Falcons Set to Open MAC Play on Wednesday Night at 7 p.m.

Eastern Michigan (8-5, 0-0 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (6-7, 0-0 MAC)
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014; 7 p.m. ET
Stroh Center (4,280) / Bowling Green, Ohio
TV: BCSN
LIVE STATS
LIVE AUDIO
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COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

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

LAY-UPS (SIZED FOR YOUR TWITTER ADDICTION)
* Bowling Green is 4-2 at home in the Stroh Center this season.
* BGSU is 4-2 in MAC openers under head coach Louis Orr.
* Bowling Green has won 3 out of the last 4 meetings with the Eagles.
* This contest is the second of a season-high four game home stand for the Falcons over the next two weeks.
* The Falcons are averaging 73.3 points per game at home, an average of 14.5 points per game more than on the road (58.8 ppg).
* BGSU has had at least 3 players score in double figures in each of its six home contests this season.
* Bowling Green (8.9) and Anthony Henderson (2.4) both lead the MAC in steals this season.
* This game will feature the top two shot blockers in the MAC in Richaun Holmes and Da'Shonte Riley who each have 40 blocks on the year.
* BGSU was 6-2 at home in the Stroh Center versus the MAC last season.
* Bowling Green is in its 99th season of basketball this year.

LAST TIME THEY MET
Date: Jan. 12, 2013
Location: Bowling Green, Ohio (Stroh Center)
Score: BGSU, 46-44
Notes: BGSU senior Jordon Crawford buried a game-winning three-pointer with 6.1 seconds left to give the Falcons a 46-44 victory over Eastern Michigan in front of 2,180 fans at the Stroh Center. Crawford's shot helped the Falcons end a five-game losing streak and move Bowling Green to .500 in MAC play at 1-1. But it was the defense that carried the team for most of the day as the Falcons scored their lowest point total in a victory since a 45-43 win at Kent State on March 3, 1976. BG held EMU to just 29 percent shooting and the Eagles connected on just five field goals in the second half as the Falcons overcame a 25-20 deficit at the break. BGSU forced 17 turnovers and grabbed nine steals, three from Crawford. EMU scored just one point after a Da'Shonte Riley jumper with 4:36 to play put the Eagles on top 43-41. Derek Thompson made a free-throw with 2:32 to play to put the visitors on top 44-41. A'uston Calhoun missed a three-pointer with 2:04 to play but Crawford stole an outlet pass and fired up a three-pointer. He missed but Calhoun cleaned up the loose ball and scored inside to get BGSU back within one. With 28 seconds to play, EMU's Jalen Ross missed a jumper and Richaun Holmes corralled the rebound. Crawford tried to put the Falcons ahead on a three-pointer with 17 seconds left but his shot rimmed out. Chauncey Orr hustled to the floor to tie up a loose ball and the Falcons retained possession with 12 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Crawford got a second chance and he did not fail again, burying the three-pointer from the top of the key. EMU still had an opportunity to win the game but Orr forced Derek Thompson into a long, contested three-point look that never got to the rim as the horn sounded. Crawford finished the game with 11 points, but added four assists, four rebounds and three steals. Calhoun had a game-high 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and finished with seven rebounds. BG shot 35 percent from the floor but grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and held a 39-34 edge on the boards. The Falcons also committed a season-high 20 turnovers, but just six in the second half.

BGSU vs. EMU SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green is 46-39 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. Each team has won on its home court in each of the last three meetings, dating back to the 2010-11 season.

LAST 10 MEETINGS (BG leads 6-4)
   Date                        Location                            Result
   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
   Jan. 12, 2005           at Eastern Michigan             W, 77-61

LAST TIME OUT
The BGSU men's basketball team shot over 57 percent over the final 20 minutes of play, yet it was not enough to overcome a slow first half start and an early double digit deficit, as the Falcons fell at home to IPFW 65-60 on Thursday night. The Falcons' Cameron Black posted two blocks on the night, to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds, to give him 119 career rejections at BGSU and sole possession of second-place on the all-time career blocks list in BGSU history. Richaun Holmes and Jehvon Clarke led the home team with 16 points each, as Holmes added nine rebounds with his total, while Spencer Parker totaled 15 points in the loss. The fifth starter, Anthony Henderson, tallied a career-high five steals on the night, as all five BGSU starters logged over 31 minutes of playing time for the game. A three-pointer from the left wing from Holmes and a free throw from Clarke capped the scoring for the first half over the closing minutes of the opening half, as the Falcons trailed by 13 at 34-21 at the half. Out of the halftime break, the Falcons came out with some fire, as the home team picked up an early dunk from Holmes and connected on nine of its first 12 shots in the second half to storm back into the contest and cut the Mastodons' lead to three at 44-41 on a second three-pointer from Holmes. A 6-1 run, which consisted of a layup from Henderson, a dunk from Holmes and a slashing layup from Clarke, over a two and a half minute span cut the Mastodons' lead back to one possession at 53-51 with less than five minutes in play. That would be as close as the Falcons would get for the remainder of the night, as down the stretch, the Falcons were forced to foul and IPFW was able to hit one of two free throws on five different trips to the free throw line to help hold on for the 65-60 road win. BGSU outscored the Mastodons 32-22 in points in the paint, however, IPFW held a huge advantage in both bench points, 20-6, as well as in points from behind the three-point line as the Mastodons hit seven three-pointers for 21 points compared to the Falcons two three-pointers and six points.

