Battle of I-75 to Tip-Off Tuesday Night at 7 p.m. at the Stroh

Tuesday, January 19

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Toledo

Tickets

Photo by: Larry Clapper

January 18, 2016 | Men's Basketball

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

GAMEDAY CENTRAL

STARTING FIVE
(1) BATTLE OF I-75: The Battle of I-75 will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. in the Stroh Center, as the Rockets will head south to Bowling Green, Ohio. The rivalry game will be played just once this season over the MAC regular season slate.

(2) MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEKS SQUARING OFF: The reining MAC East and MAC West Division Men's Basketball Players of the Week will square off on Tuesday night in the cross-divisional contest. BGSU's Spencer Parker was named the MAC East Division POTW as he paced the Falcons with an average of 21.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this past week over the two conference victories. He also shot 55.6 percent (15-of-27) overall and shot 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the free throw line. Nathan Boothe of Toledo was tabbed the MAC West Division POTW, as the senior tallied a team-high 27.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in two contests last week. Boothe registered a 57.6 field-goal percentage (19-of-33), a 44.4 three-point field goal percentage (4-of-9) and an 81.3 free-throw percentage (13-of-16).

(3) ADDED HISTORY: A little more history is involved in this year's meeting, as BGSU head coach Michael Huger and assistant coach Anthony Stacey both suited up for the Falcons against Toledo. Huger went 4-4 versus the Rockets from 1989-93, while Stacey's teams went 8-3 versus UT from 1995-2000.

(4) HIGH SCORING CONTEST: It would not be a stretch to expect the contest on Tuesday night to be a high scoring affair. BGSU has scored an average of 87.5 points per game over the last two games, while Toledo leads the MAC in scoring at 80.4 points per game on the year.

(5) CENTENNIAL GAME SET FOR JAN. 23: As part of the Centennial Season, the Bowling Green State University men's basketball program will host the "Centennial Game" on Jan. 23 at 4 p.m. versus Kent 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 ROCKETS
The Toledo Rockets will enter the contest versus the Falcons at 11-6 overall and 2-2 in MAC play after defeating Akron 78-64 at home on Jan. 15. The Rockets, who are 3-3 in true road contests on the season, lead the MAC in scoring with an average of 80.4 points per game this season. UT sits atop of the MAC with a 47.2 field goal percentage as a team on the season and also ranks third in the MAC with a 71.6 free throw percentage and fourth in the MAC with a 36.9 three-point field goal percentage. Toledo also leas the MAC in assists with 299 on the season, an average of 17.6 helpers per game. Nathan Boothe leads the Rockets and the MAC in scoring with a total of 333 points overall on the year and an average of 19.6 points per game. He also leads the Rockets in rebounding with 8.8 per game, assists with 3.9 per contest and in blocks with 0.8 per outing. Veteran Jonathan Williams is averaging 18.9 points per contest on the year, which is second in the MAC only to Boothe, while Stuckey Mosley is also averaging double figures with 11.4 points per contest.

ALL-TIME SERIES BETWEEN BGSU AND THE ROCKETS
BGSU trails the Rockets in the all-time series on the hardwood in men's basketball action, as Toledo holds a slight 87-79 advantage over the Falcons. The Falcons are 48-26 all-time versus the Rockets and is 1-1 versus UT at the Stroh Center. The Rockets enter the rivalry contest on a four-game winning streak over the Falcons, as BGSU's last win in the series came at home on Feb. 11, 2012.

A SERIES OF RUNS AS OF LATE
The overall series between the Falcons and the Rockets has been one of runs as of late, as Toledo has won four straight over BGSU since 2012-13. Prior to the current UT run, the Falcons won four straight meetings from 2008-09 to 2011-12.

COACH'S CORNER
"I was very pleased with our teams performance the past two games on the road. I thought our guys played hard and showed a lot of resiliency. However, there is still a lot of basketball left to play. We tell our guys, win or lose, our focus is always on what is in front of us, which is now the Rockets. Toledo has a lot of young talent on their team and a player of the year candidate in Nathan Boothe. Being a rivalry game, we are expecting a terrific crowd, but it will be important for our guys to remain focused on the game plan and communicate on the defensive end. Our players and staff are looking forward to getting back in front of our fans, who have been terrific all season long. We will need their energy and enthusiasm Tuesday night!"

UP NEXT FOR THE FALCONS
BGSU will host its "Centennial Game" on Saturday, Jan. 23, versus Kent State at 4 p.m. The game is part of the Centennial Celebration of the Falcons' 100 years of men's basketball.

A FALCON WIN WOULD ...
* Put the Falcons at 13-5 overall on the season for the second straight year.
* Mean that BGSU started the MAC season off at 4-1 for the second straight year.
* Place Bowling Green at 7-2 overall at home in the Stroh Center on the season.
* Push the Falcons' record to 5-1 for the month of January.
* Extend the Falcons' winning streak to three straight games.
* Snap a four-game losing game to Toledo in the Battle of I-75.

