Falcons to Host Pivotal MAC East Saturday Night Showdown at the Stroh

Saturday, January 31

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Akron

Tickets

Photo by: Bianca Garza, BGSU Marketing and Communications

Falcons to Host Pivotal MAC East Saturday Night Showdown at the Stroh

January 30, 2015 | Men's Basketball

By: by Kevin Davis, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

Akron (14-6, 5-2 MAC) vs. Bowling Green (13-5, 5-2 MAC)
Saturday, January 31, 2015; 7:00 p.m. ET
Stroh Center (4,347) / Bowling Green, Ohio
LIVE STATS
LIVE AUDIO
LIVE VIDEO ($)
Radio: WFRO-FM 99.1
Twitter: @BGSUMHOOPS
TICKETS
COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)

2014-15 MAC STANDINGS
EAST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Kent State	6-1	15-5
Bowling Green	5-2	13-5
Akron	5-2	14-6
Buffalo	4-3	13-6
Ohio	2-5	7-11
Miami	2-4	7-13
WEST TEAMS	MAC	OVERALL
Central Michigan	4-3	14-4
Western Michigan	4-3	13-7
Toledo	4-3	12-8
Eastern Michigan	2-5	13-7
Northern Illinois	2-5	8-10
Ball State	2-5	7-11

LAY UPS
* Both the Falcons and the Zips are coming off home wins on Tuesday night.
* The two teams are tied for second-place in the MAC East at 5-2 in league play.
* BGSU is 9-1 at home this season and 4-0 at the Stroh Center in MAC play.
* BGSU's last home win over Akron was back on Jan. 18, 2003, (74-60).
* BGSU's last win over the Zips came on Mar. 1, 2009, a 50-46 road win.
* Akron defeated BGSU 67-50 in the two teams' first meeting this season on Jan. 14.
* Richaun Holmes has scored in double figures in each of BGSU's last 7 games.
* BGSU leads the MAC in scoring defense at 58.1 points allowed per game.
* BGSU is ranked 70th overall in the NCAA Men's Basketball RPI rankings.
* Bowling Green is in its 100th season of basketball this year.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS
You can follow the Falcons in many different ways this 2014-15 season. You can follow BGSU via twitter by following @BGSUMHoops and at @BGAthletics. You can also follow BGSU on instagram @bgfalcons and on facebook at BGSU Athletics. As always you can get all your BGSU Athletics information at www.BGSUFalcons.com.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AT THE STROH
There are a number of promotions, giveaways and happenings surrounding Saturday's doubleheader. For example...
• The University's annual mascot reveal will take place at halftime of each of Saturday's two games, as Freddie and Frieda Falcon are unmasked;
• At halftime of the women's game, the BGSU football team will be recognized as Camellia Bowl champions;
• One BGSU fan will have the opportunity to win a $500 concessions gift card, courtesy of Sodexo, by making a layup, free throw, three-pointer and half-court shot. If that fan wins, every person in attendance will receive a coupon for a free Coke at the concessions stand;
• Between games of the doubleheader, the BGSU football team will be signing autographs in the Hall of Fame area of the Stroh Center;
• At halftime of the men's game, BGSU quarterback James Knapke will be recognized for winning the Bart Starr MVP Award of the Camellia Bowl.
• Fans are encouraged to wear orange to the Stroh on Saturday.

SCOUTING AKRON
Akron enters Saturday night's MAC East showdown on a two-game winning streak with a road win at Western Michigan and a home victory over Ball State. The Zips, who are 14-6 overall and 5-2 in the MAC, have won eight out of its last ten games, including a 67-50 home win over BGSU back on Jan. 14. Akron is led by their big man in the middle in Pat Forsythe who is averaging a team-high 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. However, the Zips have four players averaging over eight points per game in a well balanced offensive attack. Akron is second in the league in three-point field goals made, averaging 9.0 three-pointers per contest.

THE ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS THE AKRON ZIPS
The Falcons trail Akron in the all-time series 24-31 in the 55 meetings between the two schools. Akron has controlled the series as of late, winning each of the last 12 meetings between the two teams, including a 67-50 win over BGSU early this year on Jan. 14 at the J.A.R. in Akron, Ohio. The Zips have won 20 of the last 21 games over BGSU with the Falcons last win over the Zips coming back on March 1, 2009 in a 50-46 road win in Akron, Ohio. The last time BGSU won at home over the Zips was back on Jan. 18, 2003, a 74-60 win at Anderson Arena.

