BGSU Men's Basketball to take on Eastern Michigan on Wednesday Night at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, January 29

Ypsilanti, Mich.

7 PM

Bowling Green State University

Eastern Michigan

Photo by: Bianca Garza, BGSU Marketing and Communications

BGSU Men's Basketball to take on Eastern Michigan on Wednesday Night at 7 p.m.

January 27, 2014 | Men's Basketball

By: by Kevin Davis, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

Bowling Green (9-10, 3-3 MAC) vs. Eastern Michigan (11-8, 3-3 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014; 7 p.m. ET
Convocation Center (8,800) / Ypsilanti, Mich.
LIVE STATS
LIVE AUDIO
LIVE VIDEO
COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

2013-14 MAC STANDINGS
EAST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Akron	5-1	13-6
Ohio	4-2	14.5
Buffalo	4-2	10-6
Miami	4-2	8-9
Bowling Green	3-3	9-10
Kent State	2-3	11-7
WEST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Toledo	5-1	17-2
Western Michigan	4-2	11-7
Eastern Michigan	3-3	11-8
Northern Illinois	1-5	7-11
Ball State	1-5	4-13
Central Michigan	0-6	7-11

LAY-UPS (SIZED FOR YOUR TWITTER ADDICTION)
* Bowling Green is 2-0 on the road in MAC play this season.
* The Falcons are 3-4 thus far in the month of January.
* These two teams played back on Jan. 8, a 56-51 win for EMU over BGSU in the Stroh Center.
* Both Jehvon Clarke and Anthony Henderson drained four 3-pointers each in the loss to Miami last time out.
* BGSU has hit 10 treys as a team in two of its last three games.
* This game will feature the two leading shot blockers in the MAC in Da'Shonte Riley (57 blocks) of EMU and Richaun Holmes (56) of BGSU.
* These two teams are two of the best defensive teams in the MAC, as both allow less than 64.1 points per game on the year.
* Coach Louis Orr is two wins away from picking up his 100th win at BGSU.
* Coach Orr is also only two wins away from recording his 200th career win.
* BGSU as a program is only four wins away from win number 1,300 (1,296).
* Bowling Green is in its 99th season of basketball this year.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Date: Jan. 8, 2014
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio (Stroh Center)
Score: Eastern Michigan, 56-51
Notes: 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). With time running out, BGSU got two quick layups from Parker and Clarke to cut the EMU lead back down to five at 48-43, yet saw the next six points go in favor of Eastern Michigan who held on down the stretch with free throws from Darell Combs and Olalekan Ajayi to defeat the Falcons 56-51. 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.

BGSU vs. EMU SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green is 46-40 overall versus the Eagles of Eastern Michigan in men's
basketball action. The two teams first met back in 1916, which was a 36-22 home
win for Eastern Michigan over BGSU. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 56-51 back on Jan. 8 of this year in the two teams' MAC opener.

LAST 10 MEETINGS (Series tied at 5-5)
   Date                            Location                            Result
   Jan. 8, 2014              at Bowling Green              L, 51-56
   Jan. 12, 2013            at Bowling Green             W, 46-44
   Jan. 28, 2012            at Eastern Michigan         L, 50-55
   Jan. 29, 2011            at Bowling Green             W, 68-63
   Jan. 27, 2010            at Eastern Michigan        W, 64-61
   Feb. 15, 2009           at Bowling Green              L, 57-65
   Feb. 13, 2008           at Eastern Michigan          L, 68-78
   Feb. 10, 2007           at Bowling Green              L, 63-65
   Feb. 7, 2006             at Bowling Green              W, 73-71
   Jan. 18, 2006           at Eastern Michigan         W, 79-72

