BGSU Men's Basketball to Host NIU in Game Two of a Doubleheader On Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, January 12

Bowling Green, Ohio

4:30 PM

Bowling Green State University

Northern Illinois

Photo by: Bianca Garza, BGSU Marketing and Communications

BGSU Men's Basketball to Host NIU in Game Two of a Doubleheader On Sunday Afternoon

January 10, 2014 | Men's Basketball

By: by Kevin Davis, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

Northern Illinois (6-7, 0-1 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (6-8, 0-1 MAC)
Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014; 4:30 p.m. ET
Stroh Center (4,280) / Bowling Green, Ohio
TV: BCSN
LIVE STATS
LIVE AUDIO
LIVE VIDEO
COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

2013-14 MAC STANDINGS
EAST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Ohio	1-0	11-3
Akron	1-0	9-5
Buffalo	1-0	7-4
Miami	1-0	5-7
Kent State	0-1	9-5
Bowling Green	0-1	6-8
WEST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Eastern Michigan	1-0	9-5
Western Michigan	1-0	8-5
Toledo	0-1	12-2
Central Michigan	0-1	7-6
Northern Illinois	0-1	6-7
Ball State	0-1	3-9

LAY-UPS (SIZED FOR YOUR TWITTER ADDICTION)
* Bowling Green is 4-3 at home in the Stroh Center this season.
* BGSU is on a seven-game winning streak versus Northern Illinois.
* Both BGSU and NIU are looking for their first MAC win of the season.
* This contest is the third game of a season-high four game home stand for the Falcons over the next two weeks.
* BGSU has had at least three players score in double figures in each of its seven home contests this season.
* The Falcons are on a three-game losing skid and have not won since defeating Detroit, 64-62, on Dec. 22.
* BGSU has scored a combined 164 points, an average of 54.7 points per game, over its last three games (all losses).
* Senior Cam Black is only 13 rebounds shy (487) of grabbing career rebound number 500.
* BGSU was 6-2 at home in the Stroh Center versus the MAC last season.
* Bowling Green is in its 99th season of basketball this year.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Date: Feb. 6, 2013
Location: DeKalb, Ill.
Score: BGSU, 57-41
Notes: The Bowling Green men's basketball team held Northern Illinois to 28 percent shooting and the Falcons won on the road for the first time this year, defeating the Huskies 57-41 Wednesday evening. A'uston Calhoun posted his fourth double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Meanwhile, Richaun Holmes scored a career-high 11 points as the Falcons jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. For the second consecutive game, Bowling Green never trailed, scoring the first eight points and holding Northern Illinois to just four made field goals in the first half. Luke Kraus and Calhoun connected on back-to-back three-pointers to start the game and Chauncey Orr's lay-up with 13:33 to play in the first half gave the Falcons a 16-3 lead. Still leading comfortably at 24-10, the Falcons went on a 6-0 run in which Craig Sealey put down an alley-oop to push the lead to 20 at 30-10. Northern Illinois, though, closed the half with five straight points to get within 15 at the break. Bowling Green shot 52 percent from the field in the first half and kept Northern Illinois from getting any offense going as the Huskies shot 14 percent. NIU's Keith Gray opened the second half with a lay-up but Bowling Green put the game away with a 16-2 run over the next five minutes. The Falcons led 46-19 and Northern Illinois never got closer than 15 the rest of the way. Bowling Green finished the game with 12 turnovers, two fewer than Northern Illinois, but the Huskies held a 38-34 rebounding edge. The Falcons had 10 steals (giving the team 23 over the past two contests), four of which came from Jordon Crawford. Along with his 11 points, Holmes added three blocked shots, giving him 56 on the season. He is just three away from tying for the BGSU single-season blocked shot record.

BGSU vs. NIU SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green is 30-25 versus NIU all-time with the two teams first meeting coming back in 1965. The Falcons have won seven straight over the Huskies since the 2007-08 season, including a MAC Championship Tournament win over NIU in the first round back in 2011.

LAST 10 MEETINGS (BG leads 7-3)
   Date                            Location                            Result
   Feb. 6, 2013            at Northern Illinois            W, 57-41
   Feb. 4, 2012              at Bowling Green              W, 65-40
   March 8, 2011           at Bowling Green #           W, 74-54
   Feb. 2, 2011              at Northern Illinois            W, 73-70
   Feb. 10, 2010           at Bowling Green               W, 73-69
   Jan. 31, 2009            at Northern Illinois            W, 69-61
   Jan. 27, 2008            at Bowling Green            W, 63-59
   Feb. 7, 2007              at Northern Illinois             L, 51-73
   Jan. 11, 2006            at Bowling Green                L, 74-75
   Feb. 23, 2005           at Northern Illinois              L, 61-72

