Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Host Central Arkansas on Saturday
December 07, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2006
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Central Arkansas (3-5) at Bowling Green (4-2) Saturday, December 9, 2 P.M. Anderson Arena (4,700) Series Record: First Meeting Radio: BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker and Kirk Cowan) 107.7 FM and 1230 AM (Findlay/Bowling Green/Toledo) TV: BCSN (Delay-Dave Horger and Fran Voll) Up Next: BGSU visits Wright State at 5 p.m., December 16
FALCONS FINISH UP FIVE-GAME HOMESTAND
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team (4-2) will host Central Arkansas (3-5) to conclude a five-game homestand before finals. The Falcons are coming off an 81-72 win over Arkansas State on Monday evening. It was their third straight victory after beating Troy, 71-69, on a 19-foot shot by senior Martin Samarco as time expired last Saturday and defeating South Alabama, 65-64, on a four-foot runner at the buzzer by junior Ryne Hamblet on November 25.
SAMARCO IS THE MAC'S TOP SCORER, 17TH IN THE NATION
BGSU senior Martin Samarco is the top scorer in the MAC averaging 23.2 points per game. He has scored 20 points or more in four straight games and is looking to be the first Falcon since Keith McLeod to score 20+ points or more in five straight games. McLeod, who is now with the Golden State Warriors and was the 2002 MAC Player of the Year, did so in the final five games of his career. During this current homestand, Samarco is averaging 27.0 points and 5.0 rebounds. He is shooting 50.7% from the field and 40.0% from three-point range. He is coming off back-to-back 29-point efforts against Arkansas State and Troy. He is currently ranked 17th overall in scoring among NCAA Division I players. He also is third in the league in steals averaging 2.17 per game.
IN THE MAC
The Falcons lead the league in defensive rebounds at 24.2 per game. They are fourth in the league in scoring defense (64.0), rank third in field goal percentage defense (39.9) and lead the conference in steals (10.3). BGSU also is third in scoring margin (+5.8), fifth in three-point field goal percentage (36.4), second in assists (17.8), turnover margin (+4) and assist/turnover ratio (1.19).
OTHER MAC STANDOUTS
Junior Ryne Hamblet is ninth in the league in rebounds (6.0), eighth in three-point field goal percentage (45.0), third in defensive rebounds (5.5), and second in assists (5.3). Sophomore Erik Marschall is eighth in field goal percentage (56.4) and sixth in offensive rebounds (2.7). Freshman Ryan Sims is third in three-point field goal percentage (50.0). Sophomore Dusan Radivojevic is eighth in the league in assist/turnover ratio (1.8), 11th in assists (3.3), and 12th in steals (1.7).
MARSCHALL OUT WITH BROKEN FOOT
Sophomore Erik Marschall was coming off the best half of his career with 14 points, three rebounds and three assists when he felt pain in his right foot just before halftime against Arkansas State. He was taken for X-rays which revealed he suffered a broken foot which will sideline him for at least four weeks. He is averaging 11.8 points and 4.5 rebounds and is shooting 55.6 from the field. He had scored in double figures in six straight games this 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 147-124 (54.3) overall and is 86-76 (53.0) in the MAC. He ranks 12th all-time in MAC history in league wins and in overall victories by a coach. He needs one win to tie BGSU Hall-of-Famer and former Kent State Coach Jim McDonald on the league's all-time win list at 148. BGSU is 34-6 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 Arkansas State, he surpassed John Weinert for fourth place on the all-time win list at BGSU.
QUICKLY
Nine players are averaging more than 10 minutes per game of playing time...the Falcons are shooting 48.5 from the floor at home this season... seven different players have contributed double digit scoring in at least one game this season.
ABOUT CENTRAL ARKANSAS
Central Arkansas is a first-year NCAA Division I program that will compete in the Southland Conference. The are 3-5 but have lost overtime games to St. Bonaventure on the road and to Mississippi Valley at home. They also lost a 46-43 contest to Fairfield. Junior forward Durrell Nevels is the team's top performer to date averaging 12.5 points and 7.6 rebounds. Freshman guard Marcus Pillow is averaging 12.1 points. They are coming off an 81-64 victory over Texas College, last Saturday.