FALCONS 4-2 UNDER ORR IN MAC OPENERS
Bowling Green is 4-2 in MAC openers under head coach Louis Orr. The Falcons started the MAC season 1-0 in 2011-12 (Ohio), 2010-11 (Buffalo), 2008-09 (Buffalo) and 2007-08 (Ohio).

THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The Falcons are in the midst of a four-game home stand, its longest of the 2013-14 season. BGSU opened the home stand on Jan. 2 versus IPFW and will continue the string of home contests versus Eastern Michigan (Jan. 8), Northern Illinois (Jan. 12) and Central Michigan (Jan. 15).

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.

DEFENSIVE PROWESS
BGSU takes pride in its defensive prowess, as the Falcons are first in the MAC in scoring defense, allowing a league low 64.9 points per game, and first in the conference in steals with 8.9 per contest. BG is also second in blocks with 6.2 per game and fourth in FG defense at 41 percent.

MAC LEAGUE LEADERS
BG's Anthony Henderson leads the MAC in steals with 31 thefts and an average of 2.4 per contest, while fellow Falcon Richaun Holmes is tied for first in blocks with 40 rejections and an average of 3.1 per outing.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY
Bowling Green has three players that lead the league in minutes played thus far this season. Jehvon Clarke (34.5), Anthony Henderson (34.1) and Spencer Parker (33.8) are 1-2-3 in minutes played this season in the MAC.

RICHAUN "CLUTCH" HOLMES FROM THE CHARITY STRIPE
Junior Richaun Holmes has been stellar from the free throw line down the stretch for the Falcons during crunch time this season. In games where the score is within single digits and under the last five minutes of play, Holmes is 20-of-28 (71.4 percent) from the charity stripe for BGSU.

2ND HALF > 1ST HALF
Bowling Green has proven to be a second half team this season, as the Falcons have scored 50 more points (451-401) over the final 20 minutes of play compared to the first 20 minutes of action so far this year. Three of BGSU's four lowest total points output per half this season (19, 19, 21) have come in the first half of play.

POSITIVE RECORD IN JAN-ORR-ARY
Bowling Green overall is 25-23 under head coach Louis Orr in games played in the month of January. The 25 wins is tied for the most in a single month during Orr's tenure, having also posted 25 wins over the month of February during his time at BG.

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.

CAM SWATTING HIS WAY INTO BGSU HISTORY
With his two blocked shots against IPFW on Jan. 2, senior Cam Black moved into sole possession of second-place on BGSU's all-time career blocks list. The 6-10 center has 119 swats and is 40 shy of Otis Polk, the Falcons' career blocks leader with 159 rejections.

BLACK CLOSING IN ON CAREER BOARD NO. 500
Senior Cam Black is closing in on a career milestone, as the center is only 22 rebounds away from hauling in career rebound number 500.

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).

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.

BGSU MEN'S HOOPS RANKED IN THE TOP-20 IN A NUMBER OF NCAA STATISTICAL CATEGORIES
BGSU entered 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 Monday, Jan. 6. Bowling Green is currently ranked 19th overall in both blocked shots per game (6.2) and 20th in steals per game (8.9). The Falcons are also ranked 27th in total blocks on the season with 81.

AMONG THE NATION'S LEADERS IN BLOCKED SHOTS
BGSU's Richaun Holmes is ranked in the top-20 in the nation in both blocks per game and total blocks. The 6-8 forward is ranked 17th in the nation with an average of 3.08 blocks per game and is ranked 18th overall in total blocks with 40 on the season.

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.

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.

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 57 blocks over the Falcons' first 13 games of the season. Both Black (2nd) and Holmes (5th) are already in the top-five all-time at BGSU in career blocked shots and combined the two have turned away 232 shots overall.

