The Bowling Green men’s basketball team heads back on the road, this time traveling to Dekalb, Illinois, to battle the Northern Illinois Huskies on Saturday, Jan. 13. Tip-off at the NIU Convocation Center is set for 4 p.m.  

With a win, BG would surpass last year’s win total and secure their best record through 16 games since the 2014-2015 season. A win against the Huskies would also mark BGSU’s first road Mid-American Conference (MAC) win this season.  

Matchup History  

The contest on Saturday will mark the 71st all-time meeting between the two teams. The Falcons lead the all-time series 39-31.  

However, Northern Illinois won the most recent meeting between the teams, defeating the Falcons in their only matchup last season, 86-78.  

Although the Huskies won the last battle, the Falcons have won six of the last seven meetings, including three straight victories against NIU in DeKalb.  

Scouting Northern Illinois  

Northern Illinois enters the contest in last place in the MAC, holding an overall record of 6-9 and a conference record of 0-3 this season.  

The Huskies have struggled recently, losing five straight and eight of their last nine.  

Although they are still seeking their first conference win, NIU has gotten closer in each of the past three games.  

The Huskies fell to Akron by 22 points in their first MAC game of the season before falling to Ohio by 12.   

In their most recent contest, Northern Illinois lost in overtime to Western Michigan by five points, 95-90. After leading the Broncos 48-33 at halftime, NIU was outscored in the second half and overtime by 20 points.  

Against WMU, the Huskies shot 58.1% (18-31) from the field and 53.3% (8-15) on three-pointers in the first half before shooting just 37.5% (12-32) from the field and 28.6% (4-14) from beyond the arc in the second half and overtime.  

Although their record may not show it, NIU has one of the better offenses in the MAC.  

They rank fourth in the conference with 77.7 points scored per game and a 46.2% team shooting percentage. Their 35.1% team three-point percentage ranks sixth in the MAC.  

However, they have struggled at the charity stripe this season, shooing just 66.2% on free throws, third worst in the conference.   

The Huskies have had their fair share of defensive struggles this season.  

Although they hold opponents to 44.3% shooting from the field, fourth best in the MAC, they allow opponents to shoot 35.5% on three-pointers and score 79.1 points per game, 10th and 11th in the MAC, respectively.  

They have struggled in the turnover department through the first 15 games this season, giving the ball away 13.1 times per game while forcing just 11.2 turnovers per contest.  

However, they have fared better rebounding the ball.  

They grab 26.7 defensive rebounds and 36.4 total rebounds per game, second and fifth-best in the MAC, respectively.   

However, they average just 9.7 offensive rebounds per game, the third lowest in the MAC. They also get outrebounded by almost two boards per game, allowing 38.2 opponent rebounds per contest, by far the most in the conference.  

Scouting Bowling Green  

Bowling Green enters the contest in fourth place in the MAC, holding an 11-4 overall and 2-1 conference record.   

The Falcons have won 9 of their last 10 contests. The only loss during their recent stretch was against Akron, who is in first place in the MAC.  

Most recently, the Orange and Brown defeated Ohio in a classic MAC shootout, 83-78. All five BG starters scored double-digit points for just the second time this season.  

Bowling Green also made a season-high 12 three-pointers and dished out a season-high 20 assists.  

BG comes into the contest as one of the best defenses in the conference.  

The Falcons hold opponents to just 42.4% shooting from the field, the best in the MAC. They also hold opponents to 68.8 points per game and a 33.4% three-point percentage, second and fifth-best in the conference, respectively.  

While BG started the season slow offensively, they have improved on that side of the ball recently, averaging 81.7 points scored over the last seven contests.  

However, their overall numbers are still average, if not below average.  

They rank sixth in the MAC with 75.3 points scored per game, 10th with a 44.6% team field goal percentage and 11th with a 31.7% team three-point percentage. Like Northern Illinois, the Falcons have also struggled at the charity stripe this season, shooting just 66.5% on free throws, fourth worst in the MAC.  

Rebounding has been one of Bowling Green’s biggest strengths this season.  

The Falcons lead the MAC with 38.1 total and 27.9 defensive rebounds per game.  

Falcon Four Players to Watch  

Trey Thomas (Bowling Green #1)  

After starting the season injured and missing six of the first seven games, the senior guard is hitting his stride with the Falcons.  

Thomas has scored double-digit points in five straight games and six of the last seven contests.   

Over the past five games, Thomas has averaged 17.4 points, shooting 47% (31-66) from the field and 42.9% (18-42) on three-pointers.  

Thomas, who head coach Todd Simon has called the “floor general” of this Bowling Green team, has also dished out 18 assists while committing just two turnovers over the past five contests.  

Rashaun Agee (Bowling Green #12)  

The senior forward has been playing the best basketball of his career recently.  

Agee has scored double-digit points in seven straight games, recording five double-doubles during that span.  

The Chicago, Illinois, native leads the MAC with a 60.7% field goal percentage and ranks third in the conference with 8.6 rebounds per game.  

In BG’s most recent game against Ohio, Agee set career-highs with 15 rebounds, eight offensive rebounds and six assists. His 15 rebounds were the most by a Falcon since Daeqwon Plowden grabbed 18 boards against Miami during the 2020-2021 season.  

David Coit (Northern Illinois #11)  

The junior guard is the centerpiece of the Northern Illinois offense and has been one of the best players in the MAC this season.  

Coit leads the MAC with 46 three-pointers and an 88.7% free throw percentage. He also ranks second in the conference with 34.7 minutes per game, fourth with 19.0 points per game and fifth with 57 assists.  

The Columbus, New Jersey, native is coming off one of his best performances of the season in the overtime loss to Western Michigan. Coit played all 45 minutes against WMU, recording his first career double-double, scoring 32 points and dishing out a career-high 10 assists.  

Xavier Amos (Northern Illinois #13)  

Along with Coit, the sophomore forward is the only other Husky that has started every game this season.  

Amos ranks seventh in the MAC with 17 blocked shots and a 43.9% three-point percentage. He also ranks 10th in the conference with a 50% field goal percentage.  

The Chicago, Illinois, native averages 11.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Amos has drained four three-pointers in back-to-back contests.