Falcons Close Out Home Stand Against CMU on Wednesday Night at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, January 15

Bowling Green, Ohio

7 PM

Bowling Green State University

Central Michigan

Photo by: Bianca Garza, BGSU Marketing and Communications

Falcons Close Out Home Stand Against CMU on Wednesday Night at 7 p.m.

January 14, 2014 | Men's Basketball

By: by Kevin Davis, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

Central Michigan (7-7, 0-2 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (6-9, 0-2 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014; 7 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
Akron	2-0	10-5
Buffalo	2-0	8-4
Ohio	1-1	11-4
Kent State	1-1	10-5
Miami	1-1	5-8
Bowling Green	0-2	6-9
WEST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Western Michigan	2-0	9-5
Toledo	1-1	13-2
Eastern Michigan	1-1	9-6
Northern Illinois	1-1	7-7
Central Michigan	0-2	7-7
Ball State	0-2	3-10

LAY-UPS (SIZED FOR YOUR TWITTER ADDICTION)
* Bowling Green is 4-4 at home in the Stroh Center this season.
* Both BGSU and CMU are looking for their first MAC win of the season.
* This contest wraps up a four-game home stand for the Falcons, its longest of the 2013-14 season.
* The Falcons are on a four-game losing skid and have not won since defeating Detroit, 64-62, on Dec. 22.
* BGSU is coming off its lowest scoring output (36) of the season in the loss to Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 12).
* Senior Cam Black is only 10 rebounds shy (490) of grabbing career rebound number 500.
* Cam Black (122) and Richaun Holmes (121) are ranked 2nd and 3rd in career blocks in BGSU history.
* Richaun Holmes has scored in double figures in nine straight games.
* 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: Jan. 9, 2013
Location: Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Score: CMU, 73-67
Notes: The Bowling Green men's basketball team fought back from a 23-point second half deficit to tie the score with three minutes to play, but Central Michigan answered with six in a row to get a 73-67 win over the Falcons in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. Jordon Crawford scored a career-high 29 points, 25 in the second half, to lead BGSU's comeback as the Falcons used a 26-4 run after falling behind 49-26. Bowling Green made 8-of-12 shots during the stretch, including four straight three-pointers, two each from Crawford and Anthony Henderson. In a span that lasted just shy of eight minutes, the Falcons went from 23 behind to one down at 53-52. Over the next four minutes, Central Michigan weathered the storm and a Chris Fowler free-throw gave the Chippewas a 60-56 lead. Two possessions later, Henderson was fouled and made both free-throws. A'uston Calhoun followed with a steal and Crawford scored on a breakaway lay-up to tie the game at 60-60 with 3:25 to play. After CMU's Olivier Mbaigoto made two free-throws, the Falcons came up empty on a pair of possessions before Mbaigoto scored on a put back dunk to give the Chippewas a 64-60 lead with less than a minute to play. From there, Central Michigan made free-throws down the stretch to get the six point victory. Crawford had four assists to go with his 29 points, making 11-of-20 shot attempts. Henderson added a career-best 13 points in his first career start, making 3-of-6 three-pointers. Calhoun was just 3-of-10 shooting and came up one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 14 rebounds, tying his career best. Richaun Holmes came off the bench for seven points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots. Bowling Green shot 59 percent from the floor in the second half, making 5-of-9 three-pointers. The Falcons were also perfect on eight second-half free-throw attempts and had just three turnovers to almost overcome a 17-point halftime deficit. For the game, Bowling Green held a 36-29 rebounding edge and committed 12 turnovers, two more than Central Michigan. The Falcons shot 42 percent from the floor and held the Chippewas to 41 percent shooting.

BGSU vs. CMU SERIES HISTORY
The Falcons hold a slight 37-33 advantage all-time on the hardwood over Central Michigan. However, CMU has won two straight contests over BGSU and seven out of the last 10 meetings.

LAST 10 MEETINGS (CMU leads 7-3)
   Date                            Location                                Result
   Jan. 9, 2013               at Central Michigan            L, 67-73
   March 5, 2012            at Bowling Green #            L, 53-54
   Jan. 25, 2012             at Bowling Green               W, 71-58
   Feb. 12, 2011             at Central Michigan            L, 64-69
   Jan. 30, 2010             at Bowling Green                L, 52-64
   Feb. 7, 2009               at Central Michigan            W, 67-61
   Feb. 6, 2008         at Bowling Green                L, 77-81
   Jan. 27, 2007             at Central Michigan            L, 68-71
   Jan. 4, 2006               at Bowling Green                W, 66-44
   March 5, 2005           at Bowling Green                 L, 66-71

