Falcons Return To The Stroh For CIT Wednesday Against Purdue Fort Wayne

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will compete in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament on Wednesday (March 20) against Purdue Fort Wayne. The Falcons and Mastodons are set for a 7 p.m. tip at the Stroh Center with the game being broadcasted on ESPN+. There will also be a radio stream available through WFRO Eagle 99.

Opening Tip
The Falcons and Mastodons will be playing for the fifth time in program history and the first time on a neutral floor. Purdue Fort Wayne leads the all-time series, 3-1. This will be Bowling Green's third appearance in the CIT, playing in the tournament in 2011-12 and 2014-15 with the program's last postseason win coming in the 2014-15 CIT. This will be BGSU's first postseason appearance since the 2020-21 CBI.

At The Game
The game will be an Orange Wave at the Stroh Center with fans asked to wear orange. The first 200 students will receive free orange shirts and pizza.

A Bowling Green Win Would…

Mark the fifth postseason win for BGSU during the program's MAC era and the first since the 2014-15 season (CIT).
Make Coach Simon the second coach in program history to win a postseason game in his first season with the Falcons (Jans, 2014-15).
Tie Coach Simon for the most overall wins (21) by a first-year head coach in program history (Jans, 2014-15).

Scouting The Mastodons
Purdue Fort Wayne enters the CIT with a record of 21-12 on the season while going 11-9 within the Horizon League. The Mastodons won their first game in the Horizon League Tournament, topping Robert Morris 78-63, but fell in the second round to the eventual champions, Oakland, 75-65. Purdue Fort Wayne closed the regular season by winning four of their last five. On the year, they have four players averaging at least 13 points per game, led by sophomore Jalen Jackson with an average of 16.2 points.

BGSU v. Purdue Fort Wayne, A History
Bowling Green and Purdue Fort Wayne have played four times previously in program history. The last meeting was during the 2013-14 campaign with Purdue Fort Wayne taking a 65-60 final inside the Stroh Center. The Mastodons hold the all-time advantage with a 3-1 record against the Falcons, but the series is tied 1-1 when Bowling Green hosts. The win for the Orange and Brown came during the 2004-05 season by a score of 86-70. This will mark the first neutral site matchup between the two programs.

Flipping The Script
The Falcons have secured a 20-win season this year after having a 20-loss season a year ago, going from 11-20 last year to 20-13 now. Bowling Green is one of 10 teams in the nation to go from 20 losses last season to 20 wins this season. The list includes Central Connecticut State, Little Rock, Loyola Chicago, McNeese, Ole Miss, SMU, South Carolina, Stony Brook and UT Arlington. The Falcons made the same flip from 2013-14 to 2014-15.

Falcons In The CIT
This will mark the third appearance in the CIT for the Falcons, playing the tournament in 2011-12 and 2014-15. In the previous two appearances, BGSU holds a record of 1-2 with the win coming in 2014-15 over Saint Francis (Pa.). This will also mark the second CIT game the Falcons have hosted after hosting Canisius in 2014-15. Since joining the MAC, Bowling Green has four postseason wins. In addition to 2014-15 in the CIT, the Falcons have wins in the 1974-75 NCIT, 1962-63 NCAA Tournament and in the 1953-54 NIT.

Simon's Strong Start
In his first season at the helm of the Falcons, Todd Simon has led Bowling Green to 20 wins, one win away from tying the record for most wins by a first-year head coach in program history. This also marks the first 20-win season for BGSU since 2019-20 and just the ninth during the program's MAC era. Simon is the fourth coach in program history to win a MAC Tournament game in his first season with the Falcons as well.

First Year Success
Head Coach Todd Simon is just the third coach in program history to lead the Falcons to a postseason appearance in his first season at the helm of the Falcons. Bill Fitch made the NCAA Tournament in 1967-68 and Chris Jans made the CIT in 2014-15. With a first round win, Jans is the only coach in program history to win a postseason game in his first season.

Hill Continues Record Book Climb
Marcus Hill has put together a historic first season with the Falcons, scoring 672 points in the Orange and Brown. The total has put Hill fifth in program history for points in a single season. He needs 34 points to move past James Darrow (705, 1959-60) for fourth all-time. Hill's point total currently leads the Mid-American Conference and is top 20 in the nation. Meanwhile, he is fifth in the nation for field goals made and third for field goals attempted.

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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