Falcons, Zips Set For National TV Showdown In MAC Opener Friday Night
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will open the MAC men's basketball conference schedule Friday night (Jan. 3) inside the Stroh Center, hosting the Akron Zips in a 6 p.m. tip on CBS Sports Network. The game will conclude a three-game homestand for the Falcons and will be BGSU's first time on CBS Sports Network this season. In addition to the national TV broadcast, Todd Walker will have the radio call on WFRO Eagle 99.
Opening Tip
The Falcons and Zips are scheduled for the 74th meeting all-time with Akron leading the series with a 45-28 record. When playing in Bowling Green, the BGSU-Akron series is currently split evening at 16-16. Playing on CBS Sports Network, this will mark the second of three currently scheduled national TV games for BGSU. The Falcons previously faced Michigan State on Big Ten Network and will host Toledo on Jan. 24 on CBS Sports Network as well.
A Bowling Green Win Would…
- Mark the first win for Bowling Green over Akron since Feb. 26, 2021 and the first at home against Akron since Feb. 25, 2020.
- Give BGSU a 1-0 start in MAC play in three consecutive seasons for the first time since five straight 1-0 MAC starts from 2004-05 to 2008-09.
- Make Coach Simon the first coach since Louis Orr and the third in program history to win the MAC opener in each of their first two seasons as head coach (Orr, Bob Conibear).
Chasing History
The Falcons are seeking a 1-0 MAC start for the third straight season after beating Eastern Michigan in the MAC opener each of the last two seasons. The last time BGSU started 1-0 in MAC play in three straight seasons was when they did it five straight seasons from 2004-05 to 2008-09. Additionally, Coach Simon is looking to become the third coach in program history to start 1-0 in each of their first two MAC seasons, joining Louis Orr (2007-09) and Bob Conibear (1968-70).
Scouting The Zips
Akron will enter MAC play with a 7-5 record on the season, but have lost three of their last four games. The lone win in the stretch came with a 68-50 final against Jackson State. The Zips closed out their non-conference schedule on Dec. 30 against Princeton, falling 76-75. Other noteworthy outcomes for Akron include an 80-75 loss to Arkansas State in overtime in the season opener as well as an 87-68 loss to Saint Mary's who was receiving votes in the national poll at the time of the matchup.
BGSU vs. Akron, All-Time
The Falcons and Zips will be meeting for the 74th time in program history with the all-time series dating back to 1938. The Zips have won the last five meetings between the two with the last Bowling Green win coming on Feb. 26, 2021 at Akron. Additionally, the Zips have taken the last three meetings inside the Stroh Center with BGSU's last home win over Akron being on Feb. 25, 2020. Over the course of the series history, the Falcons hold a record of 16-16 when hosting the Zips.
Campbell Among Nation's Best
Javontae Campbell has placed himself among the nation's best in the steals department. With 41 steals on the season, Campbell is now averaging 3.42 steals per game for the Falcons. His average is currently the second-best mark in the country and his total comes in third. At his current pace, with 31 games on the regular season schedule for BGSU, Campbell is projected to log 106 steals, which would shatter BGSU's single-season steals record, currently set at 82 by DeMar Moore in 1996-97. It would also break the MAC steals record, currently held by Ball State's Bonzi Wells with 103 during the 1997-98 campaign.
Stat Sheet Stuffers
In the 2024 finale against Aquinas, both Javontae Campbell and Jamai Felt finished with full stat lines. Campbell led the way, posting the first triple-double by a Falcon since Nate Miller during the 2006-07 campaign. Campbell finished with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals, also becoming the first Falcon in over two years with double-digit assists in a game. As for Jamai Felt, he posted 13 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double as well as the first double-double by a Falcon this season.
Johnson Leads Falcons At The Line
As a team, Bowling Green is shooting 80.2-percent at the free throw line this season. The mark is not only the best in the Mid-American Conference, but ranks 10th in the nation. This year, BGSU has shot 90-percent or better at the line three times and has shot 80-percent or better six times. Leading the Falcons is Marcus Johnson, shooting 94.3-percent at the line with just two misses in 35 attempts. Johnson is eighth in the nation himself while ranking second in the MAC behind only Buffalo's Ryan Sabol who is 35-of-37 compared to Johnson's 33-of-35.
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'
Latest Men's Basketball News
- Falcons Take Reigning MAC Champs Akron Down To The Wire In MAC OpenerBOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team opened the MAC slate of the 2024-25 schedule Friday night (Jan. 3) at the Stroh Center and on national TV. Hosting Akron in the MAC opener on CBS Sports Network, the Falcons took the reigning MAC Champions down to the wire, leading for over 36 minutes of game time. However, a late surge by the Zips pushed Akron ahead in the final minute to claim a close 71-68 final.
- Javontae Campbell Named MAC Player Of The WeekCLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced the men's basketball MAC Player of the Week Monday afternoon (Dec. 30). This week's lone recipient was Bowling Green's Javontae Campbell, a junior guard from Muskogee, Okla. This marks the first award of Campbell's BGSU career. He is the second Falcon to receive the honor this season, joining Derrick Butler who was a Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 9.
- Campbell Logs BGSU’s First Triple-Double Since 2007 As Falcons Top AquinasBOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team closed out the 2024 calendar on Monday (Dec. 23) with an 87-62 win over Aquinas College inside the Stroh Center. The Falcons led wire-to-wire in the game with Marcus Johnson hitting a three for the first basket of the contest and not looking back. Johnson led all scorers with 20 points while shooting 80-percent from the field. Javontae Campbell stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the first BGSU triple-double since 2007. Jamai Felt added 13 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double while Derrick Butler added 18 points of his own in the win. For the Falcons, the team will now transition to MAC play, beginning at home against Akron on Friday, Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. with a national TV broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
- Butler Eclipses 1,000 Career Points As Falcons Fall To St. ThomasZiggyville Population: 106
- Falcons Home For The Holidays; Set To Host St. Thomas Saturday, Aquinas MondayBOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will be back at the Stroh Center for a pair of home games this holiday season. BGSU will begin the stretch on Saturday (Dec. 21), hosting St. Thomas in a 2 p.m. tip. The Falcons will then transition to a Monday (Dec. 23) contest against Aquinas College at 3 p.m. The two games will mark the final non-conference opponents for the Falcons before MAC play begins on Jan. 3 at home against Akron. Both games against the Falcons will be available to stream on ESPN+ with a radio feed from Todd Walker on WFRO Eagle 99.
- Campbell, Johnson Both Log 20-Point Games As Falcons Fall To RoosKANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team came up short on the road against Kansas City on Saturday (Dec. 14) in an 85-77 final. The Falcons went to halftime trailing by just one, 46-45, staying within one up until 57-56. However, a 10-0 second half run for the Roos created space, maintaining the difference to the final. For Bowling Green, Javontae Campbell led the way with 27 points and five steals while Marcus Johnson tallied 22 points.