Falcons Ready To Defend Home Court Against Ohio

Bowling Green Falcons (7-10, 2-1 MAC) vs. Ohio Bobcats (8-9, 1-2 MAC)
Jan. 19, 2011 • 7:00 p.m. • Bowling Green, Ohio • Anderson Arena (3,500)

Radio: Falcon Radio Network (99.1 FM) • Todd Walker (Play-by-Play) and Kirk Cowan (Color)
Television: None

Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/bgsu/mbball/index.htm
Online: Stretch Internet (audio)/American One (video)
Complete Game Notes (.pdf)
Take A Kid To The Game Day
All-Anderson Team Trading Card Giveaway To First 500 Fans (Shane Kline-Ruminski)

Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green hosts Mid-American Conference East Division rival Ohio Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Anderson Arena. The Falcons have won four consecutive games at home, each by at least nine points, including a 62-53 win over Miami (Ohio) Sunday in front of the largest crowd in the arena in almost five years. The Falcons are in a three-way tie for first in the division with Ohio trailing by just one game in the standings.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• Bowling Green is now 6-2 in its last eight games, including a perfect 4-0 record at home during this final season in Anderson Arena. Opponents have averaged just 59.0 points in those four wins and the Falcons are shooting 49.5 percent from the floor in those victories. Bowling Green has made The House That Roars a house of horrors by forcing 20.3 turnovers per game with 47 steals in four games.
• Bowling Green is one of the top teams in the country in terms of forcing turnovers this year. The Falcons rank seventh in the nation in steals per game and are second in the country in steal percentage, picking up a steal on 14.3 percent of its opponents possessions (only Oregon State is better at 15.1 percent)
• A'uston Calhoun has been Bowling Green's leading scorer in all three MAC games after leading the team in scoring just twice in non-conference games. He has scored in double-figures in four consecutive games, averaging 17.0 points in those contests.
• Bowling Green's bench has been pivotal for the Falcons all year, outscoring the opponent's bench by an average of 10.5 points per game. In three conference games, the Falcons' bench has been 49 (16.3 points per game) points better than their opponents' bench.

THE SERIES
Bowling Green is 70-58 against Ohio in a series dating back to a 51-42 Bobcats victory on Jan. 29, 1943, before the Falcons avenged that loss the next season with a 69-47 win. BGSU is 5-2 against Ohio under head coach Louis Orr and the teams split the season series a year ago. Bowling Green has won the last three meetings in Anderson Arena since the Bobcats last left town with a victory late in the 2006-07 season.

SCOUTING THE OHIO BOBCATS
Ohio enters Wednesday evening's game with a record of 8-9 overall and 1-2 in the MAC, just a game behind Bowling Green and two other teams atop the East Division standings. The Bobcats have lost three of the last four games but will create some dilemmas for the Falcons. Sophomore point guard D.J. Cooper is one of the most dynamic players in the country and one of the favorites for MAC Player of the Year. He leads the league in assists (8.1 per game), ranks second in steals (2.7 per game), and third in scoring (18.7 per game). When Cooper is not finishing himself, Ohio has two of the best three-point shooters in the conference in Tommy Freeman and Nick Kellogg. Freeman leads the MAC by making 47.2 percent of his three-point attempts and Kellogg ranks second at 44.9 percent. As a team, Ohio plays an up-tempo game in which the Bobcats lead the conference in scoring but rank 11th in points allowed.

FALCONS GO RETRO TO BEAT MIAMI
In front of the largest home crowd in almost five years, Bowling Green forced 20 Miami turnovers on Throwback Day to defeat the RedHawks 62-53 Sunday. Sophomore point guard Jordon Crawford came off the bench to spark the Falcons with 10 points, eight assists, and a career high five steals. Three other players also scored in double-figures, led by A'uston Calhoun's 11 points. Scott Thomas added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals as Bowling Green moved back into a tie for first atop the MAC East Division standings.

THE MCELROY FACTOR
When Bowling Green gets strong offensive production from sophomore forward Danny McElroy, the Falcons' chances of winning increase exponentially. The team is 5-0 in McElroy's career when he scores at least eight points, including 4-0 this year. In wins over Ohio Dominican, Florida International, Buffalo, and Miami, he shot 57 percent from the floor and made at least four field goals in each.

LEADING MAN
Last year, Scott Thomas led the Falcons in scoring and steals, ranking second in rebounds, assists, and blocked shots. This year, he's taking it a step further by leading the Falcons in rebounding, assists, steals, three-pointers made, and free-throws made, while ranking third in scoring. He ranks in the top five in the MAC in rebounds, steals, and defensive rebounds, while ranking in the top 10 in assists, offensive rebounds, and minutes. He also ranks in the top 20 nationally in steals.

WHO NEEDS THREE?
Despite making eight three-pointers in 20 attempts at Kent State, few teams rely on the three-pointer less than Bowling Green. The Falcons had a string of 356 consecutive games with at least one three-pointer snapped when they went 0-for-4 in a road win over Saint Louis. The team followed that up by going just 1-for-5 in a double overtime road victory at Buffalo. In their last three wins, the Falcons have made a total of three three-pointers.

WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE (THAT ROARS)
Anderson Arena has always been a difficult place for opponents and the Falcons are 5-2 so far in 2010-11. The Falcons are 461-187 (.711) all-time in Anderson Arena and 175-61 (.742) in the past 18 years.

THIEVERY
Bowling Green leads the MAC and ranks seventh nationally in steals, averaging 9.9 per game. The Falcons have had eight games with at least 10 steals and three with at least 15 this year, including a 19-steal performance against Western Kentucky, the most in a game for a MAC school this year. The 19 steals were just one shy of the program record (the team had 20 steals against Heidelberg in 1990) and Scott Thomas had six steals individually in that game. Thomas ranks third in the MAC and 17th nationally with 2.44 steals per game and Jordon Crawford is fourth in the league at 2.00 steals per game. The Falcons rank second in the country in steals per possession, picking up a theft on 14.3 percent of their opponents' possessions (only Oregon State is better at 15.1 percent).

POINTING THE WAY
Point guard play has been critical for the Falcons this year and when BGSU has played well, Joe Jakubowski and Jordon Crawford have played well. Jakubowski and Crawford have combined for 50 assists and just 16 turnovers in the team's six victories (a 3.13 assist/turnover ratio). In 10 losses, the duo has 45 assists and 36 turnovers (a 1.25 assist/turnover ratio).

SHOOTING THE ROCK
A year ago, Bowling Green led the Mid-American Conference with a 44.4 field goal percentage. After struggling to shoot through the first nine games, the Falcons have again found their rhythm. Bowling Green has shot 48.9 percent over the course of the past eight games, including identical 27-of-53 shooting nights in three victories. The team is 7-1 when shooting at least 44 percent from the field this year but has been below 35 percent five times (all in the first nine games). The Falcons are 6-2 in the past eight games and have shot better than 50 percent in five of those wins.

LARGER ROLES
Four players on this year's team are averaging at least eight minutes per game more than they did a year ago. Jordon Crawford, A'uston Calhoun, Luke Kraus, and Danny McElroy combined to play 666 minutes a year ago but have already played 1,397 this season.

STARTING A CAREER
Freshman Cameron Black has started the first 17 games of the 2010-11 season. He is the first BGSU freshman to start that many games to begin his collegiate career since Anthony Stacey started all 27 games during the 1995-96 season. Stacey went on to have one of the best careers in program history, setting the school record with 1,938 career points.

SETTLING ON A ROTATION
Head Coach Louis Orr has searched for a consistent starting rotation for much of the year. While the bench has been productive, Orr has used six different starting lineups. He had used the same starting five for five consecutive games until moving A'uston Calhoun back into the starting rotation Sunday against Miami (Ohio). Only freshman Cameron Black has started every game this year for the Falcons.

DEFENSE WINS
With the improved offense over the past six games, the work the team has done defensively has been overlooked. But the Falcons have held their last four opponents to 42.7 percent shooting and three of the past five below 41 percent. A year ago, Bowling Green held opponents below 45 percent shooting in 13 of its 14 victories and have done the same in 6-of-7 wins this year. In fact, the Falcons are just 5-29 in Head Coach Louis Orr's first four years when an opponent shoots better than 45 percent, including 1-7 this year. The lone victory in that situation this year came against Manhattan as the Jaspers shot 48.9 percent.

DOWN LOW
Head coach Louis Orr's philosophy is always to play inside-out and the Falcons have continued to do that well in 2010-11. The Falcons have scored at least 20 points in the paint in 14 of the first 17 games after reaching that total in 27-of-30 games a year ago. Bowling Green has outscored its opponents in the paint 11 times (and tied both Florida International and Manhattan) after doing it in 23-of-30 games a year ago. The Falcons scored at least 28 points in the paint in six consecutive games before being held to 18 against Kent State. The team had a season-high 50 in the win at Buffalo, as well as 44 at Milwaukee and 42 at Saint Louis.

ORR SIGNS TEAMMATES IN EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
Head coach Louis Orr announced that Canton Timken High School teammates Jehvon Clarke and Desmond Rorie signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period to attend Bowling Green for the 2011-12 season. Clarke is a highly-touted 6-foot-1 point guard who averaged 15.5 points, 5.6 assists, and 3.0 steals per game as a junior. Rorie is a 6-9 post player whose best days are ahead of him. He averaged 3.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.7 blocked shots per game as a junior.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Junior guard Dee Brown was named MAC Player of the Week Jan. 3 for the second time in his career after averaging 14.5 points in leading the Falcons to wins over UTSA and Saint Louis in a three-day span. Brown scored a team-high 21 in the win at Saint Louis and had eight points, six rebounds, and three steals in the victory over UTSA.

