Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Host Troy On Saturday
November 28, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2006
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Troy (4-3) at Bowling Green (2-2) Saturday, December 2, 2 P.M. Anderson Arena (4,500) Series Record: BG leads 1-0 Last Meeting: BGSU 60, at Troy 52 (12/19/05) Radio: BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker and Kirk Cowan) TV: BCSN (Delay-Dave Horger and Fran Voll) Up Next: BGSU hosts Arkansas State, Monday, December 4 at 7 p.m.
FALCONS HOST THIRD SUN BELT OPPONENT OF THE SEASON
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team (2-2) will host Troy, 4-3, at 2 p.m., Saturday. This will be the third Sun Belt Conference opponent the Falcons have played this season (at Arkansas State, South Alabama). BGSU will have a second matchup with Arkansas State on Monday at home at 7 p.m. This game also is the third in a string of five straight home games before finals begin on December 11.
BGSU is coming off an exciting 65-64 win over the 2006 Sun Belt Champions, South Alabama. Junior Ryne Hamblet banked in a runner at the buzzer for the win. Since January of 2005, 15 of the last 24 games played at Anderson Arena have been decided in the final minute (62.5%).
BGSU and Troy will meet for the second time in two seasons. The Falcons topped the Trojans, 60-52 last year in Alabama.
DEFENSE STANDS OUT
The Falcons are third in the MAC in scoring defense (60.8), fourth in field goal percentage defense (40.1%) and second in the league in steals (10.3). BGSU has two players tied for sixth in the MAC in steals in junior guard Ryne Hamblet ranking third (2.0) and sophomore forward Dusan Radivojevic at sixth (2.0).
SAMARCO IS SECOND IN THE MAC IN SCORING, HAMBLET LEADS IN ASSISTS
Senior guard Martin Samarco is averaging 25 points in his last two games and is second in the league in scoring (20.2 ppg.). He also is fourth in the league in three-point field goals made (2.5). Hamblet leads the MAC in assists averaging 5.5 per game. Freshman Ryan Sims is fifth in the league in three-point field goal percentage having made four of eight triples this season (50.0). Sophomore Erik Marschall is sixth in the league in offensive rebounds averaging 2.75 per game.
INSIDE TRIO RATTLES USA
The Falcons got 24 points and nine rebounds from three players inside against South Alabama. Senior center Matt Lefeld scored 12 points in 20 minutes off the bench, sophomore forward Erik Marschall had 10 points and six rebounds and freshman center Otis Polk added two points and ablocked shot in five minutes. The trio made 11 of 17 field goal attempts in that game.
FALCON FACTS
BGSU Coach Dan Dakich is in his 10th season with the Falcons and was the second fastest men's basketball coach in school history to win 100 games. He is 145-124 (53.9) overall and is 86-76 (53.0) in the MAC. He ranks 12th all-time in MAC history in wins and 13th in overall victories by a league coach. The Falcons are now 10-0 in home openers. BGSU is 32-6 at home against non-conference foes under Coach Dakich. His four 18+win seasons are tied for second most by a Falcon coach as he notched those in his first eight seasons after BGSU had posted just four 18+win seasons in the previous 14 seasons prior to his arrival. He needs one win to tie John Weinert for fourth place on the all-time win list at BGSU. BGSU is 5-2 against the Sun Belt since the 1999-2000 season.
TRACKING THE TROJANS
Troy is coming off a 63-56 loss on the road at Alabama State on Monday night. They are in a stretch of playing five straight games away from home. They are 0-2 on the season on the road after finishing 2-10 on an opponents floor a year ago. They nearly upset Auburn on its home floor in the season opener leading in the final minute before falling, 71-68. Five players average 29 minutes or more of playing time for the Trojans. Junior college transfer O'Darien Bassett (Okaloosa-Walton) is averaging a team-high 19.9 points, senior transfer Richard Chaney (Utah) is averaging 15.6 points and 7.3 rebounds, senior Cedric Jackson is averaging 12.3 points and senior Sammy Sharp is averaging 10.4 points. Coach Don Maestri is in his 25th season at Troy and has a 415-280 record.
