BGSU men’s basketball is back on the road, traveling to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to face Central Michigan on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The contest is Central Michigan’s annual Toilet Paper Toss game, a tradition that dates back over 40 years.
Matchup History
Saturday marks the 91st all-time meeting between the conference foes, with BGSU leading the series 46-44.
Central Michigan has won four of the past five contests against the Falcons, including a 90-71 victory in the last meeting on Feb. 1, 2025, in Mount Pleasant.
Scouting Bowling Green
BG sits in seventh place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) standings with a 13-8 overall and 4-5 conference record.
The Falcons have lost two straight games, falling 73-72 to Toledo and 89-78 to Buffalo.
Bowling Green’s offense has been solid this season, ranking third in the MAC with 49.5% shooting from the field and fourth with 85.9 points per game.
However, BGSU has struggled from deep at times, shooting 34.9% on 3-pointers, ranking seventh in the conference.
For most of the season, defense has been the strength of the Falcons.
BG holds opponents to 71.3 points per game, the second-best mark in the MAC.
However, Bowling Green has allowed nearly 80 points per game in conference play.
70 points is the magic number for the Falcons. When Bowling Green holds opponents under 70 points, they are a perfect 11-0 this season and 32-6 in the Todd Simon era.
BGSU still ranks second in the country with 10.9 steals per game, even though they have only totaled 10 steals in the past two games combined.
Scouting Central Michigan
The Chippewas are in last place in the MAC with a 6-15 overall and 2-7 conference record.
The team was ravaged by the transfer portal last year and does not have a single player from last season’s roster.
But Central Michigan is coming off a dominant 100-65 win over Eastern Michigan, which ended a three-game losing streak.
CMU is the worst 3-point shooting team in the MAC, making only 30% of their attempts from beyond the arc.
Additionally, they rank just ninth in the conference with 45.3% shooting from the field and 11th with 72.9 points per game.
Central Michigan’s defense is slightly better.
The Chippewas hold opponents to 34.1% shooting on 3-pointers, ranking seventh in the MAC. But they also allow 78.5 points per game and 46.4% shooting from the floor, ranking 10th and 11th in the conference, respectively.
But Central Michigan does excel in interior defense, leading the MAC with 4.3 blocks per game.
CMU also struggles on the glass, holding a -3.3 rebounding margin, the second-worst in the MAC.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Javontae Campbell (Bowling Green No. 2)
The senior guard, who leads the nation with 3.2 steals per game, has been on a tear in conference play.
In nine games against MAC opponents, Campbell is averaging 24.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game, while shooting 53.2% from the field and 37.5% on 3-pointers.
Campbell has scored at least 20 points and made multiple 3-pointers in three straight games. He scored the final 10 points of the game for the Falcons in the team’s loss against Buffalo.
Troy Glover II (Bowling Green No. 16)
The 6-foot-10 senior forward has emerged as a key piece for the Falcons in recent games.
Over the past six contests, Glover is averaging 9.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 offensive rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, while shooting 68.6% from the floor.
Glover has recorded two double-doubles in the past four games and has recorded a block in seven straight games.
Nathan Claerbaut (Central Michigan No. 32)
The 7-foot senior center has been CMU’s best player this season.
Claerbaut leads the MAC with 38 blocks, while also leading the Chippewas with 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
The Zeeland, Michigan, native has 11 games with multiple blocks. He has scored 17 points in back-to-back games.
Logan McIntire (Central Michigan No. 33)
The senior guard is Central Michigan’s best shooter, making 38.3% of his 3-point attempts.
McIntire also ranks fifth in the MAC with 49 3-pointers and ninth with 57.8% shooting from the field.
The Ramsey, Indiana, native has averaged 15.3 points per game and shot 47.1% on 3-pointers over the past four games.
