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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, January 3
Amherst, Mass.
2 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
at
UMass
Photo by: Avery Zuercher, BGSU Athletics
BGSU Men’s Basketball To Begin 2026 Calendar With Program’s First Trip To UMass
January 01, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Falcons, Minutemen Set For 2 p.m. Tip Saturday
AMHERST, Mass. - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will be back on the road for their next two games, first facing the UMass Minutemen on Saturday (Jan. 3). The first game on the 2026 calendar for the Falcons, Bowling Green and UMass are set for a 2 p.m. tip and will mark the first meeting all-time between the programs. The game between the Falcons and Minutemen will be available to stream on ESPN+ with a radio feed from Todd Walker available on WFRO Eagle 99.
Opening Tip
Bowling Green and UMass will be meeting for the first time in program history with this being the Minutemen's first season in the MAC for men's basketball. The Falcons head into the game with a 4-1 record on the road this year while UMass is 6-2 when playing at home. BGSU and UMass combine for four of the MAC's top 10 rebounders, including BGSU's Sam Towns ranking seventh, averaging 6.9 rebounds per game. As a team, the Falcons are currently leading the nation in steals per game (12.9) and are second in turnovers forced per game (19.1).
A Bowling Green Win Would…
Defense Setting The Tone
So far this season, the Falcons have proven to be one of the best teams in the nation at creating chaos. Bowling Green is averaging a nation-leading 12.9 steals per game. On top of that, BGSU is forcing 19.1 turnovers per game, which is second in the country behind only Tarleton State, averaging 19.5. The Falcons have rolled the defensive pressure into the shooting game as well. BGSU is holding opponents to 66.4 points per game while shooting just 41.2-percent, both marks leading the MAC.
Scouting The Minutemen
In their first season in the Mid-American Conference for men's basketball, UMass has struggled at the start. They lost their MAC opener at home against Kent State, 69-59, on Dec. 20 and then added a road loss to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 30, 80-74. Prior to the loss to Kent State, UMass had tallied five straight wins, including victories over Oregon State (73-65), Boston College on ESPNU (76-74) and Florida State on the road on the ACC Network (103-95). As for scoring, UMass is led by UMBC transfer Marcus Banks Jr., averaging 16.2 points per game, ranking seventh in the conference.
BGSU vs. UMass, All-Time
With this being the first season in the MAC for men's basketball for UMass, the Falcons and Minutemen have not met previously. Saturday's game will be the first between the teams, giving BGSU 335 different teams faced over the history of the program with wins against 273. UMass will be the eighth new opponent this year, joining Texas State, Bethany College, Le Moyne, Bucknell, VMI, Kansas State and Utah Valley.
Campbell Leads Nation
Javontae Campbell added three more steals for the Falcons against Miami (OH), bringing his total to 51. Through 14 games, Campbell is averaging a nation-leading 3.6 steals per game while his 51 total are first as well. Campbell is currently on pace for 112 steals, which would shatter not only his own single-season record for the Falcons of 90 last season, but also the MAC record, set at 103 by Ball State's Bonzi Wells in 1997-98. For those looking to follow Campbell's projections, Falcon Sports Media Network's Tyler Kavalecz is doing a game-by-game update on his Twitter/X page (@TKavaleczSports).
Towns Turning It On
Now in his fourth season with the Falcons, Sam Towns is putting up career numbers already. Through just 14 games, Towns has set single-season career-highs in points (191), assists (23) and steals (16). He's also set new career-high marks in all made shot categories with 67 field goals, 15 three-pointers and 42 free throws. Towns is also now closing in on rebounds, currently with 96 with a career-high of 120 in 2022-23. As for single-game highs, Towns has set new marks in points, rebounds, assists, steals, minutes and each category for made and attempted shots from the field, three and the line.
The 70-Point Threshold
The 70-point mark has been a key milestone in games for the Falcons from a defensive standpoint. This year, Bowling Green has a 10-0 record when holding their opponents under 70 points, including a record of 31-6 during the Simon Era. However, the Falcons are 0-4 this year when allowing teams past the 70-point mark, more specifically 0-4 when allowing teams to score 80 or more in a game.
Off The Bench
Against Miami (OH), Josiah Shackelford and Mayar Wol combined for all of BGSU's 24 bench points. For the season, the Falcons are averaging 33.1 bench points per game, which ranks second in the MAC behind only Miami (OH), averaging 35.4 bench points per game.
