Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, February 7
State University, Ark.
3 p.m. EST
Bowling Green State University
at
Arkansas State
Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics
Falcons Put Pause On MACtion For Weekend Trip To Arkansas State For MAC-Sun Belt Challenge
February 05, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Bowling Green, Arkansas State Set For 3 p.m EST Tip
JONESBORO, Ark. - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will begin a two-game road swing this weekend with the second leg of this season's MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. The Falcons will travel to face the Arkansas State Red Wolves for a 3 p.m. EST tip on Saturday (Feb. 7). The Falcons head into the game with a 14-9 record on the season while being 5-6 in the MAC. As for Arkansas State, they are 13-10 this year with a 5-6 Sun Belt standing. The game between the Falcons and Red Wolves will be available to stream on ESPN+ with a radio feed from Todd Walker available on WFRO Eagle 99.Â
Opening Tip
Bowling Green and Arkansas State will be meeting for the sixth time in program history with BGSU leading the series, 3-2. This will be the second time the two have faced off as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge with BGSU claiming the first meeting with an 81-75 final on Nov. 11, 2023. This will also be Bowling Green's second trip all-time to Arkansas State with the last trip being on Nov. 16, 2006 with a 64-54 final favoring ASU. The Falcons hold a record of 3-2 in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge, being 3-0 when playing at home, but 0-2 when on the road.Â
A Bowling Green Win Would…
Challenge Accepted
The MAC-Sun Belt Challenge is now in its third season and has had mixed results for the Falcons. Through five previous matchups, Bowling Green has a 3-2 record in the challenge, but results have mirrored location. The Falcons are 3-0 when hosting the challenge, but are seeking their first road win. Previous road games in the challenge include a 77-68 final against Southern Miss on Nov. 4, 2024 and an 86-60 final at Louisiana on Feb. 11, 2024.
Scouting The Red Wolves
Arkansas State heads into the weekend with a 14-10 record on the year while being 6-6 within the Sun Belt. The Red Wolves are coming off a 70-66 win over Coastal Carolina on Wednesday (Feb. 4), snapping a three-game losing streak. As for their first MAC-Sun Belt meeting this season, ASU topped Ohio in Athens with an 89-85 final. Arkansas State is led by a core four, paced by Matt Hayman's 12.0 points per game. He's followed by Christian Harmon (11.8), Joey Chammaa (10.3) and Chandler Jackson (10.0) with double-digit points.
BGSU vs. Arkansas State, All-Time
Bowling Green and Arkansas State will be meeting for the sixth time in program history and the second time in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. BGSU leads the all-time series with a 3-2 record. This will be Bowling Green's second trip to Jonesboro with Arkansas State claiming the first trip with a 64-54 final on Nov. 16, 2006. As for the last time the two met, the Falcons came away with an 81-75 victory on Nov. 11, 2023 behind 26 points from Marcus Hill and 22 points from DaJion Humphrey.
Defense Leads The Way
Bowling Green got back to their roots, holding Ball State to 39.2-percent shooting and 19.0-percent from three. The game marked the third time BGSU has held a MAC opponent under 40-percent shooting and the ninth time this season. In those nine games, BGSU holds a record of 9-0. Additionally, Bowling Green is 23-3 during the Simon Era when holding teams below 40-percent from the field. The Falcons also held Ball State to 52 points in the game, tied for the fewest points this season by a MAC team in a conference contest.Â
Falcons On The Fast Break
This season, the Falcons have been one of the best teams in the nation when in transition. For the season, BGSU is averaging 18.3 fast break points per game to lead the MAC and rank eighth in the nation. Georgia (22.6) leads the category, followed by High Point (19.5), Arkansas (19.4), Northern Kentucky (18.6), Saint Louis (18.5), Prairie View (18.4) and Cal St. Fullerton (18.4)
Shackelford Shines In Shake Up
In the game against Ball State, Bowling Green made a change to the starting lineup, including Josiah Shackelford moving back into the unit. Over the previous five games, Shackelford had averaged 12.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Getting the starting nod, he only continued his efforts, finishing with a team-high 21 points on top of six rebounds while playing a season-high 33 minutes for the Falcons.Â
Getting Goins Going
Coming off the bench against Ball State, Aiden Goins provided a strong first half spark for the Orange and Brown. Goins tallied 10 points in the first half, leading the team in scoring at half time, and finished with a season-high five rebounds. The game marked Goins' third double-digit scoring effort of the season while his 15 minutes played were his second-most as well. Last year at Walters State, Goins averaged 15.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.Â
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 Arkansas State will be meeting for the sixth time in program history with BGSU leading the series, 3-2. This will be the second time the two have faced off as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge with BGSU claiming the first meeting with an 81-75 final on Nov. 11, 2023. This will also be Bowling Green's second trip all-time to Arkansas State with the last trip being on Nov. 16, 2006 with a 64-54 final favoring ASU. The Falcons hold a record of 3-2 in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge, being 3-0 when playing at home, but 0-2 when on the road.Â
A Bowling Green Win Would…
- Grant Bowling Green their first road win in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
- Go down as BGSU's third-straight win over Arkansas State all-time and the first on the road.