COACH'S COMMENTS
   "Last time Akron beat us like a drum. Not only did they beat us in the statistical categories, but they beat us in the intangibles as well. They got to every loose ball. They played with more energy and more purpose. They showed way more toughness than the guys in orange did. They beat us from A to Z."
    "When you get into the conference schedule and the games come fast and furious, you have to learn from the mistakes that you made in wins or losses, and then on losses you've got to put them to bed pretty quickly and move on to the next game or if you don't you run the risk of letting that defeat influence your next game. We certainly had film study and pointed out the mistakes. We pointed out our disappointment in some of our individual plays that we made or didn't make, but at the same time once we were finished watching that video we were through with it and we were moving on to the next game, trying to prepare and put that behind us. Now obviously with Akron our next game on the schedule, we are revisiting that game. It's just the norm when you get into league play and you play teams twice. You go back and try to replicate your good plays and correct your mistakes."
   "I'm looking forward to the game. I'm looking forward to seeing how our team competes against a known opponent."

A WIN WOULD ...
* Give the Falcons a 14-5 record overall on the season.
* Put BGSU at 6-2 in Mid-American Conference play.
* Make the Falcons 10-1 at home in the Stroh Center this season.
* Increase the Falcons current home winning streak to six straight games.
* Give the Falcons a 7-2 overall record for the month of January.
* Snap a 12-game losing streak to the Akron Zips.
* Hand the Falcons their first win over Akron since a 50-46 road win at Akron on March 1, 2009.
* Be the first home win for BGSU over Akron since a 74-60 win on Jan. 18, 2003.
* Give BGSU its first-ever win over the Akron Zips in the Stroh Center.

VERSUS AKRON ON JAN. 14: BGSU ICE COLD FROM THE FLOOR IN LOSS AT AKRON
In the Falcons first MAC loss of the season at Akron on Wed., Jan. 14, BGSU was ice cold from the floor as a team offensively. BGSU shot a season-low 32.8 percent (20-of-61) from the field overall and scored a season-low 50 points in the 67-50 road loss. BGSU was also just 4-of-20 (20 percent) from three-point land and only 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) from the free throw line for the game.

13 AND COUNTING
BGSU's 13 wins this season is already more wins than the Falcons had all of last year (12-20) and matches their season win total of the 2012-13 season (13-19). In fact, the Falcons have posted more than 14 wins on the season only three times over the last 10 years (2004-05, 18-11; 2008-09, 19-14; 2011-12, 16-16).

HOME SWEET STROH
BGSU has called the Stroh Center home since the 2011-12 season and has posted an overall record of 39-18 at the venue. The Falcons have won seven or more games at home every season since the Stroh's opening for the 2011-12 season and are 9-1 at home thus far this year.

THAT 70'S STROH
BGSU is a perfect 18-0 at the Stroh when scoring 70 points or more in a contest. That means the Falcons have scored 70 or more points in half of their wins in front of the home fans in the Stroh. This season the Falcons have scored 70 or more points at home twice - in a 70-55 win versus Wright State on Nov. 19 and in a 74-58 win over Eastern Michigan on Jan. 21.

GET TO THE FT LINE & WIN EVERY TIME
BGSU is a perfect 11-0 when making the same number or more free throws than their opponent this season. On the flip side, the Falcons are just 2-5 when making fewer foul shots than its foe.

NEW YEAR, NEW MONTH, NEW NAME OF JANSUARY
BGSU tipped off the new 2015 calendar year and the month of JANSuary with a 58-35 blowout win over Chicago State on Jan. 3. BGSU then went on to pick up at 66-64 come from behind win at Kent State on Jan. 7., before leading from start to finish in a 69-54 home win over Ohio on Jan. 10. After a 67-50 loss at Akron on Jan. 14., BGSU bounced back to defeat Ball State 58-46 on Jan. 17 and flew bast Eastern Michigan in a 74-58 home win on Jan. 21. The Falcons then suffered a 71-67 road loss at Toledo on Jan. 24., before shutting down NIU for a 56-46 home win on Jan. 27. Under head coach Chris Jans, the Falcons are 6-2 for the month of JANSuary.

DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!
The Falcons have been solid on the defensive end this season, as BGSU ranks 17th in the nation overall in scoring defense at 58.1 points per game allowed. BGSU is also ranked in the top-five in the MAC in scoring defense (1st/58.1 ppg), three-point field goal defense (2nd, 29.8%) and field goal percentage defense (2nd/39.6%). In fact, Bowling Green's Richaun Holmes leads the league in blocked shots with 47, an average of 2.6 per game, while Zack Denny leads the MAC in steals with an average of 2.0 swipes per contest and 36 on the season.

