BGSU Men's Basketball Remains on the Road to Face Off with Ohio on Wednesday Night

Wednesday, January 22

Athens, Ohio

7 PM

Bowling Green State University

Ohio

BGSU Men's Basketball Remains on the Road to Face Off with Ohio on Wednesday Night

January 20, 2014 | Men's Basketball

By: by Kevin Davis, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

Bowling Green (8-9, 2-2 MAC) vs. Ohio (13-4, 3-1 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014; 7 p.m. ET
Convocation Center (13,080) / Athens, Ohio
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COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

2013-14 MAC STANDINGS
EAST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Ohio	3-1	13-4
Akron	3-1	11-6
Buffalo	3-1	9-5
Kent State	2-2	11-6
Bowling Green	2-2	8-9
Miami	2-2	6-9
WEST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Toledo	3-1	15-2
Eastern Michigan	3-1	11-6
Western Michigan	2-2	9-7
Northern Illinois	1-3	7-9
Central Michigan	0-4	7-9
Ball State	0-4	3-12

LAY-UPS (SIZED FOR YOUR TWITTER ADDICTION)
* BGSU is on a two-game winning streak with both wins coming in MAC play.
* The Falcons are only 2-4 in true road contests this season.
* BGSU has not won at Ohio since Jan. 24, 2009 (BGSU 52-51 win).
* BGSU leads the MAC in blocks with 108 as a team on the year.
* Bowling Green has four players averaging double digit points in MAC play this season.
* Cam Black hauled in career rebound number 500 in the win over WMU on Sunday, Jan. 19.
* Richaun Holmes has scored in double figures in 11 straight games.
* Anthony Henderson was named the MAC East Division Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Jan. 20.
* BGSU erased a 15 point deficit in its last contest, a 69-64 win over WMU.
* The Falcons made a season-high 10 trey's last time out at Western Michigan.
* Coach Louis Orr is three wins away from picking up his 100th win at BGSU.
* Bowling Green is in its 99th season of basketball this year.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Date: March 2, 2013
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio (Stroh Center)
Score: Ohio, 78-65
Notes: A'uston Calhoun broke out of a mini-slump to post 24 points and seven rebounds, but the Bowling Green men's basketball team lost to Ohio 78-65 at the Stroh Center. Calhoun had scored just 11 points total in BGSU's previous two games, but he was 8-of-14 shooting and made all seven of his free-throw attempts as the Falcons battled back from a 13 point first half deficit to take a second half lead over the Bobcats. Ohio used a 13-0 run early in the game and the Bobcats looked like they might blow out BGSU on its own home court. Nick Kellogg's three-pointer with 6:01 to play in the first half gave Ohio a 32-19 lead and a Kellogg fast break layup 66 seconds later made it 34-21. But Calhoun took over down the stretch to bring the Falcons back. Calhoun's jumper with 55 seconds left got BGSU within single digits and his long three-pointer with three seconds remaining cut Ohio's lead to six at the break, 39-33. He had the Falcons' final eight points of the period over 96 seconds and continued to guide BGSU as the second half started, knocking down a jumper on the Falcons' first possession. Luke Kraus followed with a three-pointer and then on a layup inside as BGSU took a 40-39 lead. After D.J. Cooper made a three-pointer, his first points of the game, Calhoun again scored inside and the teams went to the first media timeout tied at 42-42. When the teams came out of the break, though, Ohio got seven consecutive points from Reggie Keely and BGSU never got closer than five points the rest of the way. The Falcons, though, were within striking distance until the final minutes. After Ohio built a 66-57 lead, Cam Black scored inside with 5:51 left and Jordon Crawford scored a fast break layup after a Kraus steal 47 seconds later to make it 66-61. But Walter Offutt connected on a long off-balance jumper and Cooper followed with a long three-pointer to make it 71-61. From there, the Falcons were unable to rally and Ohio pulled away late. BGSU held a 35-26 rebounding advantage but the Falcons committed 21 turnovers, including 14 in the first half. BGSU shot 48 percent from the field and made 14-of-16 free-throws, but Ohio was just a bit better at 53 percent shooting, including 8-of-22 three-pointers.

BGSU vs. OHIO SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green is holding on to a slight 72-62 overall series record versus the Bobcats of Ohio, as the two teams first met back in 1943, a 69-47 BGSU win. The last time the Falcons won at Ohio was back on Jan. 24, 2009, when BGSU held on for a 52-51 road win.

LAST 10 MEETINGS (Series tied at 5-5)
   Date                                Location                     Result
   March 2, 2013                 at Bowling Green      L, 65-78
   Feb. 9, 2013                    at Ohio                        L, 63-72
   Feb. 15, 2012                  at Ohio                        L, 59-72
   Jan. 7, 2012                    at Bowling Green      W, 67-57
   Feb. 23, 2011                  at Ohio                        L, 60-70
   Jan. 19, 2011                  at Bowling Green      W, 73-61
   March 4, 2010               at Ohio                        L, 60-82
   Jan. 20, 2010                  at Bowling Green   W, 65-57
   March 12, 2009            Cleveland, Ohio #   W, 74-61
   March 8, 2009                at Bowling Green      W, 75-41

