Falcons Hit the Road to Take On Western Michigan on Sunday Afternoon

Bowling Green (7-9, 1-2 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (9-6, 2-1 MAC)
Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014; 2 p.m. ET
University Arena in Read Fieldhouse (5,421) / Kalamazoo, Mich.
TV: TWC Sports Channel
LIVE STATS
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COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

2013-14 MAC STANDINGS
EAST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Akron	3-0	11-5
Ohio	2-1	12-4
Kent State	2-1	11-5
Buffalo	2-1	8-5
Bowling Green	1-2	7-9
Miami	1-2	5-9
WEST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Toledo	2-1	14-2
Eastern Michigan	2-1	10-6
Western Michigan	2-1	9-6
Northern Illinois	1-2	7-8
Central Michigan	0-3	7-8
Ball State	0-3	3-11

LAY-UPS (SIZED FOR YOUR TWITTER ADDICTION)
* Bowling Green is coming off a 67-57 home win over Central Michigan on Wednesday night.
* The Falcons are only 1-4 in true road contests this season.
* Sunday afternoon's game is the first road MAC game for BGSU this season.
* BGSU is 7-2 overall this year when posting a better field goal percentage than its opponent for the game.
* Bowling Green is 6-1 on the year when making more free throws than its opponent.
* BGSU is the only team in the MAC with over 100 blocks on the season (102).
* Bowling Green has four players averaging over 31 minutes of action per game this season. The most in the MAC.
* Senior Cam Black is only five rebounds shy (495) of grabbing career rebound number 500.
* Richaun Holmes has scored in double figures in 10 straight games.
* Bowling Green is in its 99th season of basketball this year.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Date: Feb. 13, 2013
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio (Stroh Center)
Score: BGSU, 70-60
Notes: The Bowling Green men's basketball team used a 9-0 run midway through the second half to pull away from Mid-American Conference West Division leader Western Michigan, defeating the Broncos 70-60 in the Stroh Center. The Falcons have won three of their last four conference games to improve to 10-14 overall and 5-6 in MAC play. A'uston Calhoun scored 24 points, his second-best scoring total of the season, on 10-of-17 shooting. The Falcons overcame a 38-28 rebounding disparity by forcing 18 Western Michigan turnovers and turning those into 24 second-chance points. WMU entered the contest as one of the best teams in the country at getting to the free-throw line and the Broncos did not disappoint, attempting 26, tied for the most an opponent has attempted in the Stroh Center this year. However, the Broncos made just half of the attempts. BGSU shot 64 percent in the second half to take over after the game was tied at 30-30 at the break. In fact, Western Michigan briefly took a 33-32 second-half lead on a Brandon Pokley three-pointer but the Falcons responded with a 10-1 run and never trailed again. Chauncey Orr sparked the team with a pair of free-throws and a three-point play on successive possessions. Richaun Holmes scored on a tough move inside and Jordon Crawford knocked down a three-pointer that gave the Falcons their largest lead of the game at 42-34. WMU responded with three consecutive buckets and BGSU still led by just three with 13:38 to play at 44-41. A Luke Kraus steal turned into a Crawford fast break layup and the Falcons had the start of a 9-0 run that effectively put the game away. Western Michigan began a stretch of turnovers on five consecutive possessions and Crawford connected on a transition three-pointer, followed by lay-ups from Calhoun and Orr to make it 53-41. Bowling Green pushed the lead to 15 on three different occasions and while Western Michigan rallied to cut the deficit to six with 57 seconds remaining, Bowling Green made its final four free-throws to ice the contest. For the game, Bowling Green shot 50 percent from the field, the third time this year the Falcons have made at least half of their shots.

BGSU vs. WESTERN MICHIGAN SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green leads the overall series with Western Michigan 68-45. The Falcons have won each of the last two meetings between the two teams with BGSU's last lost in the series coming back at the 2011 MAC Championship Tournament, a first round 67-56 loss in Bowling Green, Ohio.

LAST 10 MEETINGS (WMU leads 7-3)
   Date                           Location                             Result
   Feb. 13, 2013           at Bowling Green             W, 70-60
   Feb. 1, 2012             at Western Michigan        W, 72-48
   March 10, 2011        at Bowling Green #          L, 56-67
   Feb. 5, 2011             at Bowling Green              L, 61-75
   March 7, 2010          Cleveland, Ohio #             L, 73-75
   Feb. 6, 2010             at Western Michigan         L, 64-65
   Feb. 4, 2009             at Bowling Green              W, 68-61
   Feb. 2, 2008             at Western Michigan         L, 50-64
   Jan. 24, 2007           at Bowling Green               L, 63-72
   Jan. 7, 2006             at Western Michigan          L, 62-84

