BGSU men’s basketball seeks to end their four-game skid and keep their hopes for a Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament appearance alive in an important matchup against Central Michigan in Mount Pleasant on Saturday.
Tip-off between the Falcons and Chippewas is set for 7 p.m.
Matchup History
Saturday marks the 90th meeting between the teams, with BGSU leading the all-time series 46-43.
However, CMU holds a 25-19 advantage over the Falcons when playing in Mount Pleasant. Central Michigan has won three of the last four and four of the last five games against BG.
The Chippewas also won two of the three matchups against the Falcons last season, winning an overtime and double overtime game. However, BGSU got the last laugh, defeating Central Michigan in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
Scouting Bowling Green
BGSU enters the contest with a 7-13 overall and 2-6 MAC record.
The Falcons sit in 10th place in the conference, on the outside looking in for the MAC Tournament.
Bowling Green’s offense has been sputtering as of late. The Falcons have not scored 80 points in the past six games, averaging just 66.5 points per game over their four-game losing streak.
This season, BG ranks sixth in the MAC with 75.3 points per game and 34.1% shooting on 3-pointers. They also rank eighth in the conference with 44.0% shooting from the field.
The Falcons are a very good free throw shooting team, nailing 75.8% of their chances from the charity stripe.
BG struggles down low, ranking ninth in the MAC with 34.0 rebounds per game.
For the most part, Bowling Green’s defense has struggled lately.
The Falcons allow opponents to score 75.6 points per game and shoot 45.4% from the field, ranking seventh in the MAC.
However, they have been good guarding the perimeter, holding the opposition to 32.6% shooting on 3-pointers, the fourth-best mark in the conference.
BG also averages 7.9 steals per game, the third-most in the MAC.
Scouting Central Michigan
Central Michigan enters the game with a 9-11 overall and 3-5 conference record, holding the final spot for the MAC Tournament.
The Chippewas are coming off a loss, falling 75-69 to Buffalo on Tuesday.
CMU’s offense has been average this season. They rank seventh in the MAC with 45.4% shooting from the field, eighth with 73.4 points per game and ninth with 31.1% shooting on 3-pointers.
One of their biggest strengths is rebounding. They outrebound opponents by 4.4 boards per game and grab 37.3 rebounds per game, ranking second and third in the conference, respectively.
However, they do struggle with ball control, committing 13.1 turnovers per game, the third-most in the MAC.
Central Michigan’s defense has been suffocating this season.
They hold opponents to 70.0 points per game and 31.4% shooting from beyond the arc, ranking second in the MAC. They also hold the opposition to 42.3% shooting from the field, ranking third in the conference.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Jamai Felt (Bowling Green #11)
Felt has hit his stride in conference play. In eight MAC games, Felt is averaging 7.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.1 offensive rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 67.7% from the field.
The Boston, Massachusetts, native ranks second in the MAC with 30 blocks, fifth with 49 offensive rebounds and seventh with 6.2 rebounds per game.
The redshirt freshman forward has recorded two double-doubles this season.
Marcus Johnson (Bowling Green #6)
The senior forward has been the main scoring output for Bowling Green this season.
Johnson leads the MAC with 17.3 points per game. He also ranks fourth with 50 3-pointers and ninth with 40% shooting from deep.
The Akron, Ohio, native has scored 20-plus points in back-to-back games and made at least three 3-pointers in five straight contests.
Jakobi Heady (Central Michigan #0)
Heady leads Central Michigan with 13.9 points per game.
He also ranks third in the MAC with 35.9 minutes per game and fourth with 7.0 rebounds per contest.
The senior guard/forward has scored double-digit points in eight of his last nine games.
Anthony Pritchard (Central Michigan #30)
Pritchard is one of four Chippewas averaging double-digit points, scoring 13.0 per game.
He ranks second in the MAC with 47 steals, third with 4.5 assists per game and sixth with 33.1 minutes per contest.
The Tulsa, Oklahoma, native was the MAC Defensive Player of the Year last season and the consensus preseason MAC Player of the Year this season.
