Falcons Prepare For Nationally Televised Battle Of I-75 Friday At Home
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will be hosting the season's first edition in the Battle of I-75 Friday night (Jan. 24). The Falcons will welcome the rival Toledo Rockets to the Stroh Center for a 6 p.m. tip on CBS Sports Network, the second time this year BGSU has hosted a nationally televised game. Additionally, Todd Walker will have the radio call on WFRO Eagle 99.
At The Game
The Battle of I-75 will be jam-packed with events and recognitions before and during the game. Students are invited to a tailgate on the concourse pregame. There will also be Orange Wave t-shirts given out to students with a 90's wave design. All fans can also enjoy the maiden voyage of the highly anticipated Freddie Falcon blimp that is scheduled to take flight at 5:30 p.m. before the game.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early due to a high volume of anticipated traffic for the rivalry game. You won't want to miss a special national anthem performance by Mike Williams on Sax joined by the Voices at BGSU choir. Finally, be sure to WEAR ORANGE for the Bowling Green Orange Wave!
Opening Tip
The Falcons and Rockets will be meeting for the 183rd time in program history with the all-time series leaning to Toledo with a 98-84 record. BGSU holds the series advantage when hosting the rival Rockets with a record of 51-31. This will mark the third nationally televised game for the Falcons this season, previously facing Michigan State on Big Ten Network and Akron on CBS Sports Network. This will mark the second straight season the Battle of I-75 has been on national TV, being on ESPNU last season, and the third time in the last four seasons after being on CBS Sports Network to conclude the 2021-22 campaign.
A Bowling Green Win Would…
- Mark back-to-back wins over Toledo for the first time since Jan. 25, 2020-Feb. 8, 2020.
- Give Bowling Green consecutive home wins over Toledo for the first time since winning on both Feb. 1, 2010 and Feb. 11, 2012.
- Mark BGSU's first national TV win since beating Toledo on ESPNU last season on Feb. 23.
- Push the Falcons back to .500 at home during MAC play with a 2-2 record and keep them above .500 at home for the year at 6-4.
Falcons Against The Three
Bowling Green has been one of the better teams in the MAC this season against the three. Against Miami (OH), who entered the game as the nation's sixth-best team from three, the Falcons held the RedHawks to a mark of 30.4-percent from three for the game, including a clip of 21.4-percent in the second half. For both the season and during conference play, BGSU ranks second in the conference against the three. For the year, the Falcons are allowing teams to shoot just 31.0-percent from three behind only Kent State (30.8%). As for conference play, the Orange and Brown are allowing MAC teams the same mark (31.0) behind only Akron (29.6%).
Scouting The Rockets
Toledo heads into the weekend with a 4-2 MAC record, but the two losses have come in the last three games. The last time out, the Rockets came up short at home against Kent State, falling 83-64. The other loss was an 85-78 final against Akron on Jan. 14. As for Toledo's conference wins, they've bested Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Ball State. The wins over the directional Michigan schools were all by six or less while the win over Ball State was a 93-75 final.
BGSU vs. Toledo, All-Time
The Battle of I-75 is the longest rivalry in program history for the Falcons, dating back to the 1915-16 season. Bowling Green and Toledo will be squaring off for the 183rd time during the series. BGSU took the last meeting between the teams, winning 76-68 at home last year, snapping a five-game winning streak for Toledo in the series. The Orange and Brown are 51-31 when hosting the rival Rockets, but the overall record in the series leans to Toledo with a 98-84 standing.
Thomas On Fire In MAC Play
Trey Thomas has had a tale of two seasons so far this year. Thomas began the season during non-conference play averaging 7.9 points per game with only three double-digit scoring performances. However, since MAC play started the tides have turned for Thomas. Through six MAC games, Thomas has scored double-digits in each, including his first two 20-point games of the season as well as leading the team in points four times. Against MAC opponents, Thomas is averaging 17.7 points per game, not only leading the team but ranking third in the MAC behind only Eastern Michigan's Da'Sean Nelson (19.0) and Christian Henry (17.8). With his success during MAC play, Thomas is now averaging 11.2 points for the season.
Felt Tops Conference Leaderboard
Jamai Felt has been on fire defensively for the Falcons against MAC opponents. After missing the last two seasons due to injuries, Felt has played in all 18 games this year for the Falcons, including starting in the last 10. Felt has registered at least one block in each of the last seven games, including three games over the last five with four blocks. The surge in rejections has culminated in 16 blocks for Felt during MAC play, averaging 2.7 blocks per game. Both marks now lead the MAC during conference play. As for the season, Felt has 26 blocks with an average of 1.4, which ranks second in the MAC behind only Ohio's AJ Clayton with 33 blocks and an average of 1.8. Felt is also currently fifth during MAC play for rebounds per game at 7.2.
Campbell Nearing Program's Top 10
Javontae Campbell is closing in on joining the program's top 10 list for steals in a single-season. Campbell has already tallied 58 steals this season, needing just three more to enter the list. The total for Campbell has him third in the nation for total steals while his 3.22 steals per game are also third in the country. At his current pace with 31 games on BGSU's schedule, Campbell is on pace to tally 100 steals during the regular season. The current BGSU single-season steals record is set at 82 by DeMar Moore in 1996-97. As for the MAC steals record, it's held by Ball State's Bonzi Wells with 103 during the 1997-98 campaign. Postseason play would count towards both records.
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Latest Men's Basketball News
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- Felt, Humphrey Named Academic All-MACCLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Friday afternoon (April 4) the 2024-25 Men's Basketball Academic All-MAC Team. A total of 29 student-athletes were named across the conference with Bowling Green totaling two with Jamai Felt and DaJion Humphrey being named. Western Michigan led the way in the MAC with five, followed closely by Toledo's four.