BGSU UNDEFEATED FOLLOWING A LOSS THIS SEASON
With the Falcons' 56-46 win over Northern Illinois last Tuesday night, Jan. 27, head coach Chris Jans' squad improved to 5-0 in games following a loss in their previous contest. After a loss at Western Kentucky (52-62), the Falcons beat up on Alabama A&M (64-47). Following the tough loss at Dayton (52-56), BGSU bounced back to defeat Cleveland State by double digits (67-57). BGSU would then go and upend USF (79-70) after suffering a loss to Ferris State (68-82) at home on Dec. 21, prior to stifling Ball State (58-46) at home on Jan. 17 following a loss at Akron (50-67) just three days before on Jan. 14. The most recent win over NIU on Jan. 27 came after a loss on the road at Toledo (71-67) on Jan. 24.

SUB!!!!!!!!!!!
Coach Jans has proven early that he is not afraid to go to his bench, as 15 different players have already seen time on the floor for the Falcons this season, while eight different players are averaging 16 minutes or more of playing time per game this season. In fact, the Falcons have outscored their opponents by 139 points (410-271) in bench points this year, an average of 22.8 points per game off the bench compared to their opponents 15.1 bench points per outing.

QUARTET OF 500 POINT CAREER SCORERS
The Falcons currently have a quartet of 500 point career scorers on its roster in Richaun Holmes (888), Jehvon Clarke (693), Anthony Henderson (583) and Spencer Parker (555).

RETURN TO SENDER
Falcon senior Richaun Holmes has posted a block in all but three games thus far this season and has totaled a season-high five blocks in four different games this year on his way to a team leading 47 blocks on the year. Holmes totaled a new BGSU school record for the most blocks in a single season last year with 88. In just his first two seasons at BGSU, Holmes became the Falcons' all-time career blocks leader and now has 208 career swats. He currently leads the MAC with 2.6 blocks per game this season.

CHARGE!
BGSU junior Delvin Dickerson seemed to be all over the place in the Falcons' 56-46 home win over NIU on Jan. 27. The forward took not one, not two, not three, but four charges on the NIU offense in the game, which is presumed to be a BGSU record (charges are not an official statistic).

BACK-TO-BACK DOUBLE-DOUBLES FOR DENNY
After posting his first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 58-46 win over Ball State on Jan. 17, sophomore guard Zack Denny followed with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the home rout of Eastern Michigan, 74-58, on Jan. 21. Denny is the first Falcon to post a double-double in two consecutive games since Cameron Black did it on Nov. 26 & 27 of 2013-14 at the Cancun Challenge.

MAKE IT THREE FOR HOLMES
Senior Richaun Holmes was tabbed the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Jan. 12, his third MAC weekly award this season. The 6-8 forward also earned the award on Dec. 1 and then again on Dec. 29. Holmes, who led BGSU to a 2-0 record last week with wins at Kent State and over Ohio, averaged 19.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 4.0 blocks per game on the week while shooting 60 percent from the field, 75 percent from the three-point line and 83.3 percent from the charity stripe.

COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS RECOGNIZES RICHAUN HOLMES
On Jan. 12, senior Richaun Holmes was named the Madness Mid-American Men's Basketball Player of the Week by College Sports Madness (www.collegesportsmadness.com) for the second time this season. He also received the weekly honor on Dec. 29.

BLOCK NUMBER 200 FOR HOLMES
Senior forward Richaun Holmes tallied his 200th career block in the second half of the Falcons 58-46 win over Ball State on Jan. 17. Holmes, who currently has 208 career swats, is the all-time career blocks leader in BGSU history.

DENNY'S FIRST CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Sophomore guard Zack Denny posted his first career double-double in the Falcons 58-46 home win over Ball State on Jan. 17. Denny posted 17 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in the win.

STROLL DOWN THE MAC MEMORY LANE
Last season in 2013-14, the Falcons posted a 6-12 record in the MAC and finished sixth in the East Division. Since winning the MAC East in 2008-09 with an 11-5 conference record, the Falcons have been over .500 in MAC play just once, going 9-7 overall in league play in 2011-12, coming into this season. Over the last five seasons, since 2009-10 and prior to this season, Bowling Green went just 36-46 in MAC play. This year the Falcons are 5-2 in MAC play.

NON-CONFERENCE SEASON IS OVER
BGSU went 8-3 over its 11 non-conference games this season. The eight non-conference victories is the most by a Falcons' team since both the 2009-10 and 2008-09 teams each posted eight non-conference wins on the year.