LAST TIME OUT
Bowling Green, Ohio – Despite a career-high 22 points from junior guard Jehvon Clarke, the Bowling Green State University men's basketball team had its winning streak snapped with a 70-65 home loss to the Miami RedHawks on Saturday night in the Stroh Center. The loss, which snapped the Falcons' winning streak at three games, drops BGSU to 9-10 overall and 3-3 in the MAC. With the win the RedHawks improved to 8-9 overall and 4-2 in the league. BGSU hit 10 three-pointers, matching its season-high, for the second time this season; however, the Falcons struggled at the free throw line where the home team was only 9-of-17 (52.9 percent). Miami, who connected on 22-of-26 (84.6 percent) shots from the charity stripe, also held an 18-5 advantage in points off turnovers as the Falcons coughed up the ball 14 times in the game. The Falcons, who had 16 assists in the contest, were led by Clarke's career-high 22 points and six assists, as the junior hit a career-high four three-pointers in 38 minutes of play. Behind Clarke's 22 points, fellow starting guard Anthony Henderson had 15 points before fouling out, while Richaun Holmes was held to nine points, the first time in the last 13 games that he didn't reach double digits in scoring. Senior center Cameron Black hauled in a game-high nine rebounds and dished out four assists, while Spencer Parker had eight rebounds, matching his career-high. The Falcons went ice cold from the floor offensively, as Miami finished the first half out on a 19-5 run over the final five minutes of play to take an eight point lead at 36-28 into the halftime intermission. The home team would cut the Miami lead to five on three different occasions over the first eight minutes of the second half, yet saw the RedHawks answer with a field goal of its own each time until another three-pointer from Henderson at the 12:36 mark put the score at 47-42. Clarke followed with a driving layup in the paint minutes later, while a free throw from Parker put the Falcons down just two at 47-45 with 9:30 to go in the game. Again Miami had an answer, as Sullivan hit another three-pointer to kick-off a 10-0 run over the next four minutes by the visitors who pulled out to a 57-47 lead with just over five minutes in regulation. Bowling Green refused to quit, as the Falcons would again cut the lead to five at 57-52 on a Clarke three-pointer, once more at 61-56 on an offensive rebound and put back from Parker, and a third time at 67-62 on another trey ball from Clarke, only to continue to fight an uphill battle as the RedHawks went 6-of-6 from the free throw line during that span. With the score at 67-62, BGSU followed a made free throw by Miami's Sullivan with another long distance three from Damarkeo Lyshe to put the Falcons down just three at 68-65 with just over six seconds on the game clock. However, time would run out on BGSU, as Felder closed the game out with two straight free throws in the closing seconds to give the RedHawks the 70-65 MAC win. BGSU was 23-of-55 (41.8 percent) from the floor overall and 10-of-23 (43.5 percent) from downtown, while Miami was 21-of-45 (46.7 percent) and 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) from behind the three-point line.

UNDEFEATED ON THE ROAD IN THE MAC
Bowling Green enters Wednesday night's road contest at Eastern Michigan undefeated in road MAC games having posted wins at Western Michigan (Jan. 19) and at Ohio (Jan. 22). The Falcons are 2-0 on the road in MAC action.

HOLMES & WARD - FROM MORAINE VALLEY TO THE MAC
Bowling Green's Richaun Holmes and Eastern Michigan's Karrington Ward have an eerie similar story in how they both came to the MAC. Both hail from Lockport, Illinois, and both last played at Moraine Valley Community College. In 2011-12, Holmes was an NJCAA DII All-American, an All-Region IV First-Team selection, an All-Region IV Tournament Team honoree and was named the Conference Player of the Year. Just one year later, Ward suited up for Moraine and was an NJCAA DI All-American, an All-Region IV First-Team selection, the All Region IV Tournament MVP and was also named the Conference Player of the Year. The two each lead their respective teams in scoring on the year this season.

CLARKE'S CAREER SHOOTING NIGHT
Junior guard Jehvon Clarke had a career shooting night on Jan. 25 versus the Miami RedHawks, as the point guard poured in a career-high 22 points, which included a career-high four three-point baskets.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE AT THE FREE THROW LINE MAKES
The Falcons have been up and down all season long at the free throw line as a team. In BGSU's nine wins this season, the Falcons shot 69.2 percent from the charity stripe. However, in their 10 losses the Falcons have hit on only 55.7 percent of the free throw attempts. In fact, in BGSU's three-game winning streak earlier this month, the Falcons as a team shot 76.0 percent from the line. In their most recent loss to Miami, which snapped the winning streak, BGSU shot just 52.9 percent from the charity stripe for the contest.

