Falcons Close Road Trip At Towson

Complete Game Notes (.pdf)

FOUR THINGS TO KNOW
• Bowling Green will look to bounce back from its lowest scoring output in 14 years as the Falcons lost to No. 18 Temple 63-39 Monday night. That was the least points scored in a game since a 63-36 loss to Miami (Ohio) on March 1, 1995.
• Bowling Green completes its five-game road swing against Towson. The Falcons are 2-2 during the stretch with wins at Fordham and Canisius followed by losses at Detroit and Temple.
• Towson has played two other Mid-American Conference teams, beating Miami (Ohio) at home 82-71 and losing to Buffalo in overtime at home 78-69.
• Bowling Green plays its final game of the decade against Towson. The Falcons are 157-148 in the 2000's. The Falcons went 97-41 at home and 12-18 in neutral site games with a mark of 48-89 on the road.

THE SERIES
Bowling Green and Towson met for the first time ever last year and the Falcons picked up a 77-58 win in Anderson Arena. The Falcons shot 65 percent from the field in the second half of that game to blow open a 36-27 halftime lead. Bowling Green had 25 assists and just eight turnovers in the win.

SCOUTING THE TOWSON TIGERS
A year ago against Bowling Green, Robert Nwankwo went scoreless and reboundless in 16 minutes. This year, he ranks in the top 20 in the country in rebounding (11.0 per game) and blocked shots (3.4 per game) and will be critical to neutralize inside. But if the Falcons collapse on Nwankwo, Josh Thornton is capable of hurting BGSU from outside. He is shooting 46 percent from three-point range and has made 3.3 three-pointers per game. Four players score in double-figures for Towson, led by Calvin Lee at 13.8 points per game. Thornton is second at 13.1 points, while RaShawn Polk and Nwanko are scoring 11.0 each.

THE COACHES
Bowling Green Head Coach Louis Orr has just about done it all. As a player at Syracuse, he made four NCAA Tournament appearances and spent eight years in the NBA. As a coach, he was named Big East Coach of the Year at Seton Hall and was named Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year after guiding the Falcons to the MAC regular season crown in 2008-09. He has a career record of 137-116 in his ninth season and 37-36 in his first three years at Bowling Green. Towson coach Pat Kennedy is in his 30th season after spending time leading programs at Iona, Florida State, DePaul, and Montana. He is 477-413 in his career, including a mark of 61-102 in his sixth year at Towson.

ROAD WARRIORS
A year ago, the Bowling Green basketball team used a road warrior mentality to take the Mid-American Conference regular season championship, winning six consecutive road games during one stretch of league play. This year, the Falcons have opened the season by going 2-4 on the road, including 2-2 on the team's current five-game road stretch. Last year, the six-game road conference winning streak was the longest in program history. It was also the longest MAC road winning streak since the 2001-02 Kent State team won seven consecutive MAC road contests. Despite that success, Bowling Green did not win a non-conference road game a year ago and snapped a nine-game losing streak in those contests with a 67-46 win over Fordham earlier this year.

BLOCK PARTY, HOSTED BY OTIS
Senior Otis Polk started the 2009-10 campaign by blocking a shot against Wayne State, a familiar sight for Bowling Green fans. He now has nine blocked shots this year and is already the school's all-time blocked shot leader with 131, surpassing Tom Hall's mark of 117 from 1989-92. With every shot he blocks, he'll be setting a new standard for current and future Falcons to aim for. Both Marc Larson and Erik Marschall are not to be forgotten inside either. Larson has 70 career blocks, including two against Florida International, and Marschall picked up his 50th career block with two against Savannah State and now has 52. Starting forward Scott Thomas has become a factor in this area as well, posting three consecutive multi-block games at one point including three against Florida International.

"O" IS FOR OTIS AND OFFENSE
Otis Polk reached double figures in scoring just 11 times in his first three years at Bowling Green, but Polk has scored at least 10 points in six of the team's first ten games, including posting just his second career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds against Milwaukee. He just missed another double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds (along with three assists, three steals and a block) against Savannah State and again against Fordham when he had nine points and 11 rebounds. Polk is averaging 9.7 points per game, a large increase over his average of 6.1 points a year ago.