HOLMES HAULS IN 500TH REBOUND
In the Falcons' 58-35 home win over Chicago State on Saturday night, Jan. 3, senior Richaun Holmes pulled down five rebounds for the game. While that is not a game-high in rebounds for the 6-8 forward, it was enough to give him his 500th career rebound during his time at BGSU.

NEW STROH CENTER RECORDS SET TO START 2015
With BGSU's 32 three-point field goal attempts at home versus Chicago State on Jan. 3, the Falcons set a new Stroh Center record for the most three-point attempts by a BGSU team in a single game in the Stroh Center. The previous record was 26 three-point field goal attempts versus Morehead State on Feb. 18, 2012. The Falcons also set a new record in the fewest points allowed in the Stroh Center by holding Chicago State to just 35 points for the game. The new record of 35 points eclipses the old mark of 36 points set by Northern Illinois on Jan. 12, 2014.

MAGIC NUMBER FOR HOLMES IS 26
The magic number for forward Richaun Holmes has proven to be 26 - in that he has posted a career-high 26 points twice this season. Holmes had 26 points versus Ferris State on Dec. 21, but not before he matched his career-high of 26 points on Nov. 30 in a last second win at Detroit. The 6-8 forward first scored his career-high 26 points last season at Xavier.

BGSU TAMES HUSKIES IN HOME WIN
BGSU held Northern Illinois to only 17 made field goals on 36.2 percent shooting for the contest in a 56-46 home win on Jan. 27. The Falcons held Northern Illinois to just 2-of-12, 16.7 percent, shooting from long range over the 40 minutes of play. The BGSU defense held NIU to only 46 points, matching the Huskies lowest scoring output of the season.

FALCONS FALL IN THE BATTLE OF I-75 IN FRONT OF 7,392 FANS
The Battle of I-75 rivalry was all it was supposed to be and more on Jan. 24, as the Falcons and Rockets went back-and-forth in a game that saw 17 lead changes, six ties and the contest go down to the final minutes of play. However, the Rockets were able to use late free throws to hold off the Falcons, 71-67. The difference in the contest was at the free throw line, where the Rockets were 17-of-25 (68 percent) compared to the Falcons 8-of-16 (50 percent), a point differential of nine points for the game.

FALCONS SHOOT DOWN THE EAGLES IN HOME WIN
BGSU as a team shot 25-of-55 (45.5 percent) for the game, including knocking down 11-of-25 (44 percent) from behind the three-point line in a 74-58 home win over Eastern Michigan on Jan. 21. The Falcons, who had six different players make at least one three-ball for the game, hit 11 three-pointers overall to match its season-high. BGSU had four players in double figures in Anthony Henderson (17), Richaun Holmes (13), Delvin Dickerson (12) and Zack Denny (10).

SMOTHERING SECOND HALF DEFENSE VS. BALL STATE
BGSU held Ball State to just 7-of-24 (29.2 percent) shooting and forced the Cardinals into 10 turnovers in the second half of play in the 58-46 come from behind win on Jan. 17. The Falcons held Ball State to just 19 points over the final 20 minutes of the contest, while scoring 35 points of their own in the home MAC win.

FROM WIRE TO WIRE, FALCONS TAME BOBCATS
The BGSU Falcons led from start to finish in a 69-54 home MAC win over the Ohio Bobcats on Jan. 10. In the win, BGSU led by as much as 21 points late in the second half and outscored Ohio 35-25 over the final 20 minutes of play to secure the double digit win. BGSU controlled the paint for most of the contest, out-rebounding Ohio 41-34 and outscoring the Bobcats 30-14 in points in the paint. The BGSU defense held Ohio to just eight made baskets in the second half (8-of-27), four of which were from behind the three-point line.

RECORD SETTING DEFENSIVE EFFORT FOR BGSU
In the Falcons' 58-35 home win over Chicago State, the 35 points allowed by BGSU was the lowest points total allowed by a Falcons' team in a single game since BGSU held Denison to only 34 points in 1981-82. The 35 points scored by Chicago State is also the fewest points scored by a BGSU opponent in the Stroh Center, five points less than the previous low of 40 points by Northern Illinois back on Feb. 4, 2012.

STRONG SECOND HALF PROPELS BGSU TO WIN AT KENT STATE
The Falcons outscored Kent State 40-29 over the final 20 minutes of play to erase a 15-point first half deficit in the 66-64 MAC road win on Wed., Jan. 7. BGSU shot 50 percent (15-of-30) in the second half, including going 6-of-8 (75 percent) from behind the three-point line in the come from behind win. The Falcons also shot a season-high 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from the free throw line in the win, it's largest come from behind win on the season.