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' and 'BGSU Men's Hoops'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
Opening Tip
Bowling Green and UMass will be meeting for the first time in program history with this being the Minutemen's first season in the MAC for men's basketball. The Falcons head into the game with a 4-1 record on the road this year while UMass is 6-2 when playing at home. BGSU and UMass combine for four of the MAC's top 10 rebounders, including BGSU's Sam Towns ranking seventh, averaging 6.9 rebounds per game. As a team, the Falcons are currently leading the nation in steals per game (12.9) and are second in turnovers forced per game (19.1).
A Bowling Green Win Would…
- Mark the first win over UMass all-time, giving the Falcons wins over 274 unique opponents in program history.
- Push Bowling Green to a 2-0 road record in the MAC for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
- Give BGSU at least two wins through the team's first three MAC games for the third time in the last four seasons.
- Grant the Falcons a 5-1 standing for the season when playing on the road.
Defense Setting The Tone
So far this season, the Falcons have proven to be one of the best teams in the nation at creating chaos. Bowling Green is averaging a nation-leading 12.9 steals per game. On top of that, BGSU is forcing 19.1 turnovers per game, which is second in the country behind only Tarleton State, averaging 19.5. The Falcons have rolled the defensive pressure into the shooting game as well. BGSU is holding opponents to 66.4 points per game while shooting just 41.2-percent, both marks leading the MAC.
Scouting The Minutemen
In their first season in the Mid-American Conference for men's basketball, UMass has struggled at the start. They lost their MAC opener at home against Kent State, 69-59, on Dec. 20 and then added a road loss to Eastern Michigan on Dec. 30, 80-74. Prior to the loss to Kent State, UMass had tallied five straight wins, including victories over Oregon State (73-65), Boston College on ESPNU (76-74) and Florida State on the road on the ACC Network (103-95). As for scoring, UMass is led by UMBC transfer Marcus Banks Jr., averaging 16.2 points per game, ranking seventh in the conference.
BGSU vs. UMass, All-Time
With this being the first season in the MAC for men's basketball for UMass, the Falcons and Minutemen have not met previously. Saturday's game will be the first between the teams, giving BGSU 335 different teams faced over the history of the program with wins against 273. UMass will be the eighth new opponent this year, joining Texas State, Bethany College, Le Moyne, Bucknell, VMI, Kansas State and Utah Valley.
Campbell Leads Nation
Javontae Campbell added three more steals for the Falcons against Miami (OH), bringing his total to 51. Through 14 games, Campbell is averaging a nation-leading 3.6 steals per game while his 51 total are first as well. Campbell is currently on pace for 112 steals, which would shatter not only his own single-season record for the Falcons of 90 last season, but also the MAC record, set at 103 by Ball State's Bonzi Wells in 1997-98. For those looking to follow Campbell's projections, Falcon Sports Media Network's Tyler Kavalecz is doing a game-by-game update on his Twitter/X page (@TKavaleczSports).
Towns Turning It On
Now in his fourth season with the Falcons, Sam Towns is putting up career numbers already. Through just 14 games, Towns has set single-season career-highs in points (191), assists (23) and steals (16). He's also set new career-high marks in all made shot categories with 67 field goals, 15 three-pointers and 42 free throws. Towns is also now closing in on rebounds, currently with 96 with a career-high of 120 in 2022-23. As for single-game highs, Towns has set new marks in points, rebounds, assists, steals, minutes and each category for made and attempted shots from the field, three and the line.
The 70-Point Threshold
The 70-point mark has been a key milestone in games for the Falcons from a defensive standpoint. This year, Bowling Green has a 10-0 record when holding their opponents under 70 points, including a record of 31-6 during the Simon Era. However, the Falcons are 0-4 this year when allowing teams past the 70-point mark, more specifically 0-4 when allowing teams to score 80 or more in a game.
Off The Bench
Against Miami (OH), Josiah Shackelford and Mayar Wol combined for all of BGSU's 24 bench points. For the season, the Falcons are averaging 33.1 bench points per game, which ranks second in the MAC behind only Miami (OH), averaging 35.4 bench points per game.
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' and 'BGSU Men's Hoops'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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