Falcons to Wrap Up Home Stand Versus Drake on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Saturday, December 5

Bowling Green, Ohio

4:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Drake

Buy tickets

Photo by: Kara Fallon

December 04, 2015 | Men's Basketball

By: by Kevin Davis, BGSU Assistant Director for Athletic Communications

GAMEDAY CENTRAL

STARTING FIVE
(1) UNIQUE HISTORY: Bowling Green and Drake have a unique history in that the two teams' first met in the 1975 National Commissioners Invitational Tournament (NCIT). Drake defeated BGSU 78-65 in the semifinals of the postseason tournament. The 1975 NCIT was a single-elimination tournament of eight NCAA Division I teams that did not participate in the 1975 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament or 1975 National Invitation Tournament.

(2) STREAKIN' FALCONS: BGSU enters Saturday afternoon's contest on a four-game winning streak, its longest of the season. In fact, the Falcons have recorded six four-game winning streaks over the last six seasons, but have not posted a winning streak of longer than four games since winning six in row back in 2008-09.

(3) SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE: Both the Falcons and the Bulldogs head into Saturday's contest on winning streaks. BGSU has won four games in a row, while Drake has posted two straight wins over its last two outings.

(4) FILLING UP THE CUP: Over the Falcons last three games, all of which have been wins, BGSU has shot over 45 percent from the field as a team. In every win for the Falcons this season, Coach Huger's squad has shot better than their opponents from the field for the contest.

(5) FINAL CALL: BGSU's final home game of the 2015 calendar year will be on Saturday, Dec. 5. The Falcons wrap up a three-game home stand with the Bulldogs, before hitting the road for the rest of the month of December with non-conference road tilts at SEMO, Detroit, Wright State and Cleveland State.

(6th man) CENTENNIAL SEASON: The 2015-16 is the Centennial Season for the BGSU men's basketball program, which began playing basketball in 1915-16.

SCOUTING THE DRAKE BULLDOGS
Picked to finish seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, the Drake Bulldogs enter Saturday's contest at 4-3 overall and on a two-game winning streak with home victories over Pepperdine and UIC. With a very young team consisting of 10 sophomores and freshmen on the roster, Drake has had a huge contribution from its newcomers who are accounting for 60 percent of the Bulldogs' points this season. The Bulldogs, who are averaging 76.4 points per game this season are led by a trio of players in Northwestern transfer Kale Abrahamson (19.1 ppg), sophomore Reed Timmer (18.6 ppg) and Penn State transfer Graham Woodward (13.3 ppg). After ranking third nationally in three-point accuracy at 40.8 percent on the season, the Bulldogs are shooting even better from long distance this season at 44.8 percent and are shooting 49.9 percent as a team from the floor overall. Of the 14 players on the Drake roster, seven are 6-8 are taller, including two 7' footers in Jacob Enevold Jensen and Dominik Olejniczak.

FALCONS VERSUS DRAKE ALL-TIME SERIES
The Falcons and the Bulldogs are 1-1 all-time versus each other on the hardwood. Drake defeated BGSU 78-65 in the two teams' first-ever meeting back in 1975 in the semifinals of the National Commissioners Invitational Tournament. BGSU evened the score with a
77-58 win over the Bulldogs in the two teams' regular season opener last season in Des Moines, Iowa.

COACH'S CORNER
"I am very pleased with the way we have played the last few games. We are sharing the ball and have continued to improve defensively. Our effort has been there in each contest and that is all we can ask of our guys. I can't wait to get back on the court in front of our fans in the Stroh on Saturday."

UP NEXT FOR THE FALCONS
The Falcons will hit the road for a four-game road swing that will take them through the month of December. BGSU will tip-off the road trip with a contest at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 8 p.m. ET in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

A FALCON WIN WOULD MEAN ....
* The Falcons would improve to 6-2 overall on the season.
* Give BGSU a five-game winning streak, its longest of the season.
* The five-game winning streak would be the longest for the Falcons since they put together a six-game winning streak back in 2008-09.
* Put the Falcons at 4-1 at home this season in the Stroh Center.
* BGSU would tip-off the month of December at 2-0.
* Bowling Green would move to 2-1 all-time versus the Drake Bulldogs.
* Hand the Falcons a two-game winning streak over Drake.

