BGSU men’s basketball is set to host Eastern Michigan at the Stroh Center on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 2 p.m.
The game will serve as this season’s Bill Frack Game and Alumni Day.
A win would mark the second time BGSU has recorded back-to-back victories this season.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Artie Abrego and Andrew Smith will have the call on Falcon Radio beginning at 1:45 p.m. for pregame.
Matchup History
Saturday will mark the 102nd meeting between Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan, dating back to 1916. The Falcons lead the all-time series 57-44, including a 35-15 mark when hosting the Eagles.
However, EMU won the last contest between the two teams, snapping a series-best nine-game winning streak for BGSU.
But the Orange and Brown have won the past five games against Eastern Michigan at the Stroh Center.
Scouting Bowling Green
BGSU comes into the contest with a 7-9 overall and 2-2 Mid-American Conference (MAC) record. The Falcons have had success at home, holding a 5-3 record at the Stroh Center this season.
The Falcons are coming off a 79-61 home victory over Buffalo on Tuesday.
Bowling Green’s offense has been solid this season. The Falcons score 77.5 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the MAC.
They also rank fifth in the conference with 45.1% shooting from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc. On top of that, BG shoots a very efficient 75.2% on free throws, the second-best mark in the MAC.
BGSU’s defense has also been solid. The Orange and Brown hold opponents to just 30.1% shooting from deep, which is the best mark in the MAC.
Scouting Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan enters the game with a 7-9 overall and 1-3 conference record this season.
The Eagles have lost three straight games, falling to Toledo, Akron and Central Michigan.
EMU’s offense is not the highest powered, as they rank sixth in the MAC with 32.9% shooting from beyond the arc, seventh with 44.9% shooting from the floor and ninth with 72.1 points per game.
However, defense has been a major weakness for the Eagles.
Eastern Michigan allows opponents to shoot 47.7% from the field, the worst mark in the MAC. They also allow the opposition to score 78.6 points per game and 38.1% from deep, the second-worst marks in the conference.
EMU has also been one of the worst rebounding teams in the MAC, ranking last in the conference with just 32.1 boards per game.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Trey Thomas (Bowling Green #1)
On Tuesday, the senior guard reached 1,000 career collegiate points in BG’s win over Buffalo.
Thomas dominated against the Bulls, scoring a season-high 22 points on 8-18 shooting from the field and 3-8 from deep.
After a slow start to the season in non-conference play, Thomas has averaged 18.3 points per game, shooting 47.3% from the floor and 50% on three-pointers in MAC play. He has two 20-point performances and has drained 13 three-pointers over the past four games.
Jamai Felt (Bowling Green #11)
Felt is one of the best stories in the MAC. After missing the past two seasons due to back-to-back major knee injuries, the redshirt freshman is starting to excel for the Orange and Brown.
Over the past five games, Felt has averaged 20.8 minutes, 8.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 70% (14-20) from the field and grabbing 19 offensive rebounds.
Felt currently ranks second in the MAC with 21 blocks and fourth with 39 offensive rebounds this season.
Da’Sean Nelson (Eastern Michigan #2)
Nelson is the leading scorer for Eastern Michigan, ranking eighth in the MAC with 15.9 points per game.
The senior forward also ranks seventh in the conference with 81.2% shooting on free throws and eighth with 51.9% shooting from the field. The 6-foot-8-inch forward also leads the Eagles with 5.5 rebounds per game.
The Toledo, Ohio, has scored at least 20 points five times this season, including a season-high 32 against Northern Illinois on Jan. 4.
Jalen Terry (Eastern Michigan #3)
Terry is the other half of the scoring duo for EMU, ranking ninth with the MAC with 15.3 points per game.
He has also scored at least 20 points five times this season. However, he is averaging just 12.4 points per game over the past five games, including two performances under 10 points.
The Flint, Michigan, native also leads the MAC with 36.8 minutes per game, ranking fifth in the conference with 43 three-pointers and seventh with 22 steals this season.