LAST TIME OUT - BGSU 84, EASTERN MICHIGAN 79 (JAN. 16)
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team improved to 12-5 overall and 3-1 in Mid-American Conference action with an 84-79 road victory at Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon inside the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Mich., in which the Falcons led by as much as 20 points in the second half of play. The win was the Falcons' second straight MAC road win having upended Ohio in Athens, Ohio on Tuesday, Jan. 12. Bowling Green shot 47.5 percent (28-of-59) overall for the game, including going 12-of-23 (52.2 percent) from long distance against the trademark Eastern Michigan 2-3 zone. The BGSU defense held the Eagles to 44.1 percent (26-of-59) shooting for the game, but kept the Eagles in check from behind the three-point line at only 5-of-22 (22.7) from long range. BGSU outscored the Eagles 32-28 in points in the paint and 17-12 in fast break points. The Falcons also out-rebounded EMU 38-34 for the contest.

PARKER TABBED YP.COM MAC EAST DIVISION MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK (JAN. 18)
Senior Spencer Parker, who posted back-to-back 20-plus point games to lead the Falcons to two straight MAC road wins, last week was rewarded for his efforts by being named the YP.com MAC East Division Men's Basketball Player of the Week by the league office on Monday, Jan. 18. Parker was clutch from the field offensively, as he shot 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the floor overall, shot 75 percent (3-of-4) from the three-point line and shot 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the charity stripe.

PARKER APPROACHING 1,000
Senior Spencer Parker is quietly approaching the 1,000 career points mark in his final year at BGSU. He enters Tuesday night's contest with 923 career points, 77 points away from the career milestone. Parker, who is averaging 14.1 points per game this season, would need to average 5.5 points per game over the remaining 14 regular season games for BGSU to reach the mark and become just the 43rd player in BGSU history to score over 1,000 career points.

STROLL DOWN THE MAC MEMORY LANE
Last season in 2014-15, BGSU went 11-7 in MAC play and finished in third-place overall 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 twice, going 11-7 last season and then posting an 9-7 overall record in league play in 2011-12. Since 2009-10, including this year, Bowling Green has gone 50-54 in MAC play overall.

CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE STARTING FIVE
BGSU head coach Michael Huger has sent out the lineup of David "Pep" Joseph, Zack Denny, Wes Alcegaire, Spencer Parker and Rasheed Worrell to start all 17 games thus far this season for the Falcons.

SOLID START A NECESSITY
BGSU has relied on solid starts this season, as the Falcons are 10-0 on the season when leading at the halftime break. Bowling Green is just 2-5 on the season when going into the locker room trailing at the halftime intermission.

TWO GOING FOR 20-PLUS
With Spencer Parker's 21 points and Zack Denny's 20 points in the road win at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 16, the duo became the first pair of Falcons to score 20 points or more in the same game since BGSU's Anthony Henderson and Jehvon Clarke each poured in 23 points at Toledo on Feb. 5, 2014.

POINTS APLENTY OF LATE FOR THE FALCONS
The Falcons have put up a number of points over the last two games, as Coach Huger's squad has totaled 175 points over their last two contests, both of which were MAC road wins. BGSU poured in 91 points on the road in a come from behind win at Ohio on Jan. 12 and followed that up with 84 points in the road victory over Eastern Michigan on Jan. 16.

SHOOTING DOWN THE EAGLES
In BGSU's 84-79 road win at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 16, the Falcons drained 12 three-pointers and shot 52.2 percent overall (12-of-23) from long range against the Eagles' well-known 2-3 zone. BGSU's 12 made three's in the win at EMU were the second most treys in a game this season for the Falcons, as BGSU had 14 three-point field goals in the home win over Urbana.

SHARP SHOOTING FALCONS
The Falcons have shot over 44 percent from the floor as a team in each of their 12 wins thus far this season, including shooting a season-high 55.7 percent overall from the field in the blowout win over Urbana on Nov. 29. The Falcons are also a perfect 11-0 on the season when shooting better than their opponents from the field as a team overall.

KEY IS CLEANING THE GLASS
BGSU has done well this season when out-rebounding its opponents for the game. In fact, the Falcons are a perfect 11-0 when grabbing the same number or more rebounds than their foes in a game this season. The Falcons are just 1-5 on the year when losing the battle of the boards with the lone win coming versus Miami (Ohio) at home on Jan. 6, 2016.

GETTING TO THE CHARITY STRIPE
Bowling Green has made it a habit to get to the free throw line this year, as the Falcons have shot more foul shots than their opponent in 12 of their 17 games this season. BGSU has attempted 20 or more free throws in 13 games on the year, including a season-high 35 attempts at Detroit on Dec. 12. The Falcons have made more free throws than their opponents have even attempted in six different contests this season.

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, at least nine different players have notched 10 minutes or more of playing time in 10 different games for the Falcons this season. Seven different Falcons are averaging 20 minutes or more of playing time on the year.

BENCH HELP
The BGSU bench has been big for the Falcons in 2016, as the Falcons reserves have totaled 155 points over the last five games, an average of 31 points per game. BGSU's bench scored 51 points in the 87-56 win over Oakland City (Ind.) on Jan. 2, which is a season-high. The Falcon subs then poured in 33 points in the 73-62 MAC win over Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 6 and followed that game up with 21 points in the home loss to Central Michigan on Jan. 9. Most recently, BGSU recorded 40 points in the road win at Ohio on Jan. 12.

