BGSU Heads to the "BlueGrass State" to Take on Morehead State on Sunday

Sunday, December 15

Morehead, Ky.

2:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Morehead State

Photo by: Bianca Garza, BGSU Marketing and Communications

BGSU Heads to the "BlueGrass State" to Take on Morehead State on Sunday

December 13, 2013 | Men's Basketball

By: by Kevin Davis, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

BGSU (4-5) at Morehead State (7-4)
Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013; 2:00 p.m. ET
Johnson Arena (6,500) / Morehead, Ky.
LIVE STATS
LIVE AUDIO
LIVE VIDEO
COMPLETE GAME NOTES (.PDF)

2013-14 MAC STANDINGS
EAST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Kent State	0-0	8-2
Ohio	0-0	6-2
Buffalo	0-0	4-3
Akron	0-0	2-2
Bowling Green	0-0	4-5
Miami	0-0	1-5
WEST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Toledo	0-0	8-0
Central Michigan	0-0	6-3
Eastern Michigan	0-0	6-3
Western Michigan	0-0	5-3
Northern Illinois	0-0	3-4
Ball State	0-0	2-5

LAY-UPS (SIZED FOR YOUR TWITTER ADDICTION)
* This is a ESPN Bracketbuster return game from when Morehead State played at BGSU on Feb. 18, 2012; a 73-60 BGSU win.
* Bowling Green is 0-3 on the road in true road games this season.
* The Falcons are averaging only 61.4 points per game away from the Stroh Center this season.
* In the last three games, BGSU has shot 67.3 percent (70-of-104) from the free throw line as a team.
* BGSU has had one player score 20 points or more in of the last three games. The only three games that has happened on the year.
* Richaun Holmes has posted at least five blocks in each of the last three games and has posted 101 blocks for his two years at BGSU.
* Bowling Green is 4-1 on the year when holding its foes to less than 70 points in the game.
* BGSU has four players shooting over 50 percent from the field on the year.
* Bowling Green is in its 99th season of basketball this year.

BGSU vs. MOREHEAD STATE SERIES
The Falcons of Bowling Green State University lead the overall series versus the Eagles of Morehead State 5-3. The two teams first met back in 1955, in which the Eagles won 111-79 at the Kentucky Invitational. The Falcons and Eagles last played on Feb. 18, 2012, as BGSU earned a 73-60 home win in the ESPN/Sears Bracketbuster Game. Bowling Green has won three straight and five out of the last six meetings on the hardwood with Morehead State.

OVERALL SERIES HISTORY
   Date                           Location                                    Result
   Feb. 18, 2012          at Bowling Green, Ohio           W, 73-60
   Nov. 17, 2007           at Bowling Green, Ohio          W, 86-70
   Feb. 17, 2007          at Morehead, Ky.                       W, 90-72
   Dec. 14, 1985          at Morehead, Ky.                        L, 71-74
   Dec. 15, 1984        at Bowling Green, Ohio          W, 66-60
   Dec. 5, 1981            at Bowling Green, Ohio          W, 89-64
   Dec. 13, 1980        at Morehead, Ky.                        L, 70-75
   Dec. 28, 1955          at Kentucky Invitational             L, 79-111

LAST TIME THEY MET
Date: Feb. 18, 2012
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio (ESPN/Sears Bracketbuster)
Score: Bowling Green, 73-60
Notes: Scott Thomas scored a career-high 28 points and doubled his career-best with eight three-pointers as BGSU beat Morehead State 73-60 Saturday for the annual ESPN/Sears Bracketbusters series. In all, BGSU made 14-of-26 three-pointers and shot 57 percent from the field as the Falcons blitzed a Morehead State team that was only allowing 61.9 points per game this year. Thomas made 8-of-15 three-pointers, one shy of a school record, Jordon Crawford was 3-of-4 from long range, and Dee Brown connected on 3-of-5 three-point attempts. Crawford directed the offense by handing out 12 assists and Bowling Green assisted on 21-of-28 total baskets. Morehead State jumped out to a 9-3 lead as BGSU turned the ball over on its first three possessions and got just a Thomas long-ball in the first 3:30. Thomas, though, took over by knocking down two more threes in the next minute to tie the game at 9-9. Crawford added a three-pointer and Brown connected on a lay-up with 13:18 to go on the Falcons' first non-three-point attempt. Bowling Green still led 23-20 when Torian Oglesby started a 7-0 run with a dunk, followed by another Thomas three-pointer and two Jehvon Clarke free-throws to make it 30-20. Thomas, in fact, made six of his threes in the first half as BGSU went into the break with a 43-29 lead. The Eagles actually cut the deficit down to single-digits early in the second half, getting to within nine at 50-41. Bowling Green answered with a 12-0 run that put the game away, getting a Thomas lay-up followed by two Brown lay-ups and a Crawford three-pointer. Along with his 28 points, Thomas had four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Cam Black scored just two points but shared team-high honors with five rebounds and added three blocks and two steals. A'uston Calhoun had five rebounds and Torian Oglesby came off the bench to score six points on 3-of-3 shooting. Morehead State held a 26-25 rebounding edge and had three less turnovers than the Falcons' 17. Bowling Green did hold a 9-0 advantage on fastbreak points but BGSU went to the line just four times, making three free-throws.