   # MAC Championship Tournament game

LAST TIME OUT
The BGSU men's basketball team used a 16-4 run to close out the first half and take a lead that the Falcons refused to relinquish for the remainder of the contest to post a 67-57 home win over Central Michigan on Wednesday night in the Stroh Center. BGSU's Richaun Holmes and Spencer Parker each led the way for the Falcons with 20 points apiece, becoming the first tandem of Falcons to score 20 points or more in a single game since A'uston Calhoun and Jordon Crawford each poured in 21 points apiece last season at Miami on Jan. 16, 2013. Along with Holmes' 20 points, the junior tallied his third double-double of the season with 10 rebounds and four blocked shots, as he and senior center Cameron Black combined for seven blocks in the win. Black also dished out a career-high four assists, while guard Anthony Henderson added 13 points of his own in 35 minutes of play. Despite the fact that Central Michigan shot 60 percent (12-of-20) in the first half, compared to the Falcons' 40 percent (10-of-25), BGSU was able to stay in the contest early and take a lead into the break by holding CMU to only one offensive rebound and force the visitors into 10 turnovers over the first 20 minutes of play to put the score at 33-28 at the break. The momentum carried over into the second half for the Falcons, as again the defense transitioned to easy points for the home team, as BGSU opened up the second half of play with an 11-2 run to take a 14 point lead at 44-30 on a layup from Parker with 14:39 to go in regulation. The Falcons held CMU to only eight made field goals in the second half (8-of-30, 26.2 percent) and was 16-of-22 (72.7 percent) from the free throw line for the game which were both keys in the victory. BGSU outscore CMU 32-20 in points in the paint, 21-13 in points off turnovers, 14-4 in fast break points and 11-10 in second chance points. For the game, BGSU was 23-of-47 (48.9 percent) from the floor and 5-of-15 (33.3 percent) from behind the three-point line, while CMU was 20-of-50 (40 percent) from the field and 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) from long distance.

RIGHTING THE FALCON SHIP
Last time out, the Falcons got back on the right track, as BGSU snapped a four-game losing streak, its longest of the season, with a 67-57 home win over Central Michigan.

20/20 SCORING
In BGSU's 67-57 win over Central Michigan on Jan. 16, the Falcon's Richaun Holmes and Spencer Parker both posted 20 points apiece for the game becoming the first tandem of Falcons to score 20 points or more in a single game since A'uston Calhoun and Jordon Crawford each poured in 21 points apiece last season at Miami on Jan. 16, 2013. Holmes has posted 20 points or more three times this season, while Parker has reached the 20 point mark twice.

TOUGH START TO 2014
BGSU has had a tough start to the 2014 calendar year, as the Falcons are 1-3 thus far this January. Bowling Green has suffered losses to IPFW, Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois, all at home, before defeating Central Michigan last Wednesday at the Stroh Center for its first win in 2014.

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 25 blocks ahead of both Black and Holmes who are tied for second-place overall with 125 career blocks apiece.

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

HOLMES' STREAK OF DOUBLE DIGIT SCORING GAMES
Forward Richaun Holmes' streak of games with double figures scoring has reached double digits, as the junior has scored in double figures in each of the last 10 games for the Falcons, the longest streak of the season.

BGSU MEN'S HOOPS RANKED IN THE TOP-20 IN A NUMBER OF NCAA STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
BGSU enters this week ranked in the top-20 nationally among a number of defensive categories in the latest NCAA Division I Men's Basketball statistical rankings released on Friday, Jan. 16. Bowling Green is currently ranked 13th overall in blocked shots per game at 6.4 per contest and 16th in total blocks on the season with 102.

AMONG THE NATION'S LEADERS IN BLOCKED SHOTS
BGSU's Richaun Holmes is ranked in the top-15 in the nation in both blocks per game and total blocks. The 6-8 forward is ranked 15th in the nation with an average of 3.25 blocks per game and in total blocks with 52 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 62.6 points per game. BG is also tied for tops in the conference in blocked shots per game (6.4) and ranks third in steals per game (8.3). The Falcons are also third in defensive rebounds at 25.5 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 52 total blocks and a league best average of 3.3 per game, while Anthony Henderson is ranked second in the MAC in steals with 35 thefts and an average of 2.2 per contest. Jehvon Clarke leads the league in minutes played with an average of 35.1 minutes 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 (35.1), Spencer Parker (34.6) and Anthony Henderson (33.2) are 1-2-3 in minutes played this season in the MAC. Richaun Holmes is ranked ninth in the MAC in minutes played at 31.3 per contest.

2ND HALF > 1ST HALF
Bowling Green has proven to be a second half team this season, as the Falcons have scored 56 more points (531-475) 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.

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.

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 75 blocks over the Falcons' first 16 games of the season. Both Black and Holmes have totaled 125 career blocks each and are already in the top-three all-time at BGSU in career blocked shots.

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
The Falcons this season have had a balance scoring attack, as in 14 of their 16 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 13 of those 14 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 11.5 points, 4.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals as a starter in 2013-14. He leads the team with 74 assists on the year.

PARKER STEPPING UP
Sophomore Spencer Parker has stepped up his game thus far this season, as the forward is averaging 12.6 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 13 contests for Bowling Green this year, including setting a career-high in points per game on three different occasions. He also has totaled 20 points twice this season.

HOLMES' HOUSE
Junior forward Richaun Holmes has totaled 52 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 3.25 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 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 196 career wins as a head coach at his three posts (BGSU, Seton Hall and Siena) and is only four 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 28-13 in the Stroh Center, which comes out to a .683 winning percentage, as BGSU is 5-4 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 5-4 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 126-of-149 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) 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 on ESPN3 vs. South Florida, at Wisconsin and at Western Michigan, 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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