BGSU men’s basketball (17-13, 8-9) defeated the UMass Minutemen (15-15, 6-11) in a senior day showdown at the Stroh Center on Saturday.
Four Falcons were honored pregame, including Javontae Campbell, Troy Glover II, Mohamed Maxamud and Greg Spurgin, who are all academic seniors this season. Along with them, all the senior basketball managers were honored before the game.
“This is a special group, they battle,” head coach Todd Simon said.
The work that the managers do behind the scenes does not go unnoticed by the coaching staff, as they help the team prepare for each game.
“Our managers, I think we have the best in the country. I was a guy that kind of came up that way, all those things that you do, that maybe doesn’t get credit but helps run the program,” Simon said.
Although they may not be seeing the work that they do, the students help push the organization to new heights and help prepare the players for every game.
“I’ve always said if you want to have a successful business, the first thing I’m doing is going to a college program and find some managers and hiring them. They get what makes organizations successful, so we have got some really special guys in the manager room,” Simon stated.
Campbell, who has spent the last two years with the Falcons, has become an integral part of the Falcons and created a legacy at Bowling Green.
“Another guy who chooses to come back in an era where he could be in the Big 12, Big Ten or SEC, or wherever. But he wanted a legacy here. Very few times at the mid major level are you a finalist for national awards; he will lead the nation in steals, those are insane accomplishments,” Simon said.
Towns is the only Falcon who has been on the roster for four seasons. He showed out against UMass, grabbing a team-high 15 rebounds.
“Sam Towns has been here four years, you don’t see that very often. The loyalty that of guys that love BG like that, you don’t see that much across college basketball,” Simon said.
Even some of the players who are just here for one season have helped the Falcons immensely and become ingrained in the community.
“Troy Glover II has come in as a one-year guy and played his heart out; he has given everything he has and really improved through the year,” Simon stated. “Javon Ruffin has kind of battled some injuries quietly but just goes about his businesses and Justin Thomas is the same way, he had a special first half of the year, went through some injury stuff and doesn’t complain about it and just keeps helping us win.”
Players like Mohamed Maxamud and Greg Spurgin, although they did not get much time on the court, also play a huge roll for the Falcons.
“Even some of the unsung guys, Greg Spurgin and Mohamed [Maxamud], those guys have been invaluable,” Simon said.