GRAND LARSON-Y
Much like Otis Polk's improved offensive game, senior Marc Larson has shown a more aggressive offensive approach. Larson is averaging a career-best 6.3 points per game and has reached double figures in scoring twice. He is also 13-of-15 from the free-throw line and averaging a career-best 4.4 rebounds per game.

BENCH DEPTH
In 2008-09, Bowling Green's depth was a strength early in the season until injuries forced the Falcons into a shorter rotation. In 2009-10, BGSU's bench has been a telling factor in how successful the Falcons are. In the team's five wins, the bench has outscored the opponent's bench 86-54 but in the five losses has been outscored 149-84.

FEED THE POST
Head Coach Louis Orr's philosophy is to play an inside-out game and the Falcons have scored at least 20 points in nine out of 10 games, peaking with 38 against Milwaukee. During the team's recent four-game win streak, BGSU outscored opponents in the paint 122-72 (30.5-18.0) and outscored five consecutive opponents in the paint prior to the Detroit contest. The Titans held a 32-28 advantage in points in the paint in a four-point Falcon loss, but BG bounced back to outscore Temple in the paint 18-14.

SOPHOMORE SENSATIONS
Scott Thomas and Dee Brown had somewhat up-and-down freshman campaigns in 2008-09, but both players have taken on a bigger role on the team in 2009-10. Thomas and Brown have both started every game this year and rank first and third on the team in minutes played. Brown scored a career-high 20 points against Florida International and was then named MAC East Division Player of the Week after guiding the team to wins over Savannah State and Fordham. He is averaging 10.0 points per game and is 12-of-26 on three-pointers, fourth in the MAC at 46.2 percent. Thomas ranks second on the squad at 9.9 points per game and is also averaging 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists, picking up a team-best 12 steals and seven blocks along the way, ranking in the top 10 in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio and minutes played.

NOT BOMBING IT ANY MORE
Early in the season, Bowling Green's opponents were shooting, and making, three-pointers at an alarming rate. In three early defeats, opponents made at least 11 three-pointers and shot just over 46 percent from long range. But over the past six games, opponents are making just 6.2 per game and shooting 31.1 percent.

DEE-LIGHTFUL
Sophomore guard Dee Brown has risen to the occasion lately. Brown was named Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week Dec. 7 after averaging 10.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 56 percent from the field, in wins over Savannah State and Fordham. He followed that up by scoring 16 points, including making 5-of-6 free-throws in the final 30 seconds, in a 58-54 road win over Canisius. Prior to those games, Brown set a new career scoring high in back-to-back games. He made 5-of-12 shots and finished with 11 points against Milwaukee, his first career double-digit scoring effort. Two days later, he upped that mark with 20 points against Florida International, making 8-of-16 shots. His scoring has come during critical stretches of games as well. Against wins over Florida International, Fordham and Canisius, he was the main scoring threat during key stretches when the Falcons put those games away.

FRESHMEN FINDING RHYTHM
Head Coach Louis Orr is relying on a number of freshmen to play key roles this year and some of them are beginning to find their rhythm for the college game. Jordon Crawford set a new career high with 15 points against Detroit and is 14-for-27 (51.9 percent) shooting in the past six games, making 6-of-13 three-pointers. Luke Kraus is shooting 50 percent (3-of-6) from the field in the past eight games and Danny McElroy is 5-for-11 in the past four games, including a perfect 4-for-4 against Fordham for a career-high eight points.

DIRECTING THE OFFENSE
Junior Joe Jakubowski and freshman Jordon Crawford have done an excellent job of running an efficient offense so far in the 2009-10 season. Jakubowski ranks 15th in the country, leading the MAC, in assist/turnover ratio at 2.85 and Crawford has a strong 1.70 ratio.

GETTING TO THE CHARITY STRIPE
Through the first three games of the season, Bowling Green struggled to get to the free-throw line and that culminated with just two free-throw attempts at Iowa. During that stretch, the Falcons attempted just 9.0 free-throws per game, 28 less than their opponents. However, over the past seven games, Bowling Green has been to the line an average of 21.9 times (153 total), 13 more than opponents.

