Bowling Green men’s basketball faces off with the Ball State Cardinals in the final regular season game of their 2023-24 season, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.  

This will not be the final game of BG’s season, as they have qualified for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament with their 73-65 victory against Western Michigan.  

The Orange and Brown look to sweep the season series with Ball State, looking for their second victory against the Cardinals after their 81-72 win on Jan 30. 

A Bowling Green victory would guarantee the sixth seed in the MAC tournament.  

In addition, this Friday will be senior night at the Stroh Center, where Bowling Green will honor its senior players, Jason Spurgin, Da’Shawn Phillip, Rashaun Agee, DaJion Humphrey, Sam Towns, and Trey Thomas.

Matchup History 

This Friday will mark the 96th matchup between BG and Ball State. Bowling Green holds the series lead with a 54-41 record and a 34-14 record at home.  

Bowling Green defeated Ball State 81-72 earlier this season on Jan 30. 

In their last 5 matchups, Ball State has a record of 4-1 against Bowling Green. 

Scouting Ball State 

Heading into their last game of the 2023-24 regular season, Ball State has a record of 15-15 and a 7-10 record in the MAC. 

Ball State enters the Stroh Center coming off a 76-69 victory against Kent State.  

In their last 5 matchups, the Cardinals have a record of 3-2. 

Offensively, Ball State averages 73.7 points per game while shooting 44.6% from the field, making them one of the top five shooting teams in the MAC.  

Additionally, the Cardinals shot 36.5% from the three-point line, making them the second-best three-point shooting team in the MAC, just behind the Toledo Rockets.  

Defensively, Ball State allows 70.7 points per game and an opponent shooting percentage of 44.5%. The Cardinals allow a three-point shooting percentage of 34.0%. 

Ball State shoots 76.8% from the free throw line, the best free throw shooting in the MAC. 

The Cardinals average 35 rebounds per game. 

Scouting Bowling Green 

Bowling Green returns to the Stroh Center fresh off a victory against Western Michigan and securing a spot in the MAC tournament for the first time since the 2020-21 season. 

Heading into their final game of the regular season, Bowling Green has a record of 18-12 and a 9-8 record in the MAC. 

In their last five games, the Orange and Brown have a record of 2-3. 

Offensively, Bowling Green averages 74.0 points per game and shooting 43.2% from the field- the ninth-best shooting in the MAC. 

BG shoots 29.5% from the three-point line, the second-worst three-point shooting in the MAC. 

Defensively, BG allows 71.3 points per game and an opponent shooting percentage of 44.3%.  

Bowling Green allows an opponent three-point shooting percentage of 35.9% per game, the third-highest opponent three-point shooting in the MAC. 

Like all season, Bowling Green still leads the MAC in rebounding, grabbing 38.1 rebounds per game. 

Falcon Four players to watch 

Rashaun Agee (Bowling Green #12) 

Agee is currently headed into the MAC tournament playing the best basketball in his Falcon career. 

This season, Agee averages 13.5 ppg and 9.9 rpg. 

Agee has recorded a double-double for the sixth straight game. 

Jason Spurgin (Bowling Green #7) 

Spurgin is coming off one of his best games this season, scoring 16 points on 7/12 shooting against Western Michigan. 

The senior center averages 10.3 ppg and 5.7 rebounds this season. 

Spurgin just needs 19 points to hit the 1,000-point scoring mark in his college career. 

Basheer Jihad (Ball State #11) 

Basheer Jihad has been the number-one scoring option for the Cardinals this season. 

Jihad averages 18.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg, a major jump compared to his previous 7.7 ppg last season. 

Jalin Anderson (Ball State #1) 

Jalin Anderson has been extremely consistent for Ball State this season, averaging 15.6 ppg. 

Anderson has scored 20 points in back-to-back contests heading into the matchup with Bowling Green.