LAST TIME OUT - BGSU 72, UMBC 64 (DEC. 20)
BGSU overcame a four-point halftime deficit to outscore the University of Maryland – Baltimore County 43-31 in the second of play to defeat the Retrievers 72-64 for the Falcons' fourth straight win. Bowling Green shot 48.4 percent (15-of-31) and held UMBC to just 33.3 percent (8-of-24) shooting over the final 20 minutes of play to pick up the come from behind win at home in the Stroh Center. BGSU outscored the Retrievers 30-12 in points in the paint, 11-5 in second chance points and 10-2 in fast break points, as UMBC kept the game close with nine made three-pointers over the 40 minute contest. For the game, the Falcons shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the field and 76 percent (19-of-25) from the charity stripe. The Retrievers were 39.2 percent (20-of-51) overall, including going 9-of-27 (33.3 percent) from behind the three-point line. BGSU controlled the glass, as the Falcons held a 38-28 advantage on the boards, including pulling down 12 offensive rebounds.

POINTS ON THE UP AND UP
After scoring just 50 points against Cincinnati on Nov. 18 and then 59 points versus North Dakota on Nov. 21, both losses, BGSU has seen its points total on the up and up over its current four-game winning streak. The Falcons scored 79 points in a win over Youngstown State on Nov. 22 in Fort Myers, Fla. Bowling Green then totaled 82 points in a road win at FGCU the following night, Nov. 23, poured in a season-high 96 points against Urbana on Nov. 29 and then tallied 72 points in the win over UMBC on Dec. 2.

SHARING THE WEALTH
The Falcons have shared the wealth in all five of their wins this season in terms of the scoring load. BGSU has had three players or more score in double figures in all five wins for the Falcons this season. BGSU had four players score in double digit points in the home win over New Orleans on Nov. 14 and in the road win at FGCU on Nov. 23. The Falcons also had five different players score in double figures in the neutral site win over Youngstown State on Nov. 22 in Fort Myers, Fla. and again in the home win over Urbana on Nov. 29 at the Stroh Center. Coach Huger's squad had three players in double digits in the win over UMBC at home on Dec. 2.

SHARP SHOOTING FALCONS
Over its current four-game winning streak, the Falcons have shot over 45 percent from the floor as a team in each contest, including shooting a season-high 55.7 percent overall from the field in the blowout win over Urbana on Nov. 29. In fact, the Falcons have shot over 45.5 percent in all five of their wins this season. On the flip side, BGSU is 0-2 on the year when shooting below 45 percent from the floor.

SPENCE LEADING BY EXAMPLE
As the most experienced player on the Falcons' roster, senior forward Spencer Parker has been leading by example with career numbers this season. Parker leads the team with an average of 14.0 points per game and is shooting 52.1 percent from the field overall. He has scored in double figures in six straight games and has already posted two 20 point games with 22 points at FGCU and 20 points versus UMBC. He also has two double-doubles on the season and leads the team in minutes played with an average of 27.7 over the first seven games for the Falcons this season.

MR. CLEAN
BGSU's 6-1 guard Zack Denny has been cleaning up the backboards this season for the Falcons, as he leads the team with a total of 54 rebounds and an average of 7.7 boards per contest. Over his last four games, Denny has pulled down 11, 11, 8 and 11 boards, a total of 41 rebounds and an average of 10.3 per outing.

GETTING TO THE CHARITY STRIPE
Bowling Green has made it a habit to get to the free throw line, as the Falcons have shot more foul shots than their opponent in six of their seven games this season. BGSU has attempted 20 or more free throws in six games on the season and have made more free throws than their opponents have even attempted in three different contests.

MINUTES, MINUTES, EVERYONE GETS MINUTES!
A total of nine players are averaging double digit minutes of playing time on the court thus far this season for the Falcons. In fact, nine different players notched 14 minutes or more of playing time over the 40 minute contest versus New Orleans (11/14), while nine different Falcons logged 13 minutes or more against Cincinnati (11/18). Nine different players also played 10 minutes or more versus North Dakota (11/21) and in the win over Youngstown State (11/22). Eleven different Falcons logged 10 minutes or more in the home win over Urbana on Nov. 29, including nine players playing over 13 minutes.

PARKER RECOGNIZED BY COLLEGE SPORTS MADNESS (NOV. 30)
Senior forward Spencer Parker was named the Madness Mid-American Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Nov. 30 by College Sports Madness (www.collegesportsmadness.com) for his strong week of play in which he led the Falcons to a 2-0 overall record with wins at FGCU and at home versus Urbana. The 6-7 forward led BGSU with an average of 18.5 points per game on 62.5 percent shooting from the field overall and 83.3 percent shooting from the free throw line. He posted a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds versus FGCU and followed that performance up with 15 points and six boards in only 19 minutes of action in the blowout win versus Urbana.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
The duo of Spencer Parker and Zack Denny have each tallied two double-doubles thus far on the young season for the Falcons. Parker registered 16 points and 12 rebounds versus North Dakota and a season-high 22 points and 10 boards in the win at FGCU. Denny has posted two straight double-doubles with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win over YSU, followed by 18 points and 11 rebounds in the win over the FGCU Eagles.

