Falcons Look To End Two-Game Skid on Sunday Afternoon Versus Buffalo

Sunday, February 2

Bowling Green, Ohio

2 PM

Bowling Green State University

Buffalo

Tickets

Photo by: Bianca Garza, BGSU Marketing and Communications

Falcons Look To End Two-Game Skid on Sunday Afternoon Versus Buffalo

January 31, 2014 | Men's Basketball

By: By Kevin Davis, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

Buffalo (11-6, 5-2 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (9-11, 3-4 MAC)
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014; 2:00 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	6-1	14-6
Ohio	5-2	15-5
Buffalo	5-2	11-6
Miami	4-3	8-10
Bowling Green	3-4	9-11
Kent State	2-5	11-9
WEST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Toledo	6-1	18-2
Eastern Michigan	4-3	12-8
Western Michigan	4-3	11-8
Northern Illinois	2-5	8-11
Ball State	1-6	4-14
Central Michigan	0-7	7-12

LAY-UPS (SIZED FOR YOUR TWITTER ADDICTION)
* BGSU is 5-5 overall and 1-3 in the MAC in the Stroh Center this year.
* BGSU has not lost more than 5 games at home over a single season under coach Orr.
* BGSU is on a two-game losing streak with both losses coming in MAC play.
* BGSU has allowed 69 and 70 points over its last two games after holding its foes to 65 points or less in the previous nine contests.
* BGSU guard Anthony Henderson is shooting over 50 % from behind the three-point line over the last four games, as he is 16-of-30 during that span.
* Coach Louis Orr is two wins away from picking up his 100th win at BGSU.
* Jehvon Clarke is only seven assists (93) shy of 100 for the season.
* Coach Orr is also only two wins away from recording his 200th career win.
* The Falcon's contest versus Toledo on Feb. 20th has been moved a 9 p.m. start time and will be televised on ESPNU.
* 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: March 8, 2013
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio (Stroh Center)
Score: BGSU, 76-65
Notes: Bowling Green seniors Jordon Crawford and A'uston Calhoun combined for 41 points and the Falcons scored 20 on the break to defeat a hot Buffalo team 76-65 Friday night in the Stroh Center on Senior Night. Crawford had 26 points, 20 in the second half, as BGSU overcame a three-point halftime deficit to pull away from Buffalo late. While BGSU scored 20 points in transition, Buffalo generated just two points on the break as the Falcons turned it over only nine times. Along with Crawford and Calhoun, junior Cam Black had his best game of the year, scoring a season-high 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and adding six rebounds, two blocks, two assists and a steal. Richaun Holmes came off the bench to post nine points and two blocks, while Anthony Henderson added seven points and three rebounds. BGSU actually fell behind by eight points in the first half, but Henderson scored five points on a layup and a three-point play to cut the deficit to three. After Buffalo's Jarryn Skeete knocked down a jumper with 26 seconds to play, the Falcons held for the last shot. Crawford's three-point attempt rimmed out but Spencer Parker grabbed the rebound and was fouled with just 0.1 seconds remaining. He made both free-throws to make it 35-32 at the half. The Falcons quickly tied the score in the second half and took the lead for good on Black's three-point play with 14:42 left. After that play put BGSU ahead 43-42, Black assisted on a dunk by Calhoun on the next possession before a Luke Kraus steal turned into a Crawford fastbreak layup that pushed the lead to five. Crawford answered two Buffalo runs down the stretch as the Bulls tried to fight back. Tony Watson's three-pointer with 9:37 to play drew the Bulls within two, but Crawford made a free-throw on the next possession and then connected on a three-pointer to give BGSU a 53-47 lead. Buffalo closed to within four on a Javon McCrea jumper with 3:46 to go, but Crawford hit his second three-pointer of the game and then, after Black got a steal, he made his last three in transition to put the Falcons ahead 67-57. Crawford scored 12 points in the final 3:31 of the game and Buffalo never got closer than nine the rest of the way.

BGSU vs. BUFFALO SERIES HISTORY
The Falcons hold a 17-10 overall record versus the Bulls of Buffalo on the hardwood, as the two teams' first met in 1999. The two teams have split in each of the last 10 meetings, while BGSU is 11-3 at home versus the Bulls in the town of Bowling Green, Ohio.

LAST 10 MEETINGS (Series tied at 5-5)
   Date                               Location                          Result
   March 8, 2013             at Bowling Green            W, 76-65
   Jan. 19, 2013              at Buffalo                           L, 65-68
   March 3, 2012             at Buffalo                           L, 64-68
   Jan. 21, 2012             at Bowling Green            L, 66-68
   March 5, 2011             at Bowling Green            W, 73-63
   Jan. 8, 2011                at Buffalo                           W, 74-71
   Feb. 17, 2010             at Buffalo                           L, 51-64
   Jan. 14, 2010             at Bowling Green             L, 65-68
   Feb. 18, 2009            at Buffalo                           W, 59-48
   Jan. 10, 2009            at Bowling Green             W, 86-82

