BGSU men’s basketball returns to the Stroh Center for a Valentine’s Day rivalry contest against Toledo on Saturday at 5 p.m.
A win would mark BGSU’s first home victory against the Rockets since Feb. 23, 2024, and the 50th victory for Todd Simon as the head coach of the Falcons.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Tyler Kavalecz, Artie Abrego and Foster Roesti will have the call of the Battle of I-75 beginning at 4:45 for pregame on Falcon Radio, streaming on bgfalconnmedia.com.
Freddie and Frieda mascots from this year will be revealed on the Bill Frack Court after the game.
Matchup History
Saturday marks the 186th meeting between the rivals, with Toledo leading the all-time series 100-85.
The Rockets won the last matchup against the Falcons, a thrilling 73-72 victory at Savage Arena on Jan. 24.
The past two games between the teams have been decided by one point.
Scouting Bowling Green
The Falcons are in sixth place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) standings with a 15-10 overall and 6-6 conference record.
Bowling Green has struggled since the start of the new year, going 4-6, including a 2-4 mark over their past six contests.
BG’s offense has been solid this season, ranking third in the conference with 48.4% shooting from the field and fourth with 82.4 points per game.
However, the Falcons are averaging only 76.9 points per game in conference play, which ranks eighth in the MAC.
Additionally, Bowling Green has struggled shooting, making just 33.7% of their 3-pointers and 74% of their free throws, middle of the pack in the conference.
BGSU has been good on the defensive glass, holding opponents to 32.8 rebounds per game, the third-best mark in the conference. But the Falcons corral only 10.3 offensive rebounds per game, ranking eighth in the MAC.
Bowling Green’s calling card is their defense, which holds opponents to 70.2 points per game, the second-best mark in the conference.
The Falcons are third in the country with 10.8 steals per game and sixth with 16.0 turnovers forced per game.
Scouting Toledo
The Rockets are in a similar position as the Falcons, sitting in fifth place in the MAC standings with a 13-12 overall and 7-5 conference record.
UT has lost two of their past three games, with their losses coming by a combined five points against Kent State and James Madison.
Toledo’s offense has also efficient this season.
The Rockets score 81.3 points per game, fifth-most in the MAC. They also rank fourth in the conference with 48% shooting from the floor and 35.3% shooting from deep.
Toledo is the best free-throw shooting team in the conference, making 76.9% of their attempts from the charity stripe.
But UT is not a good rebounding team, ranking just 10th in the MAC with 33.8 rebounds per game.
On paper, Toledo’s defense is not good.
The Rockets allow 77.5 points per game, ranking 10th in the MAC. They also allow opponents to shoot 46.9% from the field and 34.4% on 3-pointers, the second and fourth-worst marks in the conference, respectively.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Javontae Campbell (Bowling Green No. 2)
Campbell will be a candidate for MAC Player of the Year and appears to be a shoe-in for MAC Defensive Player of the Year.
The senior guard leads the country with 82 steals. He is eight steals away from tying his own program record (90) set last season and 21 away from tying Bonzi Wells’ MAC record (103) set during the 1997-98 season at Ball State.
Campbell has been on fire during conference play, leading the MAC with 22.2 points per game and ranking third with 6.3 assists per contest.
Troy Glover II (Bowling Green No. 16)
Glover picked up two early fouls in Bowling Green’s loss to Toledo earlier in the season, playing limited minutes in the first half, which fundamentally altered the game.
Although he has cooled down some offensively after a rapid pace at the beginning of conference play, the 6-foot-10 senior forward has been dominant on defense, tallying seven blocks and three steals over the past two games. Glover ranks third in the MAC with 36 blocked shots.
Leroy Blyden Jr. (Toledo No. 2)
The freshman guard hit the game-winning 3-pointer in the team’s first meeting this season.
Blyden is in line to win MAC Freshman of the Year, leading all freshmen in the conference with 16 points per game.
He has been hot during conference play, scoring double-digit points in 15 consecutive contests.
Austin Parks (Toledo No. 25)
Parks had a huge first half in the first meeting against Bowling Green this season, scoring double-digit points in the absence of Glover.
The 6-foot-10 junior center has found his groove recently, averaging 15 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 blocks per game on 84% shooting (21-25) over the past three games.
He has also recorded a block in 12 of the past 14 games, ranking fourth in the conference with 34 blocked shots.