LAST GAME: FALCONS DOMINATE SECOND HALF IN 79-69 WIN OVER NORTH DAKOTA
Junior forward Richaun Holmes recorded his first career double-double and tallied a career-high seven blocked shots to help propel the Bowling Green State University Falcons to a 79-69 win over North Dakota on Wednesday night in the Stroh Center. Holmes posted his first career double-double with 21 points, a career-high 14 rebounds, a career-high seven blocked shots and a career-high four assists. His seven blocks ties the school record for the most blocks in a single game and is the most by a BGSU player in a single game since Scott Vandermeer totaled seven versus Ohio back on Feb. 7, 2005. Fellow forward Spencer Parker totaled 19 points and hauled in a career-high eight rebounds, while senior big-man Cameron Black added 13 points, on 6-of-6 shooting, seven rebounds and four blocks of his own. Freshman JD Tisdale led the Falcons with a career-high five assists, while he also registered a team-high three steals. As a team, BGSU recorded 13 rejections on the night with four different players registering a block. BGSU improves to 14-0 in the Stroh Center when scoring 70 points or more, as the Falcons shot 55.1 percent (27-of-49) from the floor and 74.2 percent (23-of-31) at the free throw line overall. The Falcons outscored North Dakota 44-32 in points in the paint, 30 of which came in the second half, and 15-7 in second chance points for the contest. With the 13 team blocks, the Falcons have registered eight rejections or more in each of its last three contests, while both Black and Holmes continue to climb up the BGSU record book in career blocks. Black moved up to fourth-place all-time in BGSU history with 110 career swats, while Holmes jumped to within four of Kevin Netter and sixth-place overall with 101 career blocks.

MEN AMONG BOYS
BGSU frontline proved to be men among boys versus North Dakota, as the quadrant of Richaun Holmes, Cameron Black, Spencer Parker and Josh Gomez combined for 53 points, 29 rebounds and 13 blocked shots in the 79-69 win. Holmes set a new career-high in rebounds (14), blocks (7) and assists (4), while Parker also set a career-high in rebounds (8). Black set a season-high in points (13) as he was 6-of-6 from the field overall.

HO, HO, HOLMES
Junior forward Richaun Holmes has enjoyed the calendar move into December, as over his last three games (all in Dec.) he is averaging 21.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.7 blocks per contest. Holmes has recorded two 20-plus point outings and at least five blocks per game during that span.

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
The Falcons this season have had a balance scoring attack, as in eight of their nine games this season BGSU has had multiple players record double digit points. In fact, BGSU has had at least three different players post double digit points in all eight of those contests this season, while six different players have registered double digit points in at least one game thus far this year.

BREAK OUT SEASONS FOR THE FALCONS
BGSU has had a number of players already have break out seasons thus far in 2013-14, as six different Falcons have recorded career-high's in points thus far this year with multiple players setting multiple career marks. Bowling Green has also seen a handful of players set career marks in other statistical categories such as rebounds, steals, assists and blocked shots.

HOLMES TABBED MAC EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK (12-9)
Junior Richaun Holmes was tabbed the MAC East Division Men's Basketball Player of the Week the league office announced on Dec. 9. Holmes had back-to-back career-scoring games and recorded a season-high five blocks in two straight contests to help lead the Falcons to a 1-1 record last week. In a win over Western Kentucky on Monday night, Holmes poured in a career-high 18 points, hauled in seven rebounds and swatted away a season-high five blocked shots in the contest, one shy of his career-high. The 6-8 forward followed that up with a career-high 26 points as the Falcons pushed Xavier to the limit in an 85-73 overtime loss on Dec. 7. Along with his career-high 26 points, Holmes hauled in nine rebounds and registered five blocked shots in a career-high 39 minutes of play. Overall, Holmes averaged 22 points, eight rebounds, one steal and five blocks per game last week.

CLARKE'S HOT START AS A STARTER
Junior guard Jehvon Clarke, who made his first career start in the season opener versus Earlham, is averaging 11.8 points, 4.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 2.2 steals in his nine starts this season. He leads the team in both assists and steals on the year.

PARKER STEPPING UP
Sophomore Spencer Parker has stepped up his game thus far this season, as the forward is averaging 13.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on the year. Parker, who has started each of the last eight games, has scored in double figures in eight of nine contests for Bowling Green this year, including setting a career-high in points per game on three different occasions.

KEEPERS OF THE RIM: BLOCK BROTHERS
BGSU duo of Cam Black and Richaun Holmes continue to prove to be an effective last line of defense for the Falcons, as the tandem have combined for 36 blocks over the Falcons' first nine games of the season. Both Black (4th) and Holmes (7th) are already in the top-10 all-time at BGSU in career blocked shots and combined the two have turned away 212 shots overall.

HOLMES' HOUSE
Junior forward Richaun Holmes has totaled 28 blocks thus far this season and has posted five blocks or more in a single game three times this year. Last season, Holmes set a new BGSU single-season record with 73 blocks on the season overall and this year is on pace to break that record as he is averaging 3.1 blocks per game.

