Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Travels To Ohio
January 10, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2007
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Bowling Green (10-4, 1-0) at Ohio (10-4, 1-0) January 11, 7 p.m. The Convo (13,080) Series Record: BGSU leads 65-53 Radio: BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker) Up Next: Akron at BGSU, January 14, 2 p.m.
FALCONS AND BOBCATS IN ANOTHER MAC TUSSLE
If the first weekend is any indication (three games decided by a combined eight points), the battle for the MAC East title could emerge as one of the best races in recent history. Bowling Green and Ohio will meet for the 119th time on Thursday night. BGSU, the most improved team in the MAC thus far, is 10-4 and 1-0 and coming off a 74-73 victory at home over Buffalo. Ohio, also 10-4 and 1-0, defeated Akron 77-72 last Saturday.
EVERY SECOND MATTERS FOR THE FALCONS
Senior Martin Samarco hit a fall-away three-pointer with 2.8 seconds left against Buffalo to give BGSU the comeback win. It was the third time this season, that BGSU has won a game with a field goal in the final seconds. Against South Alabama, junior Ryne Hamblet hit an eight-foot runner as time expired to give the Falcons a one-point win, and Samarco also hit a one-legged jumper at the buzzer to beat Troy.
BGSU and Samford are the only teams in the country to win at least three games this season with a field goal or free throw in the final seconds this season.
DAKICH HAS SECOND BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE AT BGSU, NOW 10TH ALL-TIME IN WINS BY A MAC COACH
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 153-126 (55.0) overall (second-best in BGSU history) and is 87-76 (55.0) in the MAC. With the win against Jacksonville State, he surpassed Western Michigan's Bob Donewald to move into 10th place in overall victories by a MAC coach. He ranks 12th all-time in MAC history in league wins. 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 on the last play of the game against Buffalo, BGSU is now 29-5 since the 2001-02 season when holding a one possession lead in the final minute of a game.
A former player at Indiana (1981-85), Dakich spent 11 seasons on the staff of the Hoosiers under the NCAA's all-time leader in victories, Coach Bob Knight. Dakich was an assistant coach for 262 of Knight's record setting 880+ collegiate wins.
DEFENSE HAS FUELED FALCON SUCCESS
A big reason for the early season success for BGSU has been the improved defensive effort of the Falcons. Last year, BGSU allowed 71.4 points per game on 45.7% shooting from the field. This year, BGSU leads the MAC in field goal percentage defense (38.9%) and is fourth in scoring defense allowing 64.0 points per game.
SAMARCO IS THE MAC'S TOP SCORER, 7TH IN THE NATION
BGSU senior Martin Samarco was named MAC East Player of the Week for the second time this season after his 43-point scoring outburst against Buffalo. He made a career-high 16 field goals and tied his career-best with seven three-point field goals. He is averaging 22.6 points per game. He was honored earlier this season (12/18) and has been chosen for the award four times in his career. 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 142. He had a school record 100 last season.
STEPPING UP IN THE CLUTCH
BGSU sophomore walk-on Brian Guerin had a career-high 10 points and 10 assists in the win over Buffalo. Coach Dakich also praised freshmen Ryan Sims (2 points, 4 boards), Otis Polk (3 blocks, 3 boards) and Brandon Bland (8 minutes of defense) for helping BGSU come back from an 11-point deficit in the final five minutes.
BOBCATS ARE A VETERAN GROUP
Ohio returns three starters from last year's team and has several key performers back from the 2005 MAC Tournament Championship team. Akron transfer Bubba Walther has had an immediate impact averaging 15 points per game. Sophomore Jerome Tillman is averaging 14.8 points and 7.9 rebounds, junior Leon Williams is contributing 14.4 points and 8.9 boards, and senior Whitney Davis is averaging 12.2 points.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The Falcons are 8-2 in MAC openers and 9-1 in MAC home openers under Dan Dakich... Falcon starters have missed 17 1/2 games this season (Erik Marschall- 8-1/2, Nate Miller-8, Ryne Hamblet-1)... the Falcons are 4-2 away from home (2-2, road, 2-0 neutral)... in December, the Falcons won seven games in a month for the first time since February of 2000 when Coach Dakich led BGSU to the MAC regular season title... Akron (4), BGSU (2), and Buffalo (2) are the only MAC East teams with two or more victories on an opponents home floor this season... BGSU is 5-1 this season in games decided by three points or less... senior Martin Samarco is averaging 25.9 points at home this season... sophomore Nate Miller is averaging 7.0 of his 10.7 points in the second half... sophomore Darryl Clements made four free throws in the final seconds in the 59-56 win on the road at Wright State... 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... junior Ryne Hamblet hit a runner for the win against USA, while Samarco hit an 18-footer from the near corner against Troy in those last second wins... Hamblet also hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:08 to go against WSU... freshmen centers Otis Polk and Marc Larson are a combined nine of 17 from the field in games BGSU has won... sophomore Brian Moten is shooting 54.5% from the field and sophomore Brian Guerin is hitting on 61.1% of his tries... freshman Ryan Sims is fourth on the team with 10 three-point field goals... freshman Brandon Bland does not have a turnover in 38 minutes of play... sophomore Dusan Radivojevic has made 40.0% of his three-point attempts in the last seven games... as a team, the Falcons are shooting 42.3% from long distance in the last seven games... BGSU is 87-25 at home since the 1998-99 season... BGSU has played eight one-point games since the 2004-05 season and is 6-2 in those contests... BGSU is 32-3 since the 2001 season when holding an opponent under 60 points... the Falcons are shooting 39.5% from three-point land on the road... home teams are shooting just 28.3% from long distance against BGSU.