   # MAC Championship Tournament game

LAST TIME OUT
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team had four players score in double figures on Wednesday night, yet saw the difference of a tight game play out at the free throw line where the Falcons were just 16-of-28 (57.1 percent) compared to Eastern Michigan's 21-of-30 (70 percent) in a 56-51 home loss in the two teams' Mid-American Conference opener at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Falcons fall to 6-8 overall and 0-1 in MAC play with the loss, while EMU improves to 9-5 overall and starts conference play at 1-0 with the win. Junior Richaun Holmes led the Falcons offensively with a game-high 17 points, 12 of which came in the first half, while guard Jehvon Clarke added 11 points in 38 minutes of play. Fellow starters Spencer Parker and Anthony Henderson each chipped in with 10 points apiece, while senior Cameron Black hauled in a game-high nine rebounds in the loss. For the Eagles, guard Mike Talley and forward Karrington Ward led the way with 14 and 13 points each, respectively, as eight different players scored for Eastern Michigan in the win. The contest saw seven ties and seven lead changes during the forty minutes of action. Both teams relied on their defenses throughout the contest, as BGSU shot just 30.8 percent (16-of-52) overall for the game and was only 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) from behind the three-point line. Eastern Michigan fared only one bucket better, as the Eagles shot 34.7 percent (17-of-49) overall and were only 1-of-7 (14.3 percent) from downtown. However, the Eagles held a five point advantage at the free throw line over the Falcons, as EMU was 21-of-30 (70 percent) compared to BGSU's 16-of-28 (57.1 percent). EMU outscored the Falcons 28-24 in points in the paint and 12-6 in fast break points, while Bowling Green held a huge 14-5 advantage over the Eagles in second chance points for the contest.

NATIONALLY RANKED BGSU CHEERLEADING TEAM TO PERFORM NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUTINE AT HALFTIME
The nationally ranked BGSU Co-ed Cheerleading Team will perform its Cheers National Championship routine at halftime of the men's basketball game on Sunday afternoon. The Falcon Cheerleaders, who are ranked in the top-five nationally, took first-place last year at the University Wolds in Orlando, Fla., to become the first MAC team to bring home the championship.

LOOKING TO SNAP OUT OF IT
BGSU will be looking to snap out of a current three-game losing streak. After winning three straight, the Falcons have dropped each of its last three games. In fact, BG has not one since defeating Detroit, 64-62, back on Dec. 22.

EXPECT A LOW SCORING AFFAIR
Sunday's contest could be a very low scoring affair, as the Falcons and the Huskies are at the bottom of the MAC in scoring offense. BGSU is 11th (64.9 ppg), while NIU is 12th (64.4 ppg). The two teams are also last in the league in 3-point field goal's made and assist/turnover ratio.

S.O.S. OFFENSE
The Falcons have struggled to score the ball over its current three-game losing streak, as BGSU has combined to post 164 points, an average of 54.7 points per game during that stretch. BGSU has scored 60 points or less five different times this season.

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Falcons are in the midst of a four-game home stand, its longest of the 2013-14 season. BGSU opened the home stand on Jan. 2 versus IPFW and then faced off with Eastern Michigan on Jan. 8. The Falcons will continue the string of home contests versus Northern Illinois (Jan. 12) and Central Michigan (Jan. 15).

BGSU MEN'S HOOPS RANKED IN THE TOP-25 IN A NUMBER OF NCAA STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
BGSU enters this weekend ranked in the top-25 nationally among a number of defensive categories in the latest NCAA Division I Men's Basketball statistical rankings released on Friday, Jan. 10 Bowling Green is currently ranked 21st overall in blocked shots per game (6.2) and 25th in steals per game (8.6). The Falcons are also ranked 25th in total blocks on the season with 87.

AMONG THE NATION'S LEADERS IN BLOCKED SHOTS
BGSU's Richaun Holmes is ranked in the top-20 in the nation in both blocks per game and total blocks. The 6-8 forward is ranked 19th in the nation with an average of 3.0 blocks per game and in total blocks with 42 on the season.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS
BGSU takes pride in its defensive prowess, as the Falcons are second in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing 64.3 points per game. BG is also second in the league in steals (8.6 per game) and third in blocks (6.2 per game). The Falcons are also second in defensive rebounds at 26.0 boards per contest.

AT THE TOP IN THE MAC
BG's Anthony Henderson is ranked second in the MAC in steals with 31 thefts and an average of 2.2 per contest, while fellow Falcon Richaun Holmes is second in blocks with 42 rejections and an average of 3.0 per outing.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY
Bowling Green has three players that lead the league in minutes played thus far this season. Jehvon Clarke (34.7), Spencer Parker (34.1) and Anthony Henderson (33.7) are 1-2-3 in minutes played this season in the MAC. Richaun Holmes is ranked 8th in the MAC in minutes played at 30.9 per contest.

RICHAUN "CLUTCH" HOLMES FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
Junior Richaun Holmes has been stellar from the free throw line down the stretch for the Falcons during crunch time this season. In games where the score is within single digits and under the last five minutes of play, Holmes is 21-of-29 (72.4 percent) from the charity stripe for BGSU.

2ND HALF > 1ST HALF
Bowling Green has proven to be a second half team this season, as the Falcons have scored 55 more points (479-424) over the final 20 minutes of play compared to the first 20 minutes of action so far this year. Three of BGSU's four lowest total points output per half this season (19, 19, 21) have come in the first half of play.