OVERTIME THRILLER
The Falcons took the Musketeers to overtime on Dec. 7, as BGSU erased an 11-point second half deficit to take a two-point lead with less than a minute to go in regulation. However, Xavier outscored BGSU 17-5 in the extra five minute frame to escape the Cintas Center with an 85-73 overtime win. The loss puts Bowling Green at 0-1 this season in overtime games.

CAM-CUN, MEXICO
Senior Cam Black had a superb two games in Cancun, Mexico at the 2013 Cancun Challenge, as the center posted back-to-back double-doubles. Black had 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in the win over Presbyterian and then followed that up with 10 points and 13 rebounds in the Championship game versus Oral Roberts.

ALL-TOURNEY TEAM MEMBERS
Both Anthony Henderson and Cameron Black were named to the Mayan Division Championship All-Tournament Team. Henderson, who had a career-high 17 points in the win over Presbyterian, averaged 14.5 points per game in Cancun. Black, who posted back-to-back double-doubles averaged 11 points and 13.5 rebounds per game over the two-day event.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE X TWO
Senior Cam Black posted two straight double-doubles in the Falcons two contests in Cancun, Mexico at the 2013 Cancun Challenge. The 6-10 center posted 12 points and 14 rebounds versus Presbyterian and then 10 points and 13 rebounds against Oral Roberts. With his second straight double-double, Black becomes the first Falcon to accomplish that feat since Nate Miller posted three-straight double-doubles in March of 2008.

WE'LL TAKE THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
The Falcons set a new school record for thefts as a team in a single game in its season opener versus Earlham, as BGSU recorded 22 steals overall for the game. Guards Jehvon Clarke and JD Tisdale each recorded six steals apiece, both career-highs.

RECORD SETTING SEASON OPENING WIN OVER EARLHAM
The 53-point win over Earlham was the largest margin of victory for a Falcons' team since BGSU defeated Urbana 114-52 back on Dec. 22, 1999. BGSU also reached the 100-point mark for the first time since defeating Urbana 103-78 back on Nov. 21, 2003. The Falcons had six players score in double figures in the season opening win for the first time since the Nov. 28, 2009 vs. Milwaukee.

COACH ORR'S COLLEGIATE NUMBERS
Head Coach Louis Orr reached a number of career milestones in the season opening contest versus Earlham, as he recorded his 500th career win at the collegiate level as player, assistant coach and head coach. The 2013-14 season opener was also his 800th career game as a participant in some capacity at the collegiate level.

MORE ON ORR
Coach Louis Orr has currently amassed 193 career wins as a head coach at his three posts (BGSU, Seton Hall and Siena) and is only seven wins shy of 200 career victories.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
In the last two years, the Stroh Center has proven to be a difficult place for opponents to play. The Falcons went 23-9 at home over the last two years, including posting a 3-0 mark at home in 2011-12 against teams that eventually went to the NCAA Tournament. Overall, the Falcons are 26-10 in the Stroh Center, which comes out to a .722 winning percentage, as BGSU is 3-1 at home this year.

THAT 70'S STROH
Bowling Green is 14-0 all-time when scoring at least 70 points in the Stroh Center. The Falcons reached 70 points six times last season and dropped 70 points or more five times in 2011-12.

DOUBLE-DIGIT HOME WINS
BGSU has won at least 10 home games in each of the past three seasons. This year, the Falcons are 3-1 at home and have a total of 15 home contests this season.

PAINT PRESENCE
Head Coach Louis Orr's philosophy is always to play inside-out and the Falcons have done that well during his tenure. Over his last four-plus seasons, BGSU has scored 20 or more points in the paint in 121-of-142 games. BGSU has scored a high of 58 points in the paint twice during that span, including 58 points in a win versus Earlham in the season opener.

FRESH FACES
BGSU head coach Louis Orr has four new players on the 2013-14 squad. JD Tisdale (Flint, Mich./Swartz Creek High School), Zack Denny (Germantown, Ohio/Valley View High School), and Garrett Mayleben (Milford, Ohio/Milford High School) will all join transfer Josh Gomez (Brooklyn, N.Y./Rice High School/Iona) among this year's incoming class.

FALCONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Bowling Green will play a minimum of two games this year on Time Warner Cable Sports, per the Mid-American Conference regional television package. BGSU will play at Western Michigan on Jan. 19 and then at home against Akron on Feb. 9 on TWC Sports. The Falcons will also play twice on ESPN3 vs. South Florida and at Wisconsin, as well as twice on a Fox Sports Network affiliate in Fox Sports 1 at Xavier and Fox Sports Midwest Plus at Saint Louis.

MEDIA PICKS BOWLING GREEN SIXTH IN PRESEASON POLL
After graduating their top-two scorers, as well as three of its five starters, Bowling Green was selected to finish sixth in the Mid-American Conference East Division by vote of the league's MAC News Media. Akron was selected to win the East, followed by Buffalo, Ohio, Kent State, and Miami.

###