The Bowling Green men’s basketball team, currently flying high with a season-best six-game winning streak, is set to close the month of December and the non-conference portion of their schedule against Siena Heights at the Stroh Center on Friday, Dec. 22, with tip-off slated for 2 p.m.  

With a win, the Falcons would finish the month of December undefeated (5-0) and hold their best record at Christmas since 2004.  

Matchup History  

Friday afternoon will mark the first matchup between these two teams.  

Scouting Siena Heights  

Siena Heights enters the contest on Friday with a 5-5 overall and 2-4 conference record this season.  

In their last outing, the Saints ended a three-game losing streak, defeating East-West University by 13 points, 71-58. SHU had previously lost to Great Lakes Christian, 75-73, Madonna, 81-57, and Indiana Tech, 79-34.  

Against East-West, Siena Heights shot 42.6% (23-54) from the field and 35.7% (5-14) on three-pointers. They held East-West to just 33.3% (23-69) shooting from the field and 25.9% (7-27) from beyond the arc.  

During SHU’s three-game losing streak before defeating East-West, the Saints averaged a measly 54.7 points per game on 35.9% shooting from the field and 21.2% from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, SHU’s opponents averaged 78.3 points per game, shooting 45.8% from the field and 30.4% on three-pointers.  

Through 10 games, the Saints are one of the worst statistical offenses in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC).  

Siena Heights ranks second to last in the conference in points per game (62.3), field goal percentage (41.2%), three-point percentage (28.1%) and turnovers per game (15.1). The Saints also rank last in the WHAC with a 62.9% free throw percentage.  

However, unlike their offense, SHU’s defense had been one of the best in the WHAC this season.  

The Saints hold opponents to 62.3 points per game, 41.2% shooting from the field and 28.1% from beyond the arc, ranking second-best in the conference in all three statistical categories.  

SHU ranks middle of the pack in the WHAC in rebounding, outrebounding their opponents by 2.8 boards per game. The Saints average 36.8 boards per game, grabbing 9.7 offensive and 27.1 defensive rebounds per contest.  

Scouting Bowling Green  

The Falcons enter the contest on Friday afternoon with a 9-3 record this season. BG will enter the matchup tied with Ball State for first place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). 

The Orange and Brown have won a season-best six games in a row, the longest active winning streak in the MAC.  

BGSU has defeated Lipscomb, Canisius, Southern Indiana, Ohio Dominican, Kansas City and Hampton during their winning streak.  

The Falcons have one of the best defenses in the MAC.  

Through 11 games, the Falcons have allowed the lowest opponent field goal percentage (40.1%), the second-fewest opponent points per game (65.7) and the third-lowest opponent three-point percentage (31.6%) in the MAC.  

Their dominant defense was on display in the second half against Hampton, as BG held the Pirates to just 34.2% shooting from the field and 11.1% on three-pointers in the final 20 minutes of the contest.  

BGSU’s rebounding also ranks at the top of the conference.  

This season, the Falcons lead the MAC with 39.5 rebounds and 29.3 defensive rebounds per game. BG is a full rebound per game ahead of second-place Northern Illinois in both statistical categories.  

However, BG’s offense has not been as dominant as their defense or rebounding.  

This season, the Falcons are seventh in the MAC with 73.5 points scored per game, ninth with a 44% field goal percentage, second to last with a 30.1% three-point percentage and eighth with 67.8% free throw percentage.    

Nevertheless, BG is coming off their best second-half shooting performance this season, as the Falcons shot 62.1% from the field in the final 20 minutes of the victory against the Pirates. 

Falcon Four Players to Watch  

Rashaun Agee (Bowling Green #12)  

The senior forward has been dominant in the past three games.  

Agee has recorded three consecutive double-doubles. In BGSU’s most recent win against Hampton, the Chicago, Illinois, native scored a career-high 21 points and secured a team-high and career-high 12 rebounds for the second game in a row.  

Agee ranks third in the MAC with 34 offensive rebounds, fourth with eight rebounds per game and fifth with a 61.3% field goal percentage.    

Trey Thomas (Bowling Green #1)  

The senior guard is coming off his best performance of the season.  

Thomas, who started the season injured, finished with a career-high 25 points against Hampton, leading BG in scoring for the first time this season.  

Thomas also drained a career-high six of BGSU’s seven three-pointers against the Pirates, becoming the first Falcon to make at least six three-pointers in a game this season.  

Jonas Tester (Siena Heights #4)  

The sophomore guard is the only Saint who has started every game this season.  

Tester led Siena Heights in scoring against East-West, finishing with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.  

This season, Tester averages 8.3 points per game on 33.3% shooting from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc. The Wauseon, Ohio, native also adds 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a team-leading 1.6 steals per contest.  

Brent Wiles (Siena Heights #3)  

The junior forward is the marksman of this SHU team.  

Wiles ranks fifth in the WHAC with a 57.9% field goal percentage. He also leads the Saints with a 33.3% three-point percentage.  

The New Haven, Michigan, native averages 10.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.