Bowling Green Hosts Evansville Tuesday For Star Wars Night

OPENING TIP
• Bowling Green and Evansville are set to meet for the fifth time in series history on Tuesday night. The series is currently tied at 2-2.
• Last season, Evansville beat the Falcons, 69-66, in Evansville. A potential game-tying triple at the buzzer rimmed out for BGSU. On that day, the Falcons were led by Demajeo Wiggins, who posted 18 points and 12 rebounds.
• Bowling Green is off to a 7-2 start for the first time since 2015-16. Additionally, the Falcons are 7-2 for just the third time over the last 16 seasons. BGSU last started 7-2 in 2015-16, and in 2004-05.
• Most recently, BGSU picked up a win at Norfolk State on Dec. 2, which pushed BGSU to 3-0 in true road games in 2017-18. Prior to this season, the 2001-02 Falcons were the last team to win its first three true road games.
• Bowling Green has received a 20-point individual scoring night in 10 games in 2017-18, surpassing last season's total of nine.
• Dylan Frye is coming off a career-high 28 points at Norfolk State. Frye, who averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists over BGSU's 2-0 week, has now scored 20-plus points in three games in 2017-18.
• Rodrick Caldwell is playing the best baseball of his young career. Caldwell has registered at least four assists in each of the last six games, while scoring in double figures in seven of BGSU's last eight contests.

STAR WARS NIGHT
• Tuesday night's game versus Evansville is being promoted as Star Wars Night at the Stroh Center.
• The themed evening lines up nicely with the new Star Wars film – "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" – that is set to hit theaters on Dec. 15.
• Kylo Ren, Rey and a Stormtrooper will be present at the game.
• A photo booth with the characters will also be available.
• Many promotions and in-game elements will have a Star Wars theme.

A BGSU WIN WOULD…
• Mark BGSU's first 8-2 start since 2004-05.
• Move the Falcons to 23-13 in non-conference games under head coach Michael Huger.
• Put BGSU on its second winning streak of at least three games in 2017-18.
• Give Bowling Green a 3-2 advantage in the all-time series with Evansville
• Improve the Falcons to 4-1 at the Stroh Center in 2017-18, and 62-39 at the facility all-time.
• Improve BGSU's record in the month of December under head coach Michael Huger to 8-5.

HUGER'S THOUGHTS ON EVANSVILLE
"I was very pleased with our defensive effort against Norfolk State. While we had a stretch in the second half where we allowed them to get back into the game, I felt like our guys were focused defensively for the majority of the game. Next up will be a tough Evansville team. Evansville will be one of the best defensive teams we have faced this season, and they will also showcase a motion offense that requires a lot of communication and effort to guard properly. This will certainly be a great game to prep us for upcoming MAC play. I'll be looking for us to take another step forward Tuesday night."

SCOUTING THE EVANSVILLE PURPLE ACES
• Evansville is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. The Purple Aces went 16-17 (6-12) last season.
• The Purple Aces return two starters and five letterwinners from last year's squad.
• Evansville is coached by 11th-year head coach Marty Simmons. Simmons is 173-162 at Evansville, and 272-234 all-time as a head coach.
• Evansville is off to a very solid 6-2 start in 2017-18, earning wins over Arkansas State, North Carolina Central, Southeast Missouri State, Binghamton, Fresno State and Oakland City.
• Evansville is shooting 46.8 percent from the floor, a crazy 47.1 percent from the three-point territory, and 76.2 percent from the charity stripe. The Purple Aces are averaging 69.2 points per game.
• UE opponents are averaging 60.4 points per game, while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, and 32.4 percent from downtown.
• The Purple Aces are averaging 14.6 assists, and 14.0 turnovers in 2017-18.
• Leading scorer Ryan Taylor, a redshirt-junior guard, recently suffered a broken foot. Taylor was averaging 21.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and shooting 42.2 percent from the floor and 47.6 percent from downtown.
• Redshirt-senior guard Blake Simmons and sophomore guard Dru Smith are also scoring in double figures for the Purple Aces, averaging 10.4 points and 10.3 points per game, respectively. Smith also leads the team with 42 assists.
• Junior forward Dainiu Chatkevicius is averaging a team-high 5.3 rebounds per contest.

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Rodrick Caldwell

Dylan Frye

Demajeo Wiggins

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