BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will return home for Senior Day on Saturday (March 1) against Ball State. The Falcons and Cardinals are set for a 2 p.m. tip inside the Stroh Center. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to the game to recognize the Falcon seniors prior to the contest. BGSU and Ball State enter the weekend separated by just one game in the MAC standings, part of a five-way jam between spots six and 10 in the standings with three games left in the regular season. The game is set to be broadcasted on ESPN+. Additionally, Todd Walker will have the radio call on WFRO Eagle 99.  

Opening Tip
The Falcons and Cardinals will be meeting for the 98th time in program history with Bowling Green holding the all-time advantage with a record of 55-42. Ball State won the meeting earlier this season on Jan. 11, but Bowling Green holds the edge when hosting the series with a record of 33-14. The game will feature two of the MAC's top five teams from three on the season. Ball State ranks fourth, shooting 35.5-percent, while Bowling Green is fifth with a mark of 34.4-percent. BGSU and Ball State have been strong against the three as well. Ball State leads the MAC, allowing just 31.0-percent with Bowling Green ranking fourth allowing 32.1-percent. 

A Bowling Green Win Would… 

• Split the season series with Ball State.
• Give the Falcons three-straight wins for the first time this season as well as a season-best three consecutive MAC wins. 
• Grant the Orange and Brown wins in six of their last eight. 
• Push Bowling Green above .500 when playing at home this year with an 8-7 record.
• Move BGSU back to .500 in MAC play during the Coach Simon Era at 17-17.  

Campbell On Hot Streak
Javontae Campbell has recorded four-straight 20-point games and has stuffed the stat sheet over the stretch. Across the four games, Campbell is averaging 23.5 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He's also been strong at the free throw line, shooting 75.7-percent at the line, including two games with at least 10 made free throws and 13 attempts. 

Scouting The Cardinals
In the first meeting between BGSU and Ball State, the Cardinals entered with a 7-7 overall record. Since that game, Ball State has tallied a 6-7 standing for a 7-8 MAC record. BSU had a rough stretch, losing four of five from Jan. 14-28, but bounced back in February with a 5-3 record, including winning four of their first five in the month. Over their last three, Ball State lost to Toledo, 67-66, on Feb. 18, topped Buffalo, 80-66, on Feb. 22 and had their comeback fall short against Akron on Tuesday (Feb. 25) in an 87-82 final. 

BGSU vs. Ball State, All-Time
The Falcons and Cardinals will be meeting for the 98th time in program history with Bowling Green holding the all-time advantage at 55-42. BGSU holds the edge when hosting the series as well with a 33-14 record. Despite the series going to the Falcons, Ball State claimed the meeting earlier this season with a 91-69 final on Jan. 11. In that game, the Orange and Brown had four double-digit scorers, led by Javontae Campbell with 13. Wilguens Jr. Exacte added a career-high 12 off the bench while Marcus Johnson scored 11. 

Campbells Turns To MAC Record
Javontae Campbell tallied five steals against Eastern Michigan, giving him 82 on the season to place him atop the BGSU single-season steals list. Now, Campbell can turn his attention to the MAC single-season rankings where he is already tied for 10th. He is only one steal away from ninth, two from eighth and three from sixth. The record is currently held by Ball State's Bonzie Wells who recorded 103 during the 1997-98 campaign. With three games left in the season, Campbell is averaging 2.93 steals per game with three games left in the regular season. Any postseason stats would count towards the record. 

Johnson At The Line
Marcus Johnson is currently in the midst of making 30 straight free throws, the longest active streak in the nation among players shooting at least 90-percent from the charity stripe. The last miss at the line for Johnson came against EMU on Jan. 18.  Going back a game further, Johnson has made 37 of his last 38 free throw attempts dating back to Jan. 14. The stretch has pushed Johnson's free throw percentage back above 90-percent, sitting at 91.0, which ranks first in the MAC among qualified players and 10th in the nation. Last year, Johnson shot 90.8-percent at the line on 120 attempts for Wheeling. 

20-Point Performances
BGSU has had at least one 20-point scorer in seven straight games as well as nine of the last 10. With two games of multiple 20-point scorers, the Falcons have had 11 20-point outings in the last 10 contests. While Javontae Campbell is in the midst of four consecutive 20-point games, Marcus Johnson leads the way with five over the 10-game span while Derrick Butler has had two. For the season, Bowling Green has had 24 20-point games. Johnson tops the list with 11 while Campbell has had seven, Butler four and Trey Thomas two.

Looking At The MAC Standings
With three games left in the regular season, the MAC standings are witnessing a log jam in the middle. Slots six through 10 are all separated by just one game with the top eight making the MAC Tournament in Cleveland. While the Falcons are currently tied for ninth, their remaining schedule will play a big role in the standings. Two of BGSU's final three games are against Ball State (March 1) and Western Michigan (March 7), both tied for sixth with a 7-8 record. Eastern Michigan joins that tie while Central Michigan is tied with Bowling Green. The final third of BGSU's final three games will be against Northern Illinois on March 4, who is 1-14 in MAC play. 

Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMBB
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'