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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, February 11
Muncie, Ind.
2:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
at
Ball State
Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics
Bowling Green To Battle Ball State Saturday In Muncie Matinee
February 09, 2023 | Men's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball program will now begin facing MAC opponents for the second time this season, beginning with the Ball State Cardinals. The Falcons and Cardinals are scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip at Worthen Arena on Saturday (Feb. 11) with the game being available to watch on ESPN+. Fans can tune in to the action via WFRO Eagle 99. A live stat link will be provided at bgsufalcons.com with live updates available on Twitter (@BGSUMHoops).Â
Saturday will mark the 94th meeting all-time between Bowling Green and Ball State and the second this season. BGSU leads the all-time series with a record of 53-40, but the Cardinals hold the edge when hosting at 26-18. Ball State has won the last three meetings, but the last win for the Falcons came in Muncie on Feb. 16, 2021. In the first meeting this season, Leon Ayers III led BGSU in scoring with 14 while Chandler Turner scored 13 and Rashaun Agee added 11 off the bench.Â
A Bowling Green Win Would…Â
Scouting The CardinalsÂ
Since the last meeting between BGSU and BSU, the Cardinals have topped Eastern Michigan (91-90) and Central Michigan (65-51) to extend their current win streak to four games. In conference play, Ball State has produced the third-best defense in the MAC, giving up just 72.7 points per game. The Cardinals also rank second in both opponent rebounds (32.6) and team defensive rebounds (25.6).Â
Falcons From The Field In MAC PlayÂ
During the MAC schedule, BGSU has been one of the top shooting teams in the conference. In 11 MAC games, the Falcons have shot 48.6% overall, second in the conference behind only Toledo (49.3%). BGSU has had similar success from behind the arc, shooting a conference-leading 39.9% from three. From deep in MAC play, Leon Ayers III is currently fourth (47.5%) with Kaden Metheny eighth (45.2%) and Samari Curtis 11th (42.9%).Â
Defense Is The DifferenceÂ
For the Falcons, defensive statistics have shown to be the difference in the outcome. In wins this season, BGSU is averaging 39.9 rebounds per game, including 29.1 defensive rebounds. However, in losses the Falcons average 33.6 rebounds and 23.6 on the defensive end. Similarly, in wins Bowling Green averages 6.3 steals and 3.9 blocks, but only 5.6 steals and 2.5 blocks in losses. As for scoring, BGSU has allowed just 70.5 points in wins, but have allowed opponents to score 82.5 points in losses.Â
Metheny Nearing Record Book StatusÂ
This season, Kaden Metheny has recorded a team-high 57 three-pointers, a new career-high for his time as a Falcon. Metheny will need to bring his total to 66 to place his name in the record book for three-point field goals in a single-season. Trey Diggs' 66 from last season is currently 10th in program history for the stat. Metheny is currently averaging 2.7 triples a game with seven games remaining in the regular season, projecting him to finish with 76 threes, which would place him seventh all-time.
Falcons Nearing Century Assist MarkÂ
Samari Curtis will enter Saturday's game with a team-high 95 assists, needing just five more to reach 100 assists on the season. Curtis just missed the century mark a season ago, finishing with a team-high 93. Leon Ayers III also sits at 77 assists, needing 23 more to reach 100 assists this year. The last time the Falcons had two players with 100+ assists in the same season was 2015-16 with Ismail Ali (130) and David Joseph (100).Â
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUMHoops
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
Saturday will mark the 94th meeting all-time between Bowling Green and Ball State and the second this season. BGSU leads the all-time series with a record of 53-40, but the Cardinals hold the edge when hosting at 26-18. Ball State has won the last three meetings, but the last win for the Falcons came in Muncie on Feb. 16, 2021. In the first meeting this season, Leon Ayers III led BGSU in scoring with 14 while Chandler Turner scored 13 and Rashaun Agee added 11 off the bench.Â
A Bowling Green Win Would…Â
- Snap a four-game losing streak for the Falcons.
- Give BGSU wins in three of their last four trips to Muncie, Ind.Â
- Snap a three-game losing streak against Ball State.Â
- Make the Falcons 8-6 against Ball State during the Coach Huger Era.
Scouting The CardinalsÂ
Since the last meeting between BGSU and BSU, the Cardinals have topped Eastern Michigan (91-90) and Central Michigan (65-51) to extend their current win streak to four games. In conference play, Ball State has produced the third-best defense in the MAC, giving up just 72.7 points per game. The Cardinals also rank second in both opponent rebounds (32.6) and team defensive rebounds (25.6).Â
Falcons From The Field In MAC PlayÂ
During the MAC schedule, BGSU has been one of the top shooting teams in the conference. In 11 MAC games, the Falcons have shot 48.6% overall, second in the conference behind only Toledo (49.3%). BGSU has had similar success from behind the arc, shooting a conference-leading 39.9% from three. From deep in MAC play, Leon Ayers III is currently fourth (47.5%) with Kaden Metheny eighth (45.2%) and Samari Curtis 11th (42.9%).Â
Defense Is The DifferenceÂ
For the Falcons, defensive statistics have shown to be the difference in the outcome. In wins this season, BGSU is averaging 39.9 rebounds per game, including 29.1 defensive rebounds. However, in losses the Falcons average 33.6 rebounds and 23.6 on the defensive end. Similarly, in wins Bowling Green averages 6.3 steals and 3.9 blocks, but only 5.6 steals and 2.5 blocks in losses. As for scoring, BGSU has allowed just 70.5 points in wins, but have allowed opponents to score 82.5 points in losses.Â
Metheny Nearing Record Book StatusÂ
This season, Kaden Metheny has recorded a team-high 57 three-pointers, a new career-high for his time as a Falcon. Metheny will need to bring his total to 66 to place his name in the record book for three-point field goals in a single-season. Trey Diggs' 66 from last season is currently 10th in program history for the stat. Metheny is currently averaging 2.7 triples a game with seven games remaining in the regular season, projecting him to finish with 76 threes, which would place him seventh all-time.
Falcons Nearing Century Assist MarkÂ
Samari Curtis will enter Saturday's game with a team-high 95 assists, needing just five more to reach 100 assists on the season. Curtis just missed the century mark a season ago, finishing with a team-high 93. Leon Ayers III also sits at 77 assists, needing 23 more to reach 100 assists this year. The last time the Falcons had two players with 100+ assists in the same season was 2015-16 with Ismail Ali (130) and David Joseph (100).Â
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSUMHoops
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
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