PICK YOUR POISON
While nobody on the team is averaging more than 10.0 points per game, six different players are averaging at least 6.3 points per game, the most since the 2005-06 team also had six players average that many. All five regular starters (Dee Brown, Scott Thomas, Otis Polk, Joe Jakubowski, and Marc Larson) along with Erik Marschall off the bench are averaging 6.3 points or more.

DEFENSE WINS
Bowling Green has held opponents below 44 percent shooting in all five of its victories, a trend for success that has been the norm under Head Coach Louis Orr. A year ago, BGSU held 26-of-33 opponents below 45 percent shooting and the Falcons are just 3-16 under Orr when an opponent reaches that 45 percent threshold, as both Xavier, Iowa, and Detroit has. Opponents shot just 39.3 percent in 2008-09 which was the lowest total since the 1963-64 season. That team also held opponents to just 61.2 points per game, the lowest total since the 1949-50 season. In the Falcons' last six games, of which BGSU is 4-2, opponents are shooting just 38.2 percent from the field and scoring only 58.2 points per contest.

WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE (THAT ROARS)
Anderson Arena has always been a difficult place for opponents and the Falcons are 3-1 in 2009-10. The Falcons are 450-181 (.713) all-time in Anderson Arena and 164-55 (.749) in the past 17 years.

BASKETBALL U.
Bowling Green fans have the opportunity to see the best basketball in the Mid-American Conference night in and night out. The 2009-10 teams are a combined 14-8 and will look to build on last year's combined marks of 48-19 and 26-6 in conference play, easily the best in the MAC in both. Bowling Green was the No. 1 seed for both the men's and women's tournament, the first time that has occurred in the MAC since Kent State was the top seed for both tournaments in 2002. It also marks the first time both the Bowling Green men's and women's teams qualified for postseason play since 1990. Only Eastern Michigan (14-7) and Kent State (13-7) have better combined records this year than BGSU.

DISSECTING THE SCHEDULE
Bowling Green will play host to just two more non-conference home games (including the ESPNU BracketBusters contest against an opponent yet to be named) and has just one more road game. The 13 game non-conference slate will be added to the 16 game MAC schedule for 29 total games, one less than a year ago. Eight of the team's 28 games against known opponents will take place against a team that competed in the postseason a year ago. Xavier was a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Temple was a No. 11 seed and is currently ranked No. 21 in the country, and Akron, who the Falcons play twice, was a No. 13 seed. Bowling Green will also play Buffalo twice and the Bulls competed in the College Basketball Invitational. Finally, Kent State played in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament and will face the Falcons twice in MAC play.

GIANT KILLERS
Bowling Green tends to have success when a team carries a top 25 ranking into a game at Anderson Arena. The Falcons have won four consecutive home games against nationally ranked opponents, most recently an 89-83 win over No. 23 Kent State on March 1, 2008. BGSU defeated fifth-ranked Michigan State (all rankings according to Associated Press) in December of 1990, topped No. 23 Eastern Michigan on Valentine's Day, 1996, and defeated No. 25 Miami in February of 1999. The Brown and Orange's last home loss to a top 25 opponent came more than three decades ago to No. 16 Marquette on Dec. 6, 1978. Since the Associated Press began conducting a poll on Jan. 20, 1949, the Falcons have a record of 22-48 against nationally-ranked foes. BGSU is now 13-9 all-time in home games vs. AP Top 25 opponents, including a 7-5 mark since Anderson Arena opened prior to the 1960-61 season. The Falcons' last road win against a team ranked in the top 25 came when the team beat No. 25 Michigan State on Dec. 18, 1989 by a score of 81-79.

FALCONS ADD TWO IN EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
The Bowling Green coaching staff signed two prep players during the fall early signing period this year, adding 6-foot-6, 200 pound win Craig Sealey and 6-10, 230 pound forward/center Cameron Black. Sealey plays at Brookhaven High School in Columbus, Ohio and is described as an explosive wing who runs the floor well, is a slasher, and strong offensive rebounder. Black plays at Kent Roosevelt High School in Kent, Ohio who is a presence on the defensive end and has a high basketball IQ.

