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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, November 11
Bowling Green, Ohio
12 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
vs
Arkansas State
Photo by: Lauren Laudato, BGSU Athletics
Falcons Continue Home Start With Arkansas State, MAC-Sun Belt Challenge Saturday
November 10, 2023 | Men's Basketball
BGSU To Open Season With Back-To-Back Home Games For First Time Since 2015-16
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will begin the inaugural MAC-Sun Belt Challenge by hosting the Arkansas State Red Wolves at the Stroh Center Saturday afternoon (Nov. 11). The Falcons and Red Wolves are set for a 12 p.m. tip to kickoff a BGSU home triple-header on Saturday.
Opening Tip
The Falcons will start the season with back-to-back home games for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign when Bowling Green hosted New Orleans and Cincinnati. BGSU and Arkansas State will be facing off for the fifth time in program history with the series evenly split 2-2 so far. The game will mark the first in MAC-Sun Belt Challenge for Bowling Green and will also be Future Falcon Kids Club Day.
A Bowling Green Win Would…
Scouting The Red Wolves
Arkansas State opened the regular season on the road against Wisconsin, falling to the Badgers 105-76. Freddy Hicks led the way for the Red Wolves with 21 points and seven rebounds followed by Caleb Fields (17) and Dyondre Dominguez (14). A season ago, Arkansas State finished the season with a record of 13-20 while being 4-14 in conference play. The Red Wolves did tally a win in the Sun Belt Championship, topping Coastal Carolina, but came up short in the second round to Troy by just four points.
BGSU v. Arkansas State, A History
Bowling Green and Arkansas State have faced four times previously in program history with the series tied 2-2. The last time the two teams met was a home-and-home series during the 2006-07 season with the home team winning each contest. The two teams also met in a neutral site game, facing in Lexington, Kentucky in 1988 with an Arkansas State win, 80-51. The first meeting all-time came on Dec. 13, 1950 in Bowling Green with the Falcons capturing a 74-51 victory.
Defensive Mindset: Part I
In the first game of the season, the Falcons hit two marks for the first time in a long time. BGSU held Chicago State to just 41 points, the fewest points allowed by Bowling Green since 2015 when they held Chicago State to 35. BGSU is tied for sixth for fewest points allowed in the season opener with Jacksonville State. Only Saint Mary's, William & Mary, Houston, Idaho State and Ball State allowed fewer points.
Defensive Mindset: Part II
In addition to holding Chicago State's point total to 41, the Falcons kept the Cougars to a mark of 25% from the field, the lowest field goal percentage allowed by BGSU since 2011 against Malone (24.2%). The mark is currently tied for sixth in the nation with Purdue. Only Saint Mary's, George Washington, William & Mary, Southern Miss and Kennesaw State held their opponent's to lower marks in the season-opener.
Crashing The Boards
After the first game of the season, Bowling Green is second on the rebounding charts in the Mid-American Conference with 47, behind only Kent State (51) who played two overtimes. Of the 47, 36 came on the defensive end which not only tied for the MAC lead with KSU but is tied for 28th in the nation. The Orange and Brown are also currently third in rebound margin at 9.0.
King Of The Hill
Marcus Hill picked up where he left off in the season opener. Hill recorded a team-high 18 points for the Falcons, leading the team, while shooting 50% from the field. Hill's performance comes off the heels of his 2022-23 campaign that saw him lead the entire NJCAA in points scored with 780 in just one season while maintaining a 49.7% mark from the field in the process. Hill's 18 points ranked 10th in the MAC for the first games of the season.
Familiar Face, Familiar Result
Last season, Rashaun Agee led the Falcons in rebounds, snagging 170 over the course of the season with 43 on the offensive end and 127 on defense. Agee picked up where he left off in the first game of the season against Chicago State, finishing second on the team with eight rebounds and six offensive boards. Agee's six offensive rebounds are tied for the second most in the MAC and 14th in the nation.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMBB
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
Opening Tip
The Falcons will start the season with back-to-back home games for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign when Bowling Green hosted New Orleans and Cincinnati. BGSU and Arkansas State will be facing off for the fifth time in program history with the series evenly split 2-2 so far. The game will mark the first in MAC-Sun Belt Challenge for Bowling Green and will also be Future Falcon Kids Club Day.
A Bowling Green Win Would…
- Grant the Falcons a 2-0 start in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1983-84 and 1984-85.
- Begin the Coach Simon Era of Bowling Green basketball with a 2-0 record.
- Make Coach Simon the seventh coach in program history to start his tenure with a 2-0 standing.
- Earn Bowling Green their first win in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
- Start BGSU 2-0 at home for the first time since 2020-21.
- Give the Falcons the all-time edge over Arkansas State with a 3-2 all-time record.
Scouting The Red Wolves
Arkansas State opened the regular season on the road against Wisconsin, falling to the Badgers 105-76. Freddy Hicks led the way for the Red Wolves with 21 points and seven rebounds followed by Caleb Fields (17) and Dyondre Dominguez (14). A season ago, Arkansas State finished the season with a record of 13-20 while being 4-14 in conference play. The Red Wolves did tally a win in the Sun Belt Championship, topping Coastal Carolina, but came up short in the second round to Troy by just four points.
BGSU v. Arkansas State, A History
Bowling Green and Arkansas State have faced four times previously in program history with the series tied 2-2. The last time the two teams met was a home-and-home series during the 2006-07 season with the home team winning each contest. The two teams also met in a neutral site game, facing in Lexington, Kentucky in 1988 with an Arkansas State win, 80-51. The first meeting all-time came on Dec. 13, 1950 in Bowling Green with the Falcons capturing a 74-51 victory.
Defensive Mindset: Part I
In the first game of the season, the Falcons hit two marks for the first time in a long time. BGSU held Chicago State to just 41 points, the fewest points allowed by Bowling Green since 2015 when they held Chicago State to 35. BGSU is tied for sixth for fewest points allowed in the season opener with Jacksonville State. Only Saint Mary's, William & Mary, Houston, Idaho State and Ball State allowed fewer points.
Defensive Mindset: Part II
In addition to holding Chicago State's point total to 41, the Falcons kept the Cougars to a mark of 25% from the field, the lowest field goal percentage allowed by BGSU since 2011 against Malone (24.2%). The mark is currently tied for sixth in the nation with Purdue. Only Saint Mary's, George Washington, William & Mary, Southern Miss and Kennesaw State held their opponent's to lower marks in the season-opener.
Crashing The Boards
After the first game of the season, Bowling Green is second on the rebounding charts in the Mid-American Conference with 47, behind only Kent State (51) who played two overtimes. Of the 47, 36 came on the defensive end which not only tied for the MAC lead with KSU but is tied for 28th in the nation. The Orange and Brown are also currently third in rebound margin at 9.0.
King Of The Hill
Marcus Hill picked up where he left off in the season opener. Hill recorded a team-high 18 points for the Falcons, leading the team, while shooting 50% from the field. Hill's performance comes off the heels of his 2022-23 campaign that saw him lead the entire NJCAA in points scored with 780 in just one season while maintaining a 49.7% mark from the field in the process. Hill's 18 points ranked 10th in the MAC for the first games of the season.
Familiar Face, Familiar Result
Last season, Rashaun Agee led the Falcons in rebounds, snagging 170 over the course of the season with 43 on the offensive end and 127 on defense. Agee picked up where he left off in the first game of the season against Chicago State, finishing second on the team with eight rebounds and six offensive boards. Agee's six offensive rebounds are tied for the second most in the MAC and 14th in the nation.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMBB
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
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