Nobody in the Mid-American Conference has done a better job in the month of February of romancing the win column than Bowling Green.
The Falcons hold a 20-6 record since 1999 during February. In 2000, BG won its first Mid-American Conference championship under Dan Dakich at Marshall on Feb. 28 after going 7-2 during the month.
With a 15-4, 5-3 record, the Falcons will need another February charge to make a run at a MAC championship. BG’s first step is through East Division rival Miami Saturday with a 1 p.m. Anderson Arena tipoff.
“This is a big game for us,” BG forward Corey Eyink said. “Coach (Dakich) stressed that every time we win, someone else is losing. Miami is an athletic team who likes to penetrate the middle. We have to keep them contain.”
Miami is also trying to make a push at a Division title. They took a big step last Saturday with a home win over Western Division leader Ball State 80-77. The Falcons and RedHawks find themselves tied for the third spot of the East Division boasting identical conference records. Kent State is still at the top of the conference at 8-1, followed by Ohio at 6-3.
“I think we can make a move, but it will be tough,” Miami coach Charlie Coles said. “I’ve been around this league as long as anybody and I can say that there have never been four better teams at the top of the conference (Ball State, Bowling Green, Kent Sate and Ohio). Sorry everyone else if I’ve made you mad, but those are the four.”
The RedHawks have not faired well on the road, winning only twice in 10 attempts, one of which was on a neutral floor (Boston College in Hawaii). Miami center Alex Shorts leads the team, averaging 13.7 ppg.
NOTES BG senior Keith McLeod earned his first double-double of his career against Western Michigan Wednesday with 30 points and 10 rebounds. McLeod is still leading the league in scoring averaging 23.8 ppg. McLeod and senior center Len Matela (15.6 ppg.) are the MAC’s top scoring tadem. The Falcons easily manhandled Miami in their last meeting at Anderson Arena. McLeod and Matela combined for 41 points and 16 rebounds in the 67-51 win. Brandon Pardon had a team high seven assists. Last year during Dakich’s ‘backward coat’ campaign, Coles came out of the locker room emulating the BG coach. Coles said later if the trick worked for Dakich, then he might as well try it too. McLeod’s national hype continues. Last week after the Kent State contest, a reporter from Sports Illustrated interviewed the Canton native. McLeod is also making his way up the list as BG’s career leading scorer. He is now sixth all-time with 1,593 points. Former Falcon Anthony Stacey is BG’s leading career scorer with 1,938 points. McLeod will need 345 points over the next 11 games to break Stacey’s mark.