   # MAC Championship Tournament game

LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt-junior guard Anthony Henderson drained a career-high seven three-pointers to pour in a career-high 27 points to help lead the Bowling Green State University men's basketball team to overcome a 15 point second half deficit and defeat the Western Michigan Broncos 69-64 at the University Arena in a Kalamazoo, Mich. on Sunday afternoon. Bowling Green was 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from behind the three-point line for the game overall, as the 10 trey's was the most in a single game by the Falcons this season. The 15 point deficit was also the largest lead that the Falcons have overcome this season in a win. The win is the second straight for the Falcons who improve to 8-9 overall and 2-2 in MAC play. The loss drops Western Michigan to 9-7 overall and 2-2 in the league. Behind Henderson's barrage of three-pointers, fellow starters Spencer Parker and Jehvon Clarke chipped in with 13 and 12 points apiece, respectively, while forward Richaun Holmes had 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Both Henderson and Clarke had four steals each, while Clarke also dished out a team-high five assists in the win. Senior center Cameron Black hauled in six boards for the game, as he surpassed the 500 career rebounds milestone in the five point win. Black also had three blocks in 32 minutes of play. Bowling Green took its first lead of the second half on back-to-back free throws from Parker at the 7:44 mark, which capped off an 11-1 run by the Falcons, to put the score at 56-55. After the Broncos retook the lead two possessions later on a layup from Whittington, BGSU would stay within one basket of the home team for the next several minutes until a clutch three-pointer from Clarke with the shot clock winding down put the Falcons back out in front at 65-64 with just 1:33 to go in regulation. On the next two possessions defensively, the Falcons forced the Broncos into a turnover and saw Western Michigan miss two straight free throws to keep the score at 65-64 with less than 40 seconds to go in the game. BGSU got a key layup on an inbounds play with time ticking away, as a double-teamed Holmes found a wide open Henderson under the basket for an easy layup to put the Falcons up three at 67-64 with only 15 seconds on the game clock. Two Western Michigan timeouts later, the Broncos' Brown missed a long three-pointer attempt from the top of the key to try in tie the score. BGSU's Holmes skied high to haul in the rebound and was fouled on the play. The junior calmly hit two straight free throws with six seconds left in the contest to seal the 69-65 come from behind win for the Falcons. BGSU outscored the Broncos 24-9 in points off turnovers, as the Falcons' defense forced Western Michigan into 18 miscues over the 40 minute contest. The Falcons were also 11-of-15 (73.3 percent) from the free throw line in the win and passed out 14 assists as a team in the comeback win.

RIGHTING THE FALCON SHIP
The Falcons have righted the ship, as BGSU has posted back-to-back wins over Central Michigan and at Western Michigan after losing four straight games, their longest losing streak of the year.

ANT'S CAREER DAY AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
BGSU shooting guard Anthony Henderson had a career day on Jan. 19 at Western Michigan as he poured in a career-high 27 points in the win. Henderson had a career-high seven three-pointers in the win and also played a career-high 38 minutes overall. His 10 total made field goals was also a career-high.

BGSU'S HENDERSON EARNS MAC EAST DIVISION WEEKLY AWARD
Bowling Green's Anthony Henderson scored a career-high 27 points in the win over Western Michigan on Jan. 19 and was rewarded as the MAC East Division Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Jan. 20.

HENDERSON NAMED THE MADNESS MID-AMERICAN MEN'S BASKETBALL POTW (1/20)
Redshirt-junior Anthony Henderson was named the Madness Mid-American Men's Basketball Player of the Week by College Sports Madness (www.collegesportsmadness.com) on Monday, Jan. 20. Henderson was key in the Falcons going 2-0 last week, with both wins coming in MAC play, and snapping a four-game losing skid. The shooting guard averaged 20 points, a team-high, 1.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 1.5 assists on the week, as he shot over 52 percent (9-of-17) from behind the three-point line in 73 minutes of play.

FOUR SCORES ... IN MAC PLAY
The Falcons have four players averaging double digit points thus far this year in MAC play. Richaun Holmes (14.8), Anthony Henderson (13.5), Spencer Parker (11.3) and Jehvon Clarke (10.3) are all averaging double figures over BGSU's first four conference games this season.

BLACK COLLECTS CAREER REBOUND NUMBER 500
Senior Cam Black grabbed six rebounds in the win at Western Michigan on Jan. 19, which allowed him to surpass the 500 career rebounds milestone.

A BLOCK FOR BLACK & HOLMES - SHARPIE
You can sharpie in a block for both Cam Black and Richaun Holmes at the opening tip, as the duo have both posted at least one block in each of the Falcons last 10 games. Holmes has recorded at least one block in each of the last 11 straight games for BGSU, while Black has at least one rejection in each of the last 10 contests.

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 22 blocks ahead of both Black and Holmes who are tied for second-place overall with 128 career blocks apiece.

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 11 games for the Falcons, the longest streak of the season.

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. 19. Bowling Green is currently ranked 14th overall in blocked shots per game at 6.4 per contest and 19th in total blocks on the season with 108. The Falcons are also ranked 25th in steals per game with 8.5 per contest.

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 14th in the nation in total blocks with 55 on the season and 15th overall with an average of 3.24 blocks per game.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS
BGSU takes pride in its defensive prowess, as the Falcons are first in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing a league low 62.7 points per game. BG is also tops in the conference in blocked shots per game (6.4) and ranks third in steals per game (8.5). The Falcons are also third in defensive rebounds at 25.2 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 55 total blocks and a league best average of 3.2 per game, while Anthony Henderson is ranked second in the MAC in steals with an average of 2.3 per contest and 39 total thefts overall. 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 (34.4) and Anthony Henderson (33.5) are 1-2-3 in minutes played this season in the MAC.

2ND HALF > 1ST HALF
Bowling Green has proven to be a second half team this season, as the Falcons have scored 71 more points (573-502) 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.

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 81 blocks over the Falcons' first 17 games of the season. Both Black and Holmes have totaled 128 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 15 of their 17 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 14 of those 15 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, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals as a starter in 2013-14. He leads the team with 79 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 4.8 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 14 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 55 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.

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.

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.

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 197 career wins as a head coach at his three posts (BGSU, Seton Hall and Siena) and is only three 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 127-of-150 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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