, Gund Arena (11,000-Lower Bowl) Series Record: BGSU leads 32-25. Last Meeting: at CMU 88, BGSU 71 (2/1/03) Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7)/WLQR-AM (1470) Internet: bgsufalcons.com/wbvi.com
2003 First Energy MAC Men's Basketball Tournament Monday, March 10 at #4 Northern Illinois 81, #13 Buffalo 64 at #5 Western Michigan 78, #12 Toledo 64 # 11 Ohio 79, at #6 Akron 77 at #7 Marshall 83, #10 Eastern Michigan 75 # 9 Bowling Green 90, at #8 Ball State 81Thursday, March 13 at Gund Arena, Cleveland Game 1 - #7 Marshall (14-14, 9-9) vs. #2 Kent State (19-8, 12-6), noon Game 2 - #11 Ohio (13-15, 8-10) vs. #3 Miami (13-14, 11-7), 2:00* Game 3 - #9 Bowling Green (13-15, 8-10) vs. #1 Central Michigan (21-6, 14-4), 7:00 Game 4 - #4 Northern Illinois (16-13, 11-7) vs. Western Michigan (19-9, 10-8), 9:00* * or 30 minutes following previous game
Friday, March 14 at Gund Arena, Cleveland Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8:30 FOX Sports Net Regionals
Saturday, March 15 at Gund Arena, Cleveland Championship Game, 7:00, ESPN2
MAC MADNESS
The ninth-seeded Bowling Green State University men's basketball team, 13-15 overall and 8-10 in the MAC, will battle MAC regular season champion Central Michigan, 21-6 and 14-4 in the league, in the quarterfinals of the 2003 First Energy MAC Men's Basketball Tournament. This will be the fourth straight year that both teams will advance to Cleveland. This will be the first-ever postseason matchup between the two teams.
THE SERIES
The Falcons hold a 32-25 overall edge in the series. The Chippewas captured the only meeting this season, an 88-71 triumph on February 1. Since both Jay Smith and Dan Dakich took over their respective programs in the 1997-98 season, BGSU has won four of the six meetings.
CLEVLEAND ROCKS FOR FALCONS
With the win against Cleveland State at the Rock and Roll Shootout in December, BGSU has a 4-3 record at Cleveland's Gund Arena since December of 1999. Since last March, the Falcons have won three of its last four games at the site of the MAC Tournament.
FIRST ROUND
BGSU Coach Dan Dakich is now 3-0 in MAC Tournament first round games having won at Akron, 80-74 in overtime in 1999, against Western Michigan at home, 74-68, in 2001 and Monday at Ball State, 90-81.
BETTER FOR THE EXPERIENCE
No member of the BGSU men's basketball team had ever started a post-season game prior to the Ball State game on Monday. The Falcons will only lose senior Cory Ryan from a team that has lost three starters due to injury and will suit up six scholarship players.
HOT RON
Guard Ron Lewis is the top scoring freshman in the MAC averaging 11.5 points after averaging 17.9 points in the last seven games. His 321 points scored is the most registered by a freshman under Dan Dakich (Keith McLeod scored 247 points as a frosh). In addition, Lewis has averaged more minutes per game (30.9) than any previous freshman to play under Dakich with the Falcons. The last three Falcons to average more than double figures as freshmen later went on to earn MAC Player of the Year honors. Antonio Daniels averaged 12.6 points in 1994, Anthony Stacey averaged 16 points in 1996 and Keith McLeod averaged 12.4 in 1999. Lewis (4.9 rebounds) is looking to be the first freshman to lead the team in rebounding since Stacey led the Falcons in 1996. He scored a team-high 28 points and had eight rebounds and seven assists against Ball State. He set a MAC tournament record for free throws made (22) and attempted (25). In addition, his 22 made charity tosses is a new BGSU record. In the last three games (in five days), Lewis has played 118 of a possible 120 minutes. He has averaged 21.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and four assists during that stretch and also is shooting 55.6% from the field and 82.9 from the line (34/41).