MR. ENERGY
Freshman Antwon Lillard is off to a strong start in the New Year, as he tipped off the year with career high point totals with 14 versus Oakland City (Ind.) on Jan. 2 and then 16 points versus Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 6. He also tallied nine points versus Central Michigan on Jan. 9 and 12 points at Ohio on Jan. 12. In 2016, Lillard had totaled 58 points in five games off the bench for the Falcons, an average of 11.6 points per contest. In the four MAC games thus far in 2016, the Cleveland, Ohio native is averaging 11.0 points per game.

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 in scoring with an average of 14.1 points per game and is second in rebounding with 6.1 rebounds per game, both of which are career highs. He is shooting 49.1 percent from the field overall, which is also a career-high. He has scored in double figures in 12 games and has already posted five 20-plus point games with 22 points at FGCU, 20 points versus UMBC, a career-high 33 points at Detroit, 22 points at Ohio and 21 points on the road at EMU.

DENNY DIALING IN FROM LONG DISTANCE
This season, Zack Denny is shooting a career-high 45.6 percent from behind the three-point line and leads the team with 36 made treys on the season. The junior guard is shooting 42.2 percent overall from long distance for his career, as he is 89-of-211 from long range, which has him currently ranked fourth in career three-point field goal percentage at BGSU. He has also made at least one three-pointer in 15 of 17 games this season for the Falcons.

I GOT 10 NEXT
The Falcons have had four different players grab 10 rebounds or more this season. Zack Denny has pulled down 10 rebounds or more six times this season, while Spencer Parker has hauled in 10 rebounds or more three times. Newcomers Ismail Ali tallied 10 rebounds versus Oakland City (Ind.) on Jan. 8, while Demajeo Wiggins snatched 11 rebounds in the Falcons' home game against Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 6. In fact, BGSU has had a player tally double digit rebounds in four of their last six games.

10 POINT POSSESSION
BGSU recorded a 10-point possession in only 37 seconds late in the second half in the win over Ohio on Jan. 12. The Falcons got a three-pointer from Ismail Ali (3), who was also fouled on the play. After the foul, a scuffle ensued with both teams which drew four technical fouls, three to Ohio and one to BGSU. With the technical fouls, BGSU got four free throws on top of Ali's foul shot from being fouled on the play. Ali hit his free throw from the foul (4) and then calmly knocked down 3-of-4 attempts from the Ohio technical fouls (7). BGSU then got the ball out of bounds, where Zack Denny abruptly drove down the lane, hit the layup (9) and was fouled on the play. He then drained the free throw (10) to cap of the possession.

HUGER FIRSTS ON THE SIDELINE
BGSU first-year head coach Michael Huger picked up his first career win as a head coach in the 79-61 win over New Orleans in the season opener. His first MAC win as a coach with the Falcons' 73-62 home win over Miami (Ohio) in the two teams' conference opener on Jan. 6, at the Stroh Center. He recorded his first MAC road win at Ohio, 91-75, on Jan. 12.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
The duo of Zack Denny and Spencer Parker have each tallied multiple double-doubles this season and have combined for eight double-doubles on the year overall. Denny recorded his five 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. He then tallied 13 points and 10 rebounds in the road win at Cleveland State to close out the month of December and then totaled 15 points and 10 rebounds in the very next game versus Oakland City (Ind.). He recently picked up 12 points and 10 rebounds in the road win at Ohio on Jan. 12. Parker has registered three double-doubles this season with 16 points and 12 rebounds versus North Dakota, 22 points and 10 boards in the win at FGCU and a career-high 33 points and 11 rebounds at Detroit.

NON-CONFERENCE WINS
The Falcons finished their non-conference regular season slate with a 9-4 record this season. The nine non-conference wins, not including postseason play, are the most by a Falcons' team in a single season since posting 10 non-conference wins in 2006-07.

GRABBING 50
For the first time in eight years, the Falcons as a team reached the 50 mark in rebounds in a single game. BGSU pulled down a season-high 50 rebounds in the win over Oakland City (Ind.) on Jan. 2, 2016. The last time a Falcons' squad totaled 50 rebounds or more was back in the 2008-09 season, when BGSU hauled in 50 boards versus Detroit on Dec. 14, 2008.

HOME SWEET STROH
BGSU has called the Stroh Center home since the 2011-12 season and has posted an overall record of 47-25 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 6-2 this season at home in the Stroh with wins over New Orleans, Urbana, UMBC, Drake, Oakland City (Ind.) and Miami.

THAT 70'S STROH
BGSU is an impressive 25-1 at the Stroh Center when scoring 70 points or more in a contest. BGSU is 6-0 at the Stroh this season when scoring 70 points or more.

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 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.

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 still appear locally on the Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) as well as the Time Warner Cable Sports Channel on Jan. 19 vs. Toledo and Mar. 1 at Kent State. A number of other BGSU games could be chosen for TV by either 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.