Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Host Rematch With Arkansas State
December 03, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2006
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Arkansas State (4-6) at Bowling Green (3-2) MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 7 P.M. Anderson Arena (4,500) Series Record: ASU leads 2-1 Last Meeting: at ASU 64, BGSU 54 (11/16/06) Radio: BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker and Kirk Cowan) TV: BCSN (Delay-Dave Horger and Fran Voll) Up Next: BGSU hosts Central Arkansas, Saturday, December 9 at 2 p.m.
FALCONS COMING OFF ANOTHER FANTASTIC FINISH
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team (3-2) will host Arkansas State (4-6) to conclude a stretch of four of five games against Sun Belt Conference opposition against three different teams. This will be the second meeting of the season between the two teams as the Indians held off the Falcons, 64-54 in Jonesboro in November 16.
The Falcons are coming off their second straight win at the buzzer after defeating Troy, 71-69, Saturday afternoon when senior Martin Samarco hit an off-balance 19-foot shot from the left corner after the Trojans rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final 2:32 and tied the game with 4.7 seconds left.
Ironically, the Indians are coming off a tough 73-70 loss at Eastern Illinois on Saturday when the Panthers Mike Robinson hit a shot from near half court at the buzzer.
DEFENSE STANDS OUT
The Falcons are third in the MAC in scoring defense (62.4), fourth in field goal percentage defense (39.0%) and second in the league in steals (9.8). BGSU has three players among the league leader in steals in junior guard Ryne Hamblet (1.8)and sophomore forward Dusan Radivojevic and senior Martin Samarco (1.6).
SAMARCO IS SECOND IN THE MAC IN SCORING, HAMBLET LEADS IN ASSISTS
Samarco is averaging 26.3 points in his last three games and is second in the league in scoring (22.0 ppg.). He also is fourth in the league in three-point field goals made (2.4). Hamblet leads the MAC in assists averaging 5.0 per game. Freshman Ryan Sims is fifth in the league in three-point field goal percentage having made four of nine triples this season (44.4). Sophomore Erik Marschall is sixth in the league in offensive rebounds averaging 2.5 per game.
GUERIN MAKES MOST OF CHANCE
Sensing his team needed a spark against Troy's zone defense, BGSU coach Dan Dakich inserted sophomore walkon guard Brian Guerin with about eight minutes left in the first half and never took him out the rest of the game. Guerin responded with a career-high five points and five assists and effectively guided the Falcons on a 22-8 run to close out the half. The Hudson, Ohio native had two steals and three rebounds.
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 146-124 (54.1) overall (tied for second-best in BGSU history) 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. BGSU is 33-6 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. With the win against Troy, he tied John Weinert for fourth place on the all-time win list at BGSU. BGSU is 6-2 against the Sun Belt since the 1999-2000 season and are 10-0 in home openers.
TRACKING THE INDIANS
Arkansas State will be playing its fourth road game in seven days. In addition to the loss at EIU, the Indians fell at memphis, 86-60, and at South Dakota State, 84-78. Junior guard Adrian Banks leads the Indians averaging 20 points per game. Junior forward Isaac Wells is averaging 14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds. Banks had 18 points against BGSU earlier this season, while Wells added 13 points and 12 rebounds. The Indians began a four game winning streak against BGSU, but are just 1-4 on the road this season. BGSU won the only other meeting in Bowling Green, a 74-51 contest on December 13, 1951.
