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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Basketball to Visit Marshall
December 21, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2006
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Bowling Green (6-3) at Marshall (3-7) Friday, December 22, 7 P.M. Henderson Center (9,043) Series Record: BG leads 29-24 Radio: BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker) Internet Video: CSTV All-Access (HerdZone.com) Last Meeting: BGSU 69, at Marshall 64 (1/6/05) Up Next: BGSU at UWGB Tournament, December 27
FALCONS MEET OLD FRIEND
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team (6-3) will visit former MAC member Marshall (3-7) on Friday, November 22. This will be the 54th meeting between the two teams with BGSU holding a 29-24 advantage in the series. BGSU won the last meeting between the two teams, 69-64 in Huntington in January of 2005. BGSU has won five of its last six games including a 63-53 triumph over Northern Colorado on Tuesday. The Thundering Herd is coming off a 61-45 loss at Princeton. Both teams played Wright State a week ago with Marshall winning at home, 79-72, while BGSU won in Dayton, 59-56.
SAMARCO IS THE MAC'S TOP SCORER, REIGNING EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
BGSU senior Martin Samarco is the reigning MAC East Player of the Week and is the top scorer in the MAC and eighth in the country averaging 22.4 points per game. He has scored 20 points or more in six of the last seven games. He has shown marked improvement in other phases of the game besides scoring averaging 4.1 assists in the last four games. He also had a career-high five steals against Arkansas State. He had 22 points, 17 in the second half, against UNC. He had 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists at Wright State. He is the top returning scorer in the MAC after he finished second in the league averaging 18.9 points per game. He also is fourth all-time in three-point field goals made at BGSU with 123. He had a school record 100 last season.
IN THE MAC
The Falcons lead the league in steals and are 22nd in the nation in steals averaging 9.2 per game. The Falcons also are second in the MAC in field goal percentage defense (38.5), in turnover margin (+3.2) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2). BGSU is third in the MAC in scoring defense (62.8), assists (18.3) and fourth in three-point field goals made (7.2).
OTHER MAC STANDOUTS
Freshman Ryan Sims is second in the MAC in three-point field goal percentage (52.6). Junior Ryne Hamblet leads the MAC in assists (5.1), is third in defensive rebounds (5.1), steals (2.1) and eighth in assist/turnover ratio (1.6). Senior Matt Lefeld is seventh in the league in free throw percentage (76.9) and Samarco is 10th (75.9)
DAKICH HAS SECOND BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN SCHOOL HISTORY
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 149-125 (54.4) overall (second-best in BGSU history) and is 86-76 (53.0) in the MAC. He ranks 12th all-time in MAC history in league wins and is tied for 11th in overall victories by a coach. BGSU is 35-7 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. Since the 2001 season, BGSU is 31-3 when allowing 60 points or less, including 3-0 this season.
WAY TO GO RYNO
Named after former Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, Chicago native and junior guard Ryne Hamblet has played in big role in the Falcons success. He had a season-high 20 points and scored nine straight points to give the Falcons the lead for good against Northern Colorado. He also is the top assist man in the MAC averaging 5.1 per game. The Chipola JC transfer hit a game-winning buzzer-beater against South Alabama and averaged 14 points against Troy and Arkansas State. He had a career-high six steals against UCA. Against Wright State, his three-pointer with 1:08 to go gave BGSU the lead for good.
ABOUT THE THUNDERING HERD
Marshall is in its fourth season under Coach Ron Jirsa. They are 1-2 at home this season and are led by sophomore guard Markel Humphrey (13.9 ppg.), senior forward Travis Aikens (13.2) and junior guard Mark Dorris (12.0). They lost at Ohio, 84-78 in overtime and each of their first four losses came by four points or less. They currently are a member of Conference USA.