THOMAS NAMED LEGENDS CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT
Scott Thomas was named to the Legends Classic Subregional Round All-Tournament team for his performances against Niagara, Detroit, and Albany. He averaged 9.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, while picking up eight steals in the three games.

JAKUBOWSKI NAMED COUSY AWARD CANDIDATE
Bowling Green senior Joe Jakubowski was named as one of 66 candidates for the 2011 Bob Cousy Award, given to the top point guard in the country. Jakubowski was BGSU's starting point guard during the last half of his freshman campaign and then started every game at the position as both a sophomore and junior. He entered the 2010-11 season with 85 career starts and is one of the most experienced point guards in the country entering the year.

EXPERIENCE AT THE POINT
Most experts agree that an experienced point guard can play a huge role in a team's success in college basketball. If that's the case, then Bowling Green could be primed for a big season. Point guard Joe Jakubowski enters the 2010-11 season with 85 games started, 10th most in the country.

MAKING AN IMPACT EARLY
Against Howard, Cameron Black became the first true freshman to start the first game of his collegiate career at BGSU since Ryan Sims started the first game of the 2006-07 season.

THE PRIDE OF FINDLAY, OHIO
Sophomore guard Luke Kraus had a highly decorated prep career at Findlay High School, where he passed Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to become the school's all-time leading scorer. Since Roethlisberger officially changed his hometown to the fictional Corey Rawson, Ohio during the offseason, Kraus is now likely the most famous athlete from Findlay, Ohio.

FALCONS PICKED FIFTH
Bowling Green was picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference East Division in the preseason media poll. The Falcons had 42 points to edge Buffalo (32 points) in the division. Defending MAC Tournament champion Ohio was selected first, followed by Kent State, Akron, and Miami.

MAC Preseason Media Poll
East Division - 1. Ohio (128 points/12 first-place votes), 2. Kent State (114 points/8 first-place votes), 3. Akron (104 points/4 first-place votes), 4. Miami (84 points), 5. Bowling Green (42 points), 6. Buffalo (32 points)
West Division - 1. Ball State (124 points/12 first-place votes), 2. Central Michigan (122 points/8 first-place votes), 3. Eastern Michigan (88 points/2 first-place votes), 4. Western Michigan (68 points), 5. Northern Illinois (64 points/2 first-place votes), 6. Toledo (38 points)
Tournament Champion - Ohio (10), Kent State (6), Central Michigan (4), Ball State (2), Akron (2)

THOMAS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MAC
Scott Thomas was selected as one of five Preseason All-MAC East Division players by vote of the media. Thomas led BGSU in scoring and steals a year ago, ranking second in rebounds, assists, and blocked shots. He averaged 13.2 points per game on the season but improved that average to 15.4 points in conference games and 16.9 points over the final eight contests.

Preseason All-MAC Teams
East Division - Brett McKnight (Akron), Scott Thomas (Bowling Green), Justin Greene (Kent State), Julian Mavunga (Miami), D.J. Cooper (Ohio)
West Division - Jarrod Jones (Ball State), Trey Zeigler (Central Michigan), Brandon Bowdry (Eastern Michigan), Xavier Silas (Northern Illinois), Flenard Whitfield (Western Michigan)

THE WALK-ONS
Head Coach Louis Orr accepted two walk-ons to his program this year and both are seniors in eligibility. Wiley Roberts is a feel-good story who served as a team manager for the past two years at Bowling Green. Mike Dabney spent the 2006-07 season at NAIA Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he posted the third-highest single-season blocked shot total in program history with 56 rejections. Roberts saw his first collegiate action by playing one minute in the team's victory over Ohio Dominican and Dabney got his first BGSU action with one minute against Michigan. Dabney played a large role in the team's game against Detroit, picking up five points, four rebounds, a blocked shot, and a steal in 13 minutes of action.

NAME DROPPING
BGSU freshman Craig Sealey was a part of two AAU National Championship teams with the All-Ohio Red Team in 2006 and 2007. Sealey's teams included Ohio State freshmen Jared Sullinger, J.D. Weatherspoon, and Aaron Craft, along with Michigan State freshman Adreian Payne.

IT WILL STILL ROAR
Known as "The House That Roars", Anderson Arena will play host to the Bowling Green men's basketball team for the final time in 2010-11. The team will move into the brand new Stroh Center next year and will open the building by hosting Howard on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. In honor of the final season in Anderson Arena, the Athletics Department is holding a year-long celebration titled "Closing The Doors Of The House That Roars". Here are the key events of the final year in Anderson Arena and the first year in the Stroh Center:

March 4/5, 2011 - All-Anderson Team recognized vs. Buffalo
March 5, 2011 - The B!G Event; One final celebration of Anderson Arena
Sept. 9, 2011 - Volleyball vs. Michigan State; Stroh Center ribbon-cutting
Nov. 12, 2011 - Men's basketball vs. Howard; First game in Stroh Center
Nov. 17, 2011 - Women's basketball vs. Purdue; First game in Stroh Center
March 17-20, 2012 - NCAA Women's Basketball Tourney in Stroh Center

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