Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Prepare For Jacksonville State
December 28, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 28, 2006
Oneida Casino Holiday Classic December 29, 6 p.m. (Eastern) Bowling Green (8-3) vs. Jacksonville State (3-8) Resch Center (9,705) Series Record: First Meeting Radio: BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker) Up Next: BGSU vs. UWGB, Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
QUICK HITS
The Falcons have won seven of its last eight games after defeating Michigan Tech, 58-46, on Wednesday night. Jacksonville State fell to 3-8 after they lost to host UWGB, 90-67. They are a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.
OFF DAY ACTIVITES
After a brief morning practice, members of the traveling party went across the street and enjoyed an hour tour of famed Lambeau Field. It was a snowy day in Green Bay, so the group especially enjoyed coming out of the home tunnel and onto the playing field inside the stadium. The team also learned about the history of the Packers,toured the gift shop (cheeseheads are $17.95) and enjoyed the view from the stadium's suites.
HISTORY LESSON 101
"Men, there are three words you need to know that will turn you into winners. Discipline! Discipline! Discipline!"
Coach Vincent T. Lombardi prior to his first practice with the Green Bay Packers.
DEFENSE, HAMBLET KEY WIN OVER MICHIGAN TECH
Junior Ryne Hamblet had 18 points and a career-high 11 rebounds and senior Martin Samarco added 16 points, but the Falcons defensive pressure was the key as BGSU defeated Michigan Tech, 58-46, in the Oneida Casino Holiday Classic in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Falcons limited the Huskies to just 28.6 percent shooting and entered the game allowing a league-leading 39.1 field goal percentage defense. BGSU led 29-14 at halftime thanks to an 18-0 advantage off the bench. Hamblet and junior Dusan Radivojevic The Falcons led 34-16 with 17:08 to go, but saw Michigan Tech score the next nine points over a four-minute stretch. Hamblet then stepped up and nailed back-to-back three-pointers to start at 12-0 run which had BGSU leading 46-25 with 8:23 to go. Samarco and Nate Miller began to get hot and BGSU built a 56-32 advantage with 3:43 remaining.
MORE POST GAME NOTES
Hamblet had his first career double-double. His 11 rebounds are the most by a Falcon this season. All of his boards were on the defensive end. BGSU had just four turnovers, the fewest ever by a Dan Dakich coached team. BGSU improved to 32-3 since 2001 when holding an opponent under 60 points. BGSU had a season-high nine blocked shots. The 46 points allowed and 14 first half points was the best defensive effort for the Falcons this season.
BGSU has made 21 of 42 three pointers in the last two games. BGSU made a season-low six free throws.
SAMARCO IS THE MAC'S TOP SCORER, EIGHTH IN THE NATION
BGSU senior Martin Samarco was MAC East Player of the Week (12/18) and is the top scorer in the MAC and eighth in the country averaging 22.0 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 five games. He also had a career-high five steals against Arkansas State. He had 24 points and six assists against Marshall, including 16 points in the first half. 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 130. He had a school record 100 last season.
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 151-125 (54.8) 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 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 32-3 when allowing 60 points or less, including 4-0 this season. With the defensive stop at Marshall, BGSU is now 28-5 since the 2001-02 season when holding a one possession lead in the final minute of a game.
RYNE HITS NOTHING BUT TWINE
Junior guard Ryne Hamblet has played in big role in the Falcons success. He is coming off an 18-point, 11 rebound performance against Michigan Tech. He is ranked second in the MAC in steals (2.1), assists (4.7), three-point field goal percentage (50.0), defensive rebounds (5.7) and is ninth in blocks (.82) and three-point field goals made (1.91). He had a season-high 20 points and scored nine straight points to give the Falcons the lead for good against Northern Colorado. 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. He had made 11 of his last 16 three-pointers.
ABOUT THE GAMECOCKS
Jacksonville State has lost five of its last six games. Senior Courtney Bradley leads JSU averaging 17.7 points per game. Three of their most recent losses have been by one point (Samford, UT Martin, at Murray State). Coach Mike LaPlante is in his seventh year with the Gamecocks. They were 16-13 last season.
BENCH PRESS
One of the strengths of this Falcon squad is its versatility and depth. That was evident as the Falcons toppedWright State 22-4 with their reserves. BGSU also outmarked Northern Colorado, 31-5, with its reserves. BGSU also outscored Michigan Tech, 18-0 off the bench in the first half. For the season, BGSU is outscoring opponents off the bench, 22.9 to 14.0. Junior Ryne Hamblet is averaging 12.4 points as a reserve and sophomore Dusan Radivojevic is contributing 11.3 points off the bench.
ODDS AND TRENDS
BGSU is 4-0 this season in games decided by three points or less... BGSU is shooting 41.3% from three-point range in the last eight games... senior Martin Samarco is averaging 23 points per game in that time frame... junior Ryne Hamblet is shooting 54.3% from three-point range in those eight games as well... sophomore Nate Miller is averaging 8.3 of his 9.7 points in the second half... the Falcons have three run-off wins (buzzer beaters) in the last two seasons... Virginia Tech on the road and South Alabama and Troy at home... BGSU is 86-25 at home since the 1998-99 season... BGSU has played seven one-point games since the 2004-05 season and is 5-2 in those contests... BGSU is 32-3 since the 2001 season when holding an opponent under 60 points.