RECENT THREE-POINT BARRAGE
The Falcons have gotten hot as of late from behind the three-point line, as BGSU as a team has drained 10 three-pointers in two of its last three contests. BGSU first connected on 10 treys in the win at Western Michigan (Jan. 19), then matched that season-high mark with 10 3-ball's versus Miami (Jan. 25) last time out.

COMEBACK KIDS
In each of the Falcons last two wins - at Western Michigan and at Ohio - BGSU has erased a double digit deficit. At Western Michigan, BGSU came back from a 15-point deficit in the second half to earn a 69-64 win. Versus Ohio, the Falcons overcame an 11 point first half lead to upend the Bobcats 58-56.

TWO MORE FOR ORR
Coach Louis Orr has currently amassed 198 career wins as a head coach at his three posts (BGSU, Seton Hall and Siena) and is only two wins shy of 200 career victories.

FOUR SCORES ... IN MAC PLAY
The Falcons have four players averaging double digit points thus far this year in MAC play. Richaun Holmes (13.3), Jehvon Clarke (13.0) Anthony Henderson (12.3) and Spencer Parker (11.2) are all averaging double figures in BGSU's first six MAC games.

HISTORICAL ROAD WINS
With their back-to-back road wins at Western Michigan and at Ohio, the Falcons posted wins at Kalamazoo, Mich. and at Athens, Ohio for the first time in the same year since the 1990-91 season.

ROAD TRIUMPHS IN 2013-14
Bowling Green has posted three road wins this season - at Morehead State, at Western Michigan and at Ohio - which triples is win total in true road games last season. Prior to last season, the Falcons won only four road games in each of the previous two years.

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 each Falcon big has posted at least one block in a game double digit times. Holmes has registered at least one block in 17 contests this season, while Black has recorded at least one sway in 15 different games on the year.

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 159 career swats is 28 blocks ahead of Black who is in second-place overall with 131 career rejections. Holmes is only one spot and two blocks behind Black with his 129 career blocks.

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 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball statistical rankings released on Monday, Jan. 27. BGSU is ranked 20th overall in blocked shots per game at 5.9 per contest and 23rd in total blocks on the season with 113. The Falcons are also ranked 20th 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-20 in the nation in both blocks per game and total blocks. Entering the week of play, the 6-8 forward is ranked 18th in the nation in total blocks with 56 on the season and 18th overall with an average of 2.95 blocks per game.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS
BGSU takes pride in its defensive prowess, as the Falcons are tied for first in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing a league low 62.7 points per game on the season. BG is also second in the conference in both blocked shots per game (5.9) and in steals per game (8.5). In Conference play only, BGSU is holding its foes to only 58.0 points per game, which ranks second in MAC play.

AT THE TOP IN THE MAC
Bowling Green's Richaun Holmes ranks second in blocked shots on the season, as he has 56 total blocks and an average of 2.9 per game, while Anthony Henderson is ranked second in the MAC in steals with an average of 2.2 per contest and 41 total thefts overall. Jehvon Clarke leads the league in minutes played with an average of 35.4 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 (35.4), Spencer Parker (34.5) and Anthony Henderson (33.6) 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 78 more points (638-560) 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 85 blocks over the Falcons' 19 games thus far this season. Both Black (131) and Holmes (129) 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 17 of their 19 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 15 of those 17 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 12.3 points, 4.7 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals as a starter in 2013-14. He leads the team with 89 assists on the year and in minutes played with an average of 35.4 per contest.

PARKER STEPPING UP
Sophomore Spencer Parker has stepped up his game thus far this season, as the forward is averaging 12.4 points and 5.1 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 15 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 56 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 2.9 blocks per game.

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 129-of-152 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.

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 28-14 in the Stroh Center, which comes out to a .667 winning percentage.

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 5-5 at home and have a total of 15 home contests 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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