BALANCED SCORING ATTACK
The Falcons this season have had a balance scoring attack, as in 11 of their 12 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 10 of those 12 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 six 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 and blocked shots.

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 11.9 points, 4.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals as a starter in 2013-14.

PARKER STEPPING UP
Sophomore Spencer Parker has stepped up his game thus far this season, as the forward is averaging 13.0 points and 4.7 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 11 contests for Bowling Green this year, including setting a career-high in points per game on three different occasions.

HOLMES' HOUSE
Junior forward Richaun Holmes has totaled 40 blocks thus far this season and has posted five blocks or more in a single game four 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 3.1 blocks per game.

OVERTIME THRILLER
The Falcons took the Musketeers to overtime on Dec. 7, as BGSU erased an 11-point second half deficit to take a two-point lead with less than a minute to go in regulation. However, Xavier outscored BGSU 17-5 in the extra five minute frame to escape the Cintas Center with an 85-73 overtime win. The loss puts Bowling Green at 0-1 this season in overtime games.

CAM-CUN, MEXICO
Senior Cam Black had a superb two games in Cancun, Mexico at the 2013 Cancun Challenge, as the center posted back-to-back double-doubles. Black had 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in the win over Presbyterian and then followed that up with 10 points and 13 rebounds in the Championship game versus Oral Roberts.

ALL-TOURNEY TEAM MEMBERS
Both Anthony Henderson and Cameron Black were named to the Mayan Division Championship All-Tournament Team. Henderson, who had a career-high 17 points in the win over Presbyterian, averaged 14.5 points per game in Cancun. Black, who posted back-to-back double-doubles averaged 11 points and 13.5 rebounds per game over the two-day event.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE X TWO
Senior Cam Black posted two straight double-doubles in the Falcons two contests in Cancun, Mexico at the 2013 Cancun Challenge. The 6-10 center posted 12 points and 14 rebounds versus Presbyterian and then 10 points and 13 rebounds against Oral Roberts. With his second straight double-double, Black becomes the first Falcon to accomplish that feat since Nate Miller posted three-straight double-doubles in March of 2008.

WE'LL TAKE THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
The Falcons set a new school record for thefts as a team in a single game in its season opener versus Earlham, as BGSU recorded 22 steals overall for the game. Guards Jehvon Clarke and JD Tisdale each recorded six steals apiece, both career-highs.

RECORD SETTING SEASON OPENING WIN OVER EARLHAM
The 53-point win over Earlham was the largest margin of victory for a Falcons' team since BGSU defeated Urbana 114-52 back on Dec. 22, 1999. BGSU also reached the 100-point mark for the first time since defeating Urbana 103-78 back on Nov. 21, 2003. The Falcons had six players score in double figures in the season opening win for the first time since the Nov. 28, 2009 vs. Milwaukee.

COACH ORR'S COLLEGIATE NUMBERS
Head Coach Louis Orr reached a number of career milestones in the season opening contest versus Earlham, as he recorded his 500th career win at the collegiate level as player, assistant coach and head coach. The 2013-14 season opener was also his 800th career game as a participant in some capacity at the collegiate level.

MORE ON ORR
Coach Louis Orr has currently amassed 195 career wins as a head coach at his three posts (BGSU, Seton Hall and Siena) and is only five wins shy of 200 career victories.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
In the last two years, the Stroh Center has proven to be a difficult place for opponents to play. The Falcons went 23-9 at home over the last two years, including posting a 3-0 mark at home in 2011-12 against teams that eventually went to the NCAA Tournament. Overall, the Falcons are 27-11 in the Stroh Center, which comes out to a .711 winning percentage, as BGSU is 4-2 at home this year.

THAT 70'S STROH
Bowling Green is 14-0 all-time when scoring at least 70 points in the Stroh Center. The Falcons reached 70 points six times last season and dropped 70 points or more five times in 2011-12.

DOUBLE-DIGIT HOME WINS
BGSU has won at least 10 home games in each of the past three seasons. This year, the Falcons are 4-2 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 124-of-146 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.

FALCONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Bowling Green will play a minimum of two 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 and then at home against Akron on Feb. 9 on TWC Sports. The Falcons will also play twice on ESPN3 vs. South Florida and at Wisconsin, as well as twice on a Fox Sports Network affiliate in Fox Sports 1 at Xavier and Fox Sports Midwest Plus at Saint Louis.

MEDIA PICKS BOWLING GREEN SIXTH IN PRESEASON POLL
After graduating their top-two scorers, as well as three of its five starters, Bowling Green was selected to finish sixth in the Mid-American Conference East Division by vote of the league's MAC News Media. Akron was selected to win the East, followed by Buffalo, Ohio, Kent State, and Miami.

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