PICKED FIFTH
Despite winning the Mid-American Conference regular season championship a year ago, the MAC News Media Panel picked the Falcons to finish finish in the East Division in 2009-10. Bowling Green had 54 total points, including one first-place vote, to finish in front of Ohio. Defending MAC Tournament champion Akron was selected to win the East, followed by Kent State, Buffalo, and Miami (Ohio). Central Michigan was picked to win the West, followed by Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Western Michigan, and Toledo. The Falcons also did not have a player selected to the preseason East Division All-MAC team.

A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Six players saw their first action in a Bowling Green uniform against Wayne State, including five who played their first collegiate game. Darion Goins scored seven points in his BGSU debut after playing two seasons at San Jose State. Jordon Crawford, Luke Kraus, James Erger, A'uston Calhoun, and Danny McElroy all played in their first collegiate game. Crawford, Kraus, and McElroy scored their first collegiate points against Wayne State, while Calhoun did the same against Xavier and Erger knocked down a three-pointer for his first career points against Fordham. Also, sophomores Scott Thomas and Dee Brown each got the call to start the first two games for the first time since coming off the bench for the entire 2008-09 season.

QUICK STARTS
Bowling Green's 67-45 win over Wayne State to open the season was the team's 18th consecutive home-opening victory, moving the team to 83-12 all-time in home openers, including a mark of 45-5 in Anderson Arena. In season openers, the team is now 69-26 all-time and has won two in a row.

COACHING PEDIGREE
Bowling Green State University men's basketball coach Louis Orr was named the 2008-09 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year by vote of the MAC News Media Association. It is the second time Orr has received a conference Coach of the Year award. He was named the Big East Coach of the Year following the 2002-03 season after guiding Seton Hall to the NIT. In the offseason, Orr signed a contract extension with Bowling Green which lasts through the 2013-14 season.

RIGHT HAND MAN
While Head Coach Louis Orr has a long history of success, assistant coach LaMonta Stone is also recognized as one of the best in the country. Over the summer, HoopScoop.com named Stone the fourth-best mid-major assistant coach in the country, while College Insider named him the 15th best mid-major assistant coach in the nation.

IT WILL STILL ROAR
On Sept. 3, Bowling Green State University broke ground on the Stroh Center, the new home of Bowling Green men's and women's basketball and volleyball. Anderson Arena, "The House That Roars", will continue to host the Falcons through the end of the 2010-11 season. The Stroh Center will seat approximately 4,700 fans and is located near Doyt Perry Stadium. While Anderson Arena was named after Harold "Andy" Anderson, a long time BGSU athletics director and men's basketball coach who is also a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Stroh Center will continue to honor him. The club area in the new facility has been named the Anderson Club.

AROUND THE DIAL
Bowling Green will be on regional and national television a number of times this year. All BGSU home games not being broadcast nationally appear locally on BCSN on the Buckeye Cable Network. The Feb. 27 home game against Akron will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net as part of a televised doubleheader with the BGSU women's basketball game that day.

CATCH THE FALCONS
• Bowling Green's men's basketball games can be listened to through the Falcon Sports Radio Network with Todd Walker, the voice of the Falcons, handling the play-by-play duties. Former Bowling Green basketball player Kirk Cowan does the color commentary at all BGSU home games as well. Games can be heard on the flagship station for BGSU athletics, WFRO 99.1 FM. Games can also be heard on WIMA 1150 AM in Lima, WONW 1280 AM in Defiance, and in Cleveland on both WHKW 1220 AM and WHK 1420 AM.
• All game broadcasts and the Falcons Nest Coaches Show can be heard via live stream on the official site of Falcon athletics, www.BGSUfalcons.com. Shortly after broadcasts are complete, an archived stream is available to listen to as well.
• Live statistics for all BGSU home men's basketball games are available on the web, allowing fans to view in-game stats as they occur, and may be accessed by going to www.BGSUFalcons.com. Falcon fans can utilize live stats for home events in numerous BGSU sports, including football, men's and women's basketball, hockey, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball.

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