LAST TIME OUT
Ypsilanti, Mich. – Bowling Green State University had three players tally double digit points, yet were out played on the glass by Eastern Michigan, as the Eagles outrebounded the Falcons 45-36 for the game, which included 18 offensive rebounds which in turn led to 25 second chance points in the 69-57 win over BGSU on Wednesday night at the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich. The loss, which is the Falcons' first MAC road loss of the year, drops BGSU to 3-4 in league play and 9-11 overall, while with the win, Eastern Michigan earns the regular series season sweep over the Falcons and moves to 12-8 overall and 4-3 in the MAC. The Eagles had 18 offensive rebounds, 12 of which came in the first half, which led to a double digit points advantage over the Eagles at 25-11 in second chance points for the game. Eastern Michigan also held a 24-4 edge in points off turnovers, as the Falcons coughed up the ball 17 times, and a 36-22 edge in points in the paint. BGSU was led by junior Richaun Holmes who had a team-high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds and two blocked shots. Fellow starters Anthony Henderson and Spencer Parker chipped in with 12 and 10 points each, respectively, while senior center Cameron Black hauled in 10 rebounds for the Falcons in the loss. For EMU, Glenn Bryant provided a huge spark off the bench for the Eagles as he scored 21 of his career-high 26 points in the first half, while he also pulled down 10 rebounds, seven on the offensive end. Guard Mike Talley added 12 points, while both Daylen Harrison and Raven Lee totaled 10 points in the win. The Falcons had no answer for Bryant and the Eagles on the boards, as Eastern pushed its lead to as much as 13 at 39-26 on a rebound and put back basket from Bryant with less than 30 seconds to go in the half. BGSU's Henderson connected on a trey from the right wing with time winding down in the opening half to put the first half score at 39-29 in favor of the Eagles at the break. Holmes hit a second three-pointer for the Falcons to start BGSU off in the second half on a 13-8 run over the Eagles to trim the home team's lead to five at 47-42 on a layup from Jehvon Clarke at the 14 minute mark of the final half. The BGSU spurt was answered with a quick EMU flurry of points from Bryant, Harrison and Talley to push the home team back out to a double digit lead at 52-42 with just under nine minutes to go in regulation. Following a three-pointer from Clarke, which ended a 7:30 minute scoring drought for the orange and brown, BGSU was able to get to within nine points three different times over a two minute stretch until an old-fashion three-point play from Holmes on the right block put the Falcons within eight at 56-48 with 5:54 to go in the game. A dunk by EMU's Bryant on the next possession put the lead right back into double digits at 10, 58-48, as the Eagles were able to extend its lead to as much as 19 points in the final minutes of the contest on its way to the 69-57 home conference win. BGSU was outscored 28-2 in points off the bench by the Eagles, with 26 of those points for Eastern Michigan coming from Bryant, and 14-5 in fast break points.

WORKING OVERTIME ON THE FLOOR
A number of BGSU players in Jehvon Clarke, Anthony Henderson, Damarkeo Lyshe and Spencer Parker have all logged more minutes this season alone than they had for their entire careers prior to this year.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE 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 11 losses the Falcons have hit on only 56.3 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 two-game skid, which snapped the winning streak, BGSU has shot just 58.1 percent from the line.

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 (14.3), Jehvon Clarke (12.4) Anthony Henderson (12.3) and Spencer Parker (11.0) are all averaging double figures in BGSU's seven 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 18 contests this season, while Black has recorded at least one swat in 16 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 27 blocks ahead of Black who is in second-place overall with 132 career rejections. Holmes is only one spot and one block behind Black with his 131 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 Friday, Jan. 31. BGSU is ranked 22nd overall in blocked shots per game at 5.9 per contest and in total blocks on the season with 118. The Falcons are also ranked 21st in steals per game with 8.4 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 58 on the season and 19th overall with an average of 2.9 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 63.0 points per game on the season. BG is also second in the conference in both blocked shots per game (5.9) and third in steals per game (8.4). In Conference play only, BGSU is holding its foes to only 59.6 points per game, which ranks third in MAC play.

AT THE TOP IN THE MAC
Bowling Green's Richaun Holmes is tied for the conference lead in blocked shots on the season, as he has 58 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 2.1 per contest and 42 total thefts overall. Jehvon Clarke leads the league in minutes played with an average of 35.6 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 (35.6), Spencer Parker (34.7) and Anthony Henderson (33.8) 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 77 more points (666-589) 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 88 blocks over the Falcons' 20 games thus far this season. Both Black (132) and Holmes (131) 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 18 of their 20 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 16 of those 18 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 12.1 points, 4.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals as a starter in 2013-14. He leads the team with 93 assists on the year and in minutes played with an average of 35.6 per contest.

PARKER STEPPING UP
Sophomore Spencer Parker has stepped up his game thus far this season, as the forward is averaging 12.3 points and 5.2 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 16 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 58 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 130-of-153 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.

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.

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. 25 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. ESPN has selected to air your BGSU's game versus Toledo as its MAC Wildcard Selection on Feb. 20 at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.

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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