The Bowling Green men’s basketball team travels 30 minutes north on I-75 to battle the archrival Toledo Rockets for the first time in the Todd Simon era on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Lucas Kleimeyer and Artie Abrego will have the call of the Battle of I-75 from Savage Arena on Falcon Radio starting at 1:40 for pregame and 2 p.m. for tip-off.
With a win, Bowling Green would earn their 15th win, the most in a season since they won 21 contests in the 2019-2020 campaign.
Matchup History
The contest on Saturday will mark the 181st meeting between the two teams, the longest rivalry in BGSU program history.
The first matchup in the series took place on Jan. 27, 1915, which saw Toledo defeat the Falcons 16-14. Overall, UT leads the rivalry 97-83.
Toledo has won the past four battles against the Falcons, with Bowling Green’s last win in the rivalry dating back to Feb. 13, 2021. That win also marks BG’s last win at Savage Arena, with the Rockets taking the past two contests on their home court.
Scouting Toledo
Toledo enters the matchup as one of the best teams in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Rockets sit in second place in the conference with an overall record of 12-7 and a conference record of 6-1.
In conference play, the Rockets have defeated Ohio (9-10, 3-4 MAC), Miami (OH) (9-10, 3-4 MAC), Kent State (10-9, 3-4 MAC), Ball State (10-9, 2-5 MAC), Buffalo (2-16, 2-5 MAC) and Northern Illinois (6-12, 0-6 MAC). UT’s only MAC loss came against Central Michigan (10-9, 5-2 MAC), who they fell to by three points in Mount Pleasant.
The Rockets have been one of the best offensive teams in the MAC this season.
Toledo leads the conference with 78.7 points scored per game. They also shoot 76.2% on free throws, 46.8% from the field and 36.7% on three-pointers, ranking first, second and fourth in the MAC, respectively.
The high-powered UT offense has scored at least 80 points in nine of their 19 games this season.
On top of that, Toledo has also been one of the best ball security teams in the MAC. The Rockets turn the ball over just 10.9 times per game, the second-fewest in the conference.
However, Toledo’s defense has not been nearly as dominant as their offense this season.
While Toledo allows an opponent three-point percentage of 34.2%, the Rockets allow 76.3 opponent points per game and a 48.5% opponent field goal percentage, ranking 10th and 12th in the MAC, respectively.
While their overall defensive numbers may not jump off the stat sheet, Toledo forces 13.3 turnovers per game, the third most in the MAC. The Rockets also tally 7.3 steals per contest, the most in the conference.
Rebounding has also not been a strength for UT this season.
The Rockets grab just 33.4 rebounds per game, second-fewest in the MAC, while allowing 33.7 opponent rebounds per game, third most in the MAC.
Toledo has been the worst defensive rebounding team in the conference this season, grabbing just 23 defensive boards per contest.
Scouting Bowling Green
Bowling Green enters the contest in third place in the MAC standings, holding an overall record of 14-5 and a conference record of 5-2.
Before falling to Kent State in overtime on Tuesday night, the Falcons had won four straight games and 12 of their last 13 contests.
Statistically, BG’s offense does not jump off the page. While the Falcons rank fifth in the MAC with 76.8 points per game, BG shoots just 44.3% from the field and 31.4% on three-pointers, ranking 9th and 10th in the conference, respectively.
However, BGSU has been one of the best defensive units in the MAC this season.
The Falcons hold teams to 70.8 points per game and a 43.2% field goal percentage, ranking third in the conference in both categories.
BG’s most glaring weakness on defense is defending the arc. The Falcons allow opponents to shoot 35.1% on three-pointers, the second-worst mark in the MAC.
However, Bowling Green has been one of the best rebounding teams in the MAC.
The Orange and Brown lead the conference with 39.1 rebounds and 27.9 defensive rebounds per game. The Falcons also outrebound opponents by 3.5 boards per game, ranking second in the MAC.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Rashaun Agee (Bowling Green #12)
The senior forward has been dominant this season.
Agee has scored double-digit points in 11 straight games. During that stretch, Agee has recorded eight double-doubles, putting him into a tie for the 22nd most in the country.
Agee has tallied a double-double in three consecutive games. A double-double against Toledo would make him the first Falcon to record four straight double-doubles since Demajeo Wiggins accomplished the feat during the 2018-2019 season.
The Chicago, Illinois, native leads the MAC with a 60.4% field goal percentage and is tied for the 18th most offensive rebounds in the country with 67.
Marcus Hill (Bowling Green #0)
The junior guard continues to be the heartbeat of Bowling Green’s offense.
Hill has scored 393 points this season, the most in the MAC. He is on pace to break into the program’s top-10 list for most points scored in a season.
The Rockford, Illinois, native has scored double-digit points 17 times, at least 20 points 10 times and at least 30 points two times through 19 games this season.
The reigning MAC Co-Player of the Week has scored at least 20 points in four straight games, averaging 23 points during the recent stretch.
The junior guard has been a force for Toledo this season, leading the team and ranking seventh in MAC with 16.5 points per game. Moss has scored double-digit points in all but one game this season.
The Springfield, Ohio, native has been on fire during conference play, averaging 18 points per game against MAC opponents.
Moss also leads the Midnight Blue and Gold with 2.7 assists while ranking second on the team with 5.6 rebounds per game.
Along with Moss, the junior guard makes up Toledo’s high-powered backcourt duo.
The Chicago Heights, Illinois, native ranks third in the MAC with 43 three-pointers and 10th in the conference with 15.4 points per game.
Maddox has been a very efficient player this season, shooting 41.3% from the field, 39.8% on three-pointers and 82.3% on free throws.
Although he scored just seven points on 1-7 shooting from the field in UT’s last game against Northern Illinois, Maddox scored 21 points in each of the previous three games.
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