With Christmas in the rear-view mirror and the new year on the horizon, the Bowling Green men’s basketball team, winners of seven-straight games, sit atop the Mid-American Conference (MAC) standings with an overall record of 9-3, their best at the holidays since 2004. 

Although the non-conference slate started slightly rocky for the Falcons, winning their first two games and losing the next three in a row, they have rattled off the longest winning streak in the MAC this season, defeating Lipscomb, Canisius, Southern Indiana, Ohio Dominican, Kansas City, Hampton and Siena Heights during their winning stretch.  

BGSU went undefeated in December for the second time in the past three seasons, with their five wins in the month marking the most in December since the Falcons won seven in the 2006-2007 season.  

Through 12 games, the Orange and Brown have been one of the best statistical defenses in the MAC. They are first in the conference in opponent points per game (65.1) and field goal percentage (40.5%) and third in opponent three-point percentage (32.2%).  

They are also one of the best rebounding teams in the conference. The Falcons lead the MAC with 38.8 rebounds and 28.8 defensive rebounds per game.  

Unlike their defense and rebounding, Bowling Green’s offense has been up and down throughout the first 12 games this season.  

BG ranks seventh in the MAC in points scored per game (74.0), ninth in field goal percentage (44.1%) and second to last in three-point percentage (30.8%).  

However, they have been more consistent recently, scoring at least 75 points in four straight games.  

This was demonstrated in BG’s most recent game, a 79-58 victory over Siena Heights.  

The Falcons scored 51 points in the second half, overcoming a halftime deficit for the second game in a row.   

All five of Bowling Green’s starters recorded double-digit points in the win over the Saints for the first time since March 14, 2019, in a win over Ball State.  

BG also finished the game with a season-high 11 three-pointers.  

Senior guard Trey Thomas has been leading the charge for the Falcons for the past two games.  

In BGSU’s 75-65 win over Hampton last Tuesday, Thomas led the Falcons with 25 points, shooting 7-17 from the field, 6-11 from beyond the arc and 5-6 from the free throw line. The seven field goals and six three-pointers made, along with 38 minutes played, led BG.  

Then, in BG’s win over Siena Heights on Friday, Thomas led the Falcons in scoring for the second straight game, shooting 7-11 from the field and 5-8 from beyond the arc. His seven field goals and five three-pointers once again led the team.  

After starting the season injured, Thomas is back to full strength and has found his place on this Bowling Green team. On top of that, BG may have found the three-point shooter they have been desperately searching for this season.  

Junior guard Marcus Hill, senior center Jason Spurgin, sophomore guard PJ Edwards and senior forward Rashaun Agee were the other starters who scored double-digit points against the Saints.  

Although he shot 6-16 from the field and 0-4 from beyond the arc, Hill scored 15 points in 37 minutes played against the Saints. Hill still ranks second in the MAC with 19.3 points scored per game.  

Spurgin scored 12 points against the Saints, marking his third consecutive game scoring double-digit points and the sixth time in the past seven games he has scored at least 10 points.  

Edwards tallied a career-high 12 points against Siena Heights, shooting 5-8 from the field in 26 minutes.  

Agee scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds, falling one board shy of his fourth straight double-double.  

The Falcons have been a very versatile team this season.   

They have had six different starting lineups, five different leading scorers and seven players who have played at least 32 minutes in a game throughout their first 12 games this season.   

BG has also dealt with five players missing multiple games due to injury.  

However, head coach Todd Simon and this team have responded to everything thrown at them this season.  

They have passed nearly every test. And when they haven’t passed a test, they have responded by playing even better in the next game.  

Although not every win may be pretty, this team keeps finding a way to win games, which is the name of the game.  

Next up for the Falcons is the end of their five-game homestand and the start of conference play, as they will host Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 2.