Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Toledo
February 23, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2004
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Toledo (16-8, 10-5) at Bowling Green (12-13, 7-7) 7 p.m., Wednesday, February 25 Anderson Arena (4,700) Series Record: UT leads 78-71. Last Meeting: at UT 83, BGSU 80 (1/22/04) Local Radio: WPFX-FM 107.7, WCWA-AM 1230
FALCONS ARE IN A FOUR-GAME HOMESTAND
The Falcons are in the second game of a four-game homestand. In the final three home games of the season, BGSU will be looking to avenge earlier road losses to Toledo (83-80), Ball State (76-63) and Western Michigan (88-73). The Falcons conclude the MAC regular season at Eastern Michigan, March 6. If the MAC Tournament were to begin today, BGSU would be in a three-way tie for the fifth seed.
THE SERIES WITH THE ROCKETS
Toledo holds a 78-71 edge in the series which began during the 1915-16 season. The Rockets have won two of the last three meetings in BG and seven of the last eight overall. In the last six of those Rocket triumphs, four of those games were decided by four points or less.
BETTER DEFENSE HELPS FALCONS WIN THREE OF FOUR
In the last four games (which has led to three BGSU wins), the Falcon defense has been at its best this season. In those games, opponents are shooting 37.9 percent from the field (85/224) and 28.4 percent from three-point range (21/74). Against Northern Illinois, the Falcons held the Huskies scoreless for the final 9:20 of the first half and limited them to one for 17 shooting from two point range in the first 20 minutes of the game.
ALMANSON LEADS STRONG BENCH EFFORT
Another reason for the recent Falcon surge is its play off the bench which has averaged 26.5 points in the last two games. Junior Josh Almanson has averaged 16 points and 5.5 rebounds in the last two games. He made a career-high three triples against Youngstown State and shot 61.5 percent (8/13) from the field, made all four of his three-point field goals and connected on 12 of 13 free throw attempts.
FALCONS HAVE STRONG NUMBERS IN MAC PLAY
In league games only, BGSU is second in the MAC in three-point field goal percentage (39.5) and third in field goal percentage (45.9) and field goal percentage defense (41.5).
EYINK AND WRIGHT ARE CONTRIBUTING MORE
Since both junior Cory Eyink and sophomore Steven Wright returned to the starting lineup against Ohio, the Falcon fortunes have moved upward. In the last four games, Eyink is averaging 11.4 points and is shooting 50.0 percent from three point range (11/20). Wright is averaging 10.5 points, six rebounds and 5.5 assists in that same span and is shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 62.5 percent (3/5) from three-point range.
