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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Centennial Season Look Back: In the Beginning – 1915-25
November 19, 2015 | General, Men's Basketball
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Bowling Green, Ohio – Throughout the 2015-16 Bowling Green State University men's basketball season, the BGSU athletics department will take a look back at each decade over the men's basketball program's history as part of the Centennial Season celebration leading up to the Centennial Game on Jan. 23, 2016 versus Kent State.
In the Beginning – 1915-25
Sponsoring a men's basketball team for the first time in 1915-16, what is now Bowling Green State University played its first game on Jan. 8, 1916 versus what is now Eastern Michigan University. The Normals or Teachers, the Falcons' nickname until 1927, lost the game 33-15. However, BGSU, who was coached by F.G. Beyerman and led by team captain Charles Branigan, would go on to win its first home game five days later on Jan. 13 with a 26-10 win over Defiance. The Normals or Teachers went on to go 3-8 overall in that inaugural season.
Over the first decade of play, the Normals or Teachers posted an overall record of 50-74 under five head coaches in F.G. Beyerman (1915-21), Earl Krieger (1921-22), Allen Snyder (1922-23), R.B. McCandless (1923-24) and Warren Steller (1924-25).
The Normals recorded a program high nine wins twice over the first decade of men's basketball in both 1922-23 and 1924-25.
Claitus Stough averaged 16.3 points per game during his career from 1918-20, which is still the 12th best career scoring average in program history. The Findlay, Ohio native led the team in scoring each of his three seasons setting single game (38 points) and career (489) scoring records that would last for more than 30 years. His 38 points against Findlay on Jan. 17, 1919 still ranks as the 13th most points score in a game by a single player in the program's 100 year history.
Beginning with his sophomore season, Stough averaged 16.4, 17.3 and 15.6 points, respectively, during his three seasons on the hardwood. Stough, who lettered in football (1919), basketball (1918-20) and baseball (1919-20), was inducted to the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.
Carl Bachman, who played from 1922-25, earned 13 varsity letters during over five sports. He led the team in scoring in both 1922-23 and 1923-24.
Inducted to the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1966, He went on to coach basketball at Findlay High School, leading the Trojans to a state championship in 1948, with one of five undefeated seasons he coached at the school. He helped originate the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association, and was named to its Hall of Fame in 1965.
Year-by-Year Breakdown
| YEAR | RECORD | HEAD COACH | CAPTAIN | LEADING SCORER |
| 1915-16 | 3-8 | F.G. Beyerman | Charles Branigan | Charles Branigan – 10.4 ppg |
| 1916-17 | 2-6 | F.G Beyerman | Earl Roberts | Reeme Dillery - 7.8 ppg |
| 1917-18 | 6-5 | F.G. Beyerman | Judson Sayre | Claitus Stough – 16.4 ppg |
| 1918-19 | 2-5 | F.G. Beyerman | Claitus Stough | Claitus Stough – 17.3 ppg |
| 1919-20 | 4-9 | F.G Beyerman | Clive Treece | Claitus Stough – 15.6 ppg |
| 1920-21 | 8-7 | F.G. Beyerman | Albert McMan | Franklin Skibble – 8.7 ppg |
| 1921-22 | 4-10 | E.C. Kreiger | Albert McMan | Franklin Skibble – 8.4 ppg |
| 1922-23 | 9-4 | Allen Snyder | Carl Bachman | Carl Bachman – 14.1 ppg |
| 1923-24 | 3-15 | R.D. McCandless | Clement Premo | Carl Bachman – 6.8 ppg |
| 1924-25 | 9-5 | Warren Steller | Homer Moscoe | Dale Huffman – 7.0 ppg |
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