SPENCER SHINES IN FINAL MINUTES OF KENT STATE WIN
After not scoring at all in the first half of play, junior Spencer Parker scored 16 points in the second half to lead the Falcons to the 66-64 road win at Kent State on Jan. 7. The forward scored a total of 12 points over the final 5:33 to play, including knocking down a three-pointer from the left wing to put BGSU in front at 58-56 and then hit another trey with 46 seconds left to push BGSU's lead to four at 64-60.

FALCONS FLY PAST CHICAGO STATE WITH THE THREE-BALL
BGSU matched its season-high with 11 made three-pointers in a 58-35 rout of the Cougars of Cleveland State on Jan. 3. The Falcons, who also made 11 three-pointers in the season opening win at Drake on Nov. 15, had five different players hit at least one three-pointer in the win.

PRESEASON LOVE FOR MR. HOLMES
Senior Richaun Holmes received a lot of preseason attention this fall, as the forward was named to a number of preseason teams.
   * 2014-15 MAC East Division All-MAC Preseason Team selection
   * Named to the 2014-15 Preseason All-MAC Team by Athlon Sports
   * Named to the 2014-15 Preseason All-MAC Team by Sporting News
   * Named to the 2014-15 Preseason All-MAC Second-Team by Lindy's Sports
   * Named to the 2014-15 Preseason Mid-American All-Conference
       Second-Team by College Sports Madness (www.collegesportsmadness.com)

EXPERIENCED GROUP
The 2014-15 Falcons' roster is an experienced group, as the roster has nine upperclassmen, including six players that have played at least two years of NCAA Division I basketball. BGSU returned one redshirt senior in Anthony Henderson, three seniors in Richaun Holmes, Jehvon Clarke and Damarkeo Lyshe, as well as redshirt-junior Josh Gomez. On top of that, junior forward Spencer Parker returns along with three junior college transfers in Delvin Dickerson (Paris JC), Jovan Austin (Paris JC) and David Joseph (Howard College), who all were key parts in winning programs at the JUCO level prior to coming to BGSU.

A HANDFUL OF NEWCOMERS
Coach Chris Jans and his staff brought in a handful of newcomers in 2014-15 - five to be exact. Junior college transfers Delvin Dickerson (Houston, Texas/Paris JC), Jovan Austin (Grand Prairie, Texas/Paris JC) and David Joseph (Queens, N.Y./Howard College (Texas)) all joined the BGSU program over the summer and will have two years of eligibility for the Falcons. Freshmen Rasheed Worrell (Coker, Ala./Sipsey Valley H.S.) and Matt Fox (Maumee, Ohio/Anthony Wayne H.S.) will both have four years of eligibility at BGSU heading into the 2014-15 season.

FALCONS ON ESPN NETWORKS
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team is slated to play 11 regular season games on ESPN3 with the following games still left to play - Feb. 4 at Central Michigan at 7 p.m., Feb. 7 at Northern Illinois at 8 p.m., Feb. 10 vs. Western Michigan at 7 p.m., Feb. 18 vs. Miami at 7 p.m., Feb. 21 vs. Buffalo at 2 p.m., and March 6 at Buffalo at 7 p.m.

FALCONS PICKED FIFTH IN MAC PRESEASON POLL
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference East Division in 2014-15, according to the MAC's annual Preseason Media Poll. The Falcons, who will be led by first year head coach Chris Jans in 2014-15, received 52 total points in the preseason poll, which included one first-place vote.

FALCONS SIGN THREE EARLY
On Nov. 12, BGSU head men's basketball coach Chris Jans announced the signings of Jalone Friday (Oklahoma City Storm HomeSchool/Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), Jamir Andrews (Sheridan College/Dublin H.S./Dublin, California) and Malik Hluchoweckyj (Bellevue West H.S./Bellevue, Nebraska) to National Letters of Intent to continue both their athletic and academic careers at Bowling Green State University beginning in the Fall of 2015.

ON TAP FOR THE FALCONS
Three of the Falcons' next three games will be on the road, including each of the next two contests. BGSU will hit the road to face off with Central Michigan on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. ET and then remain on the road to do battle with Northern Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 8 p.m. ET. Both games are slated to be broadcast live on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App.

EXTRA HITS
* Mascot Reveal, Football Recognition to Highlight the Doubleheader at the Stroh on Jan. 31 - Click Here!
* Purchase the MAC PAC today - You can save $20 when you purchase tickets to five home MAC games for only $55!
* Get your season tickets now - Click Here!
* Want to win a $1,000 Gift Card? Find out how by clicking here!
* BGSU Men's Basketball Commercial - Click Here!
* 2014-15 BGSU Men's Basketball Digital Media Guide - Click Here!

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