- Move the Falcons to 2-0 to begin the month of February for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.
- Mark the 49th win in Coach Simon's tenure at BGSU, nearing the 50-win milestone.
- Give the Falcons 1,495 wins in program history, drawing close to the 1,500-win milestone.
Challenge Accepted
The MAC-Sun Belt Challenge is now in its third season and has had mixed results for the Falcons. Through five previous matchups, Bowling Green has a 3-2 record in the challenge, but results have mirrored location. The Falcons are 3-0 when hosting the challenge, but are seeking their first road win. Previous road games in the challenge include a 77-68 final against Southern Miss on Nov. 4, 2024 and an 86-60 final at Louisiana on Feb. 11, 2024.
Scouting The Red Wolves
Arkansas State heads into the weekend with a 14-10 record on the year while being 6-6 within the Sun Belt. The Red Wolves are coming off a 70-66 win over Coastal Carolina on Wednesday (Feb. 4), snapping a three-game losing streak. As for their first MAC-Sun Belt meeting this season, ASU topped Ohio in Athens with an 89-85 final. Arkansas State is led by a core four, paced by Matt Hayman's 12.0 points per game. He's followed by Christian Harmon (11.8), Joey Chammaa (10.3) and Chandler Jackson (10.0) with double-digit points.
BGSU vs. Arkansas State, All-Time
Bowling Green and Arkansas State will be meeting for the sixth time in program history and the second time in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge. BGSU leads the all-time series with a 3-2 record. This will be Bowling Green's second trip to Jonesboro with Arkansas State claiming the first trip with a 64-54 final on Nov. 16, 2006. As for the last time the two met, the Falcons came away with an 81-75 victory on Nov. 11, 2023 behind 26 points from Marcus Hill and 22 points from DaJion Humphrey.
Defense Leads The Way
Bowling Green got back to their roots, holding Ball State to 39.2-percent shooting and 19.0-percent from three. The game marked the third time BGSU has held a MAC opponent under 40-percent shooting and the ninth time this season. In those nine games, BGSU holds a record of 9-0. Additionally, Bowling Green is 23-3 during the Simon Era when holding teams below 40-percent from the field. The Falcons also held Ball State to 52 points in the game, tied for the fewest points this season by a MAC team in a conference contest.Â
Falcons On The Fast Break
This season, the Falcons have been one of the best teams in the nation when in transition. For the season, BGSU is averaging 18.3 fast break points per game to lead the MAC and rank eighth in the nation. Georgia (22.6) leads the category, followed by High Point (19.5), Arkansas (19.4), Northern Kentucky (18.6), Saint Louis (18.5), Prairie View (18.4) and Cal St. Fullerton (18.4)
Shackelford Shines In Shake Up
In the game against Ball State, Bowling Green made a change to the starting lineup, including Josiah Shackelford moving back into the unit. Over the previous five games, Shackelford had averaged 12.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Getting the starting nod, he only continued his efforts, finishing with a team-high 21 points on top of six rebounds while playing a season-high 33 minutes for the Falcons.Â
Getting Goins Going
Coming off the bench against Ball State, Aiden Goins provided a strong first half spark for the Orange and Brown. Goins tallied 10 points in the first half, leading the team in scoring at half time, and finished with a season-high five rebounds. The game marked Goins' third double-digit scoring effort of the season while his 15 minutes played were his second-most as well. Last year at Walters State, Goins averaged 15.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.Â
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
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballBG MBB : Postgame Interviews 2.3
Wednesday, February 04
BG MBB : Postgame Interviews 1.27
Wednesday, January 28
BG MBB : Postgame Interviews 1.24
Monday, January 26
BG MBB : Postgame Interviews 1.17
Sunday, January 18