NEW FACE ON THE BGSU ROSTER
Redshirt-senior Shaun Joplin (Sylvania, Ohio) joined the BGSU roster in Jan. 2014. Joplin was a four year letterwinner on the Falcons' football team and was a pivotal part of the BGSU MAC Championship run this past season.

NON-CONFERENCE SEASON IS OVER
BGSU went 6-7 over its 13 non-conference games this season, posting six non-conference wins for the second straight year and for the third time over the last four years.

CAM SWATTING HIS WAY INTO BGSU HISTORY
With his two blocked shots against IPFW on Jan. 2, senior Cam Black moved into sole possession of second-place on BGSU's all-time career blocks list. The 6-10 center has 121 swats and is only 38 shy of Otis Polk, the Falcons' career blocks leader with 159 rejections.

BLACK CLOSING IN ON CAREER BOARD NO. 500
Senior Cam Black is closing in on a career milestone, as the center is only 13 rebounds away from hauling in career rebound number 500.

NOT SO NICE WAY TO END THE 2013 CALENDAR YEAR
The Falcons ended the 2013 calendar year on a low note, as BGSU scored a season-low 43 points in a road loss at Wright State on Dec. 29. Bowling Green, who also matched its season-low of 19 points (1st half) in a single half in the loss, suffered its first loss of the season when having a better field goal percentage than its foe (6-1) and its first defeat of the year when holding its opponent to less than 40 percent shooting for the game (5-1).

A STRONG DECEMBER TO BUILD ON
Overall, Bowling Green had a strong month of December on the hardwood, as the Falcons posted a 4-2 record for the month. BGSU posted wins versus Western Kentucky, North Dakota, at Morehead State and against Detroit.

HOLMES TABBED THE MADNESS MAC MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK (12/16)
Bowling Green State University's Richaun Holmes was tabbed the Madness Mid-American Men's Basketball Player of the Week by College Sports Madness (www.collegesportsmadness.com) on Dec. 16. Holmes registered back-to-back career-highs in blocked shots during the week, posting seven in both a home win over North Dakota and a road win at Morehead State. His seven blocks tied 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.

HOLMES TABBED MAC EAST DIVISION PLAYER OF THE WEEK TWICE THIS SEASON
Bowling Green State University forward Richaun Holmes has twice been named the MAC Men's Basketball East Division Player of the Week. The junior received the weekly conference award back-to-back weeks on Dec. 9 and 16.

BLOCK HISTORY
The Falcons 14 total team blocks on Dec. 15 at Morehead State set a new BGSU single game record for the most blocks in a game. The previous record was 13 blocks, which BGSU set just one game earlier versus North Dakota on Dec. 11.

MUCH NEEDED ROAD WIN
The Falcons picked up its first road of the season on Dec. 15, as BGSU defeated Morehead State 67-61 in Morehead, Ky. The road win was the first non-conference road win for BGSU since a 61-53 win at FIU on Dec. 22, 2011 and is the first overall road win for the Falcons since last year, a 57-41 road win at Northern Illinois on Feb. 6, 2013.

HO, HO, HOLMES
Junior forward Richaun Holmes enjoyed the month of December, as over the Falcons six games in the 12th month, he averaged 18.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per contest. Holmes shot 52.3 percent from the floor and 73.6 percent from the free throw line overall over that span.

KEEPERS OF THE RIM: BLOCK BROTHERS
BGSU's 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 61 blocks over the Falcons' first 14 games of the season. Both Black (2nd) and Holmes (5th) are already in the top-five all-time at BGSU in career blocked shots and combined the two have turned away 236 shots overall.

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
The Falcons this season have had a balance scoring attack, as in 13 of their 14 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 12 of those 13 contests this season, while six different players have registered double digit points in at least one game thus far this year.

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK: TAKE 5
BGSU has had all five starters score in double digits in three different contests this season (Earlham, Presbyterian, Morehead State).

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.

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 11.9 points, 4.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals as a starter in 2013-14.

PARKER STEPPING UP
Sophomore Spencer Parker has stepped up his game thus far this season, as the forward is averaging 12.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on the year. Parker, who was thrust into the starting lineup in the second game of the season due to injuries, has scored in double figures in 12 contests for Bowling Green this year, including setting a career-high in points per game on three different occasions.

HOLMES' HOUSE
Junior forward Richaun Holmes has totaled 42 blocks thus far this season and has posted five blocks or more in a single game four 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 3.0 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 195 career wins as a head coach at his three posts (BGSU, Seton Hall and Siena) and is only five 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 27-12 in the Stroh Center, which comes out to a .692 winning percentage, as BGSU is 4-3 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 4-3 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 125-of-147 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.

FILLING OUT THE ROSTER
BGSU's roster has been filled out with a number of walk-ons, which includes former BG football player Shaun Joplin (Sylvania, Ohio/Southview High School) who joined the team in January 2014. Brandon Busuttil (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada/St. John's-Kilmarnock School), Michael Gallagher (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor High School), Josh Jones (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine High School) and Avery Turner (Detroit, Michigan/Renaissance High School) round out the roster for the Falcons.

FALCONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Bowling Green will play a minimum of three 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, at home versus Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 20 and then once more 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.

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