   # MAC Championship Tournament game


LAST TIME OUT
Richaun Holmes had 12 points, eight rebounds and six blocked shots and freshman guard Zack Denny made his Bowling Green debut, but the BGSU men's basketball team shot just 29 percent from the field in a 45-36 loss to Northern Illinois Sunday afternoon at the Stroh Center. Holmes had at least five blocks in a game for the fifth time this year and Denny gave the Falcons something it badly needs, a deadly outside shooter, but the NIU defense was too strong down the stretch. Denny played 19 minutes in his debut after injury kept him out of the first 14 games and he showed his potential early in the second half. After Bowling Green trailed 26-18 at the break, the Falcons held Northern Illinois scoreless for the first five minutes of the second half. Denny's first career points, a long three-pointer from the top of the key, tied the score at 26-26. After a Northern Illinois three-pointer put the Huskies back ahead, Denny made another one from almost the same spot to tie it at 29-29. Holmes then added back-to-back dunks and Bowling Green led 33-30 with 12:05 to play. Over the course of the next nine minutes, BGSU held Northern Illinois to just four points during a defensive stretch that could have put the game away. The Falcons, though, got only a Jehvon Clarke lay-up during the stretch and led 35-34. With 3:01 to play, Aksel Bolin hit a three-pointer to give the Huskies the lead for good and NIU's Travon Baker followed with a lay-up to make it 39-35. After Denny made a free-throw to get the Falcons within three, Baker knocked down a three-pointer to ice the game. While Holmes was the only Falcon to score in double figures, Clarke added nine points, five assists and four rebounds. Denny finished with seven points, but the Falcons shot only 29 percent from the field. NIU was not much better, finishing at 33 percent but the Huskies generated more opportunities with a 40-29 rebounding edge and four fewer turnovers than Bowling Green's 17.

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

TOUGH START TO 2014
BGSU has had a tough start to the 2014 calendar year, as the Falcons are 0-3 thus far this January. Bowling Green has suffered losses to IPFW, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois, all at home, thus far this 2014 year.

S.O.S. OFFENSE
The Falcons have struggled to score the ball over its current four-game losing streak, as BGSU has combined to post 200 points, an average of just 50 points per game during that stretch. BGSU has scored 60 points or less six different times this season.

CHASING OTIS
Both Cam Black and Richaun Holmes are chasing former Falcon Otis Polk for the most career blocks in BGSU men's basketball history. Polk's 150 career swats is 28 blocks ahead of Black (122) and 29 in front of Holmes (121) who rank second and third overall.

BLACK CLOSING IN ON CAREER BOARD NO. 500
Senior Cam Black is closing in on a career milestone, as the center is only 10 rebounds away from hauling in career rebound number 500.

HOLMES' STREAK OF DOUBLE DIGIT SCORING GAMES
Forward Richaun Holmes is closing in on a double digit streak of games with double figures scoring. Holmes has scored in double figures in each of the last nine games for the Falcons, the longest streak of the season.

DENNY'S DEBUT AT BGSU
BGSU freshman guard Zack Denny made his intercollegiate debut on Sunday, Jan. 12, versus Northern Illinois. The newcomer hit 2-of-3 from behind the three-point line for seven points in 19 minutes of play off the bench for BGSU.

BGSU MEN'S HOOPS RANKED IN THE TOP-25 IN A NUMBER OF NCAA STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
BGSU enters this week 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 Monday, Jan. 13. Bowling Green is currently ranked 17th overall in blocked shots per game at 6.3 per contest and 22nd in total blocks on the season with 95.

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 16th in the nation with an average of 3.2 blocks per game and in total blocks with 48 on the season.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS
BGSU takes pride in its defensive prowess, as the Falcons are first in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing a league low 63.0 points per game. BG is also tied for tops in the conference in blocked shots per game (6.3) and ranks third in steals per game (8.3). The Falcons are also third in defensive rebounds at 25.7 boards per contest.

AT THE TOP IN THE MAC
Bowling Green's Richaun Holmes leads the MAC in blocked shots on the season, as he has 48 total blocks and a league best average of 3.2 per game, while Anthony Henderson is ranked second in the MAC in steals with 34 thefts and an average of 2.3 per contest.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY
Bowling Green has three players that lead the league in minutes played thus far this season. Jehvon Clarke (34.8), Spencer Parker (34.3) and Anthony Henderson (33.1) are 1-2-3 in minutes played this season in the MAC. Richaun Holmes is ranked 10th in the MAC in minutes played at 31.1 per contest.

2ND HALF > 1ST HALF
Bowling Green has proven to be a second half team this season, as the Falcons have scored 55 more points (497-442) over the final 20 minutes of play compared to the first 20 minutes of action so far this year. Four of BGSU's six lowest total points output per half this season (18, 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.

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 68 blocks over the Falcons' first 15 games of the season. Both Black (2nd) and Holmes (3rd) are already in the top-five all-time at BGSU in career blocked shots and combined the two have turned away 243 shots overall.

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
The Falcons this season have had a balance scoring attack, as in 13 of their 15 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 seven 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, blocked shots and minutes played.

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 11.7 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.9 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 12.1 points and 4.9 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 48 blocks thus far this season and has posted five blocks or more in a single game five 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 3.2 blocks per game.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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 27-13 in the Stroh Center, which comes out to a .675 winning percentage, as BGSU is 4-4 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 4-4 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-148 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.

###