THAT 70'S STROH
BGSU is an impressive 22-1 at the Stroh Center when scoring 70 points or more in a contest. BGSU is 3-0 at the Stroh this season when scoring 70 points or more.

HOME SWEET STROH
BGSU has called the Stroh Center home since the 2011-12 season and has posted an overall record of 44-24 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 have recorded double digit home wins at the Stroh in three of the last four years. BGSU is off to a 3-1 start this season at home in the Stroh with wins over New Orleans, Urbana and UMBC.

3,411 TAKE PART IN THE SECOND ANNUAL BILL FRACK CHALLENGE
A total of 3,411 fans were in attendance at the second annual Bill Frack Challenge on Nov. 18 versus Cincinnati. The crowd is the fifth largest announced attendance to watch a BGSU men's basketball game inside the Stroh Center in the buildings five-year history.

#MAKEHISTORYNOW
Falcons' head coach Michael Huger recorded his first career win as a head coach in the 79-61 win over New Orleans in the season opener.

FALCONTASTIC DEBUTS
A number of Falcons have turned in strong BGSU debuts this year. Head coach Michael Huger picked up the 79-61 win versus New Orleans in his head coaching debut in the season opener. Redshirt-freshman Rasheed Worrell had a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds in his Falcon debut versus UNO, while junior transfer Wes Alcegaire finished with 14 points in his BGSU debut in the opener. Freshman Antwon Lillard added 13 points in his Falcon and intercollegiate debut on Nov. 14, while freshman Demajeo Wiggins finished with five points and five boards in 16 minutes of play in his debut against Cincinnati.

STREAKING SINCE 1992-93 IN HOME OPENERS
With BGSU's home opening 79-61 win over New Orleans on Nov. 14, the Falcons have now won 24 straight home openers. The Falcons last dropped their home opener back in 1991-92 against Findlay, 68-79, when Coach Huger was a junior guard on the team.

A FALCON NOW LEADING THE FALCONS
It seems fitting that a former Falcon would lead the program during its Centennial Season, as former BGSU standout and 1994 graduate Michael Huger returns to his alma-mater as the head coach in 2015-16. Huger, who returns to his alma mater where he was a standout player for the Falcons from 1989-93. While a player at BGSU, Huger helped the Falcons to a pair of NIT appearances. Tabbed the BGSU Team MVP in 1992-93, he earned all-conference honors in his final two seasons, and was a Naismith Award nominee and the runner-up for MAC Player of the Year his senior year.

DENNY DIALING IN FROM LONG DISTANCE
Entering his junior season this year in 2015-16, guard Zack Denny has been lights out behind the three-point line over his first two years at BGSU. Denny, who made a team-high 50 three-pointers last season, enters the year ranked fifth on BGSU's career three-point field goal percentage list shooting at a clip of 40.2 percent overall. He is 53-for-132 overall from long range over his short Falcon career.

WATCH ME: BGSU ON ESPN3, BCSN AND THE TWC SPORTS CHANNEL
Every Falcons' home game over the 2015-16 season will broadcast live on ESPN3. A number of road contests will also be video steamed live over the ESPN3 network, while the Falcons will also appear locally on the Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) on Jan. 6 vs. Miami (Ohio) and Jan. 19 vs. Toledo. BGSU will also be on the TWC Sports Channel on Jan. 12 at Ohio and Mar. 1 at Kent State. A number of BGSU games could be chosen for TV by eight ESPN or the CBS Sports Network throughout the season as wildcard selections.

CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2015-16
The Falcons have three team captains for the 2015-16 season in junior JD Tisdale, junior Wes Alcegaire and redshirt-sophomore Garrett Mayleben.

PICKED TO FINISH SIXTH IN THE MAC EAST IN PRESEASON POLL
With the loss of its top three scorers from last season in Richaun Holmes to the NBA, and both Jehvon Clarke and Anthony Henderson due to graduation, the Falcons were picked to finish sixth in the MAC East Division in the 2015-16 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll, which was determined by a 23-member MAC News Media Panel. The Falcons garnered 42 points overall.

FALCONS INK TWO DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
On Nov. 11, Bowling Green State University head men's basketball coach Michael Huger announced the signing of Dylan Frye (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Mater Academy) and Rodrick Caldwell (Dayton, Ohio/Wayne H.S.) to National Letters of Intent to continue both their academic and athletic careers at Bowling Green State University in 2016.