Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Craig Bell, BGSU Marketing and Communications
15 Moments In 15 Years Of The Stroh Center: Hoops Hit The Hardwood
June 29, 2026 | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Stroh Center
This summer, join BGSU Athletics in a look back at the first 15 years inside the Stroh Center. We continue the trek through history with two milestone moments in the history of BGSU Basketball.
Previous Moments in the Series…
1 – Opening The Doors
2 – Volleyball Opens the Building With a B!G Win
Men's Basketball Dominates Defensively In First Stroh Center Meeting
The Falcons were welcomed to their new venue on Nov. 11, 2011 by the largest crowd in more than six years for a men's basketball game. In front of 3,476 fans, still the 14th largest crowd in BGSU men's basketball history, the Falcons took down Howard to open the season and extend the program's home opener winning streak to 20.
Holding Howard to 38.0-percent from the field in a 63-48 victory, the Falcons set the tone early by keeping the Bison scoreless for more than six minutes, and without a field goal for more than 10 minutes, as BGSU scored the first 13 points of the game. Howard worked to close the gap to a possession a few times, but the Falcons were able to maintain a double-digit lead for the majority of the second half.
Bowling Green forced the Bison into 19 turnovers, turning the extra possessions in 20 points with four players posting multiple steals. The defensive dominance aided in a 26-17 halftime lead for the Orange and Brown.
In the second half, the Falcons and Bison battled back-and-forth before a Scott Thomas jumper with 9:28 pushed the BGSU lead to 45-30. From that point on, Howard never came within single-digits of Bowling Green. Thomas ended with 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists. He was joined by Craig Sealey and Jordan Crawford, both with 13 points, as well as Dee Brown with 11 points to round out the double-digit scoring list.
The Falcons went on to win their first three home games, as well as six of their first seven in the Stroh Center. BGSU ended the season 16-16 overall and 9-7 in the MAC, but produced a 12-4 home record in the process, earning a bid in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
Women's Basketball Takes Nationally-Ranked Purdue Down To The Wire
Less than a week later, on Nov. 17, 2011, the women's basketball team took the floor at the new Stroh Center for the first time. For the Falcons, the home slate kicked off by welcoming a ranked opponent into the Stroh Center with #16/20 Purdue.
Purdue opened the game with a strong first half, taking a lead into the locker room. However, the Falcons responded in the second half, going on a 20-4 run to narrow the gap. The second half surge pushed the Orange and Brown in front by five with six-and-a-half minutes remaining. The Boilermakers answered with a 6-0 run for a 50-49 lead.
With 4:14 remaining in the game, sophomore Jill Stein sank a jumper to push Bowling Green in front. From there, the score held firm until the final minute of play. A Purdue layup broke the scoring drought with 51.1 second left, but junior Chrissy Steffen answered for BGSU with a pair of free throws with 27.2 remaining. With just 13.5 seconds left,a layup for the Boilermakers made the difference in the 54-53 score. The Falcons were able to get a look before the final buzzer, but just missed the mark with Purdue escaping on top.
Over the course of the game, the Falcons forced the nationally-ranked Boilermakers into 23 turnovers, including 14 steals, the team's highest total since the 2009-10 season opener. Alexis Rogers led the way for BGSU with 10 points and eight rebounds. Steffan followed with nine points while Danielle Havel added five points, four rebounds and a team-high four steals.
While the first game went the way of the visitors, the Falcons went on to post a 14-2 record at home during their first season in the Stroh Center, aiding in a 24-7 overall record, a 14-2 MAC standing and an appearance in the WNIT.
1 – Opening The Doors
2 – Volleyball Opens the Building With a B!G Win
Men's Basketball Dominates Defensively In First Stroh Center Meeting
The Falcons were welcomed to their new venue on Nov. 11, 2011 by the largest crowd in more than six years for a men's basketball game. In front of 3,476 fans, still the 14th largest crowd in BGSU men's basketball history, the Falcons took down Howard to open the season and extend the program's home opener winning streak to 20.
Holding Howard to 38.0-percent from the field in a 63-48 victory, the Falcons set the tone early by keeping the Bison scoreless for more than six minutes, and without a field goal for more than 10 minutes, as BGSU scored the first 13 points of the game. Howard worked to close the gap to a possession a few times, but the Falcons were able to maintain a double-digit lead for the majority of the second half.
Bowling Green forced the Bison into 19 turnovers, turning the extra possessions in 20 points with four players posting multiple steals. The defensive dominance aided in a 26-17 halftime lead for the Orange and Brown.
In the second half, the Falcons and Bison battled back-and-forth before a Scott Thomas jumper with 9:28 pushed the BGSU lead to 45-30. From that point on, Howard never came within single-digits of Bowling Green. Thomas ended with 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists. He was joined by Craig Sealey and Jordan Crawford, both with 13 points, as well as Dee Brown with 11 points to round out the double-digit scoring list.
The Falcons went on to win their first three home games, as well as six of their first seven in the Stroh Center. BGSU ended the season 16-16 overall and 9-7 in the MAC, but produced a 12-4 home record in the process, earning a bid in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
Women's Basketball Takes Nationally-Ranked Purdue Down To The Wire
Less than a week later, on Nov. 17, 2011, the women's basketball team took the floor at the new Stroh Center for the first time. For the Falcons, the home slate kicked off by welcoming a ranked opponent into the Stroh Center with #16/20 Purdue.
Purdue opened the game with a strong first half, taking a lead into the locker room. However, the Falcons responded in the second half, going on a 20-4 run to narrow the gap. The second half surge pushed the Orange and Brown in front by five with six-and-a-half minutes remaining. The Boilermakers answered with a 6-0 run for a 50-49 lead.
With 4:14 remaining in the game, sophomore Jill Stein sank a jumper to push Bowling Green in front. From there, the score held firm until the final minute of play. A Purdue layup broke the scoring drought with 51.1 second left, but junior Chrissy Steffen answered for BGSU with a pair of free throws with 27.2 remaining. With just 13.5 seconds left,a layup for the Boilermakers made the difference in the 54-53 score. The Falcons were able to get a look before the final buzzer, but just missed the mark with Purdue escaping on top.
Over the course of the game, the Falcons forced the nationally-ranked Boilermakers into 23 turnovers, including 14 steals, the team's highest total since the 2009-10 season opener. Alexis Rogers led the way for BGSU with 10 points and eight rebounds. Steffan followed with nine points while Danielle Havel added five points, four rebounds and a team-high four steals.
While the first game went the way of the visitors, the Falcons went on to post a 14-2 record at home during their first season in the Stroh Center, aiding in a 24-7 overall record, a 14-2 MAC standing and an appearance in the WNIT.
Sunday, June 28
Friday, June 26
Thursday, June 25
Wednesday, June 24