BOWLING GREEN — The longest home stretch of the season for Bowling Green State University’s men’s basketball team got off to a solid start on Sunday.
With Mid-American Conference play just around the corner, the next few weeks could be critical for a Falcons team that has generated some early-season momentum.
BGSU began its five-game homestand with a 97-49 nonconference victory over NCAA Division II Ohio Dominican at the Stroh Center. It was the Falcons’ first home game since Nov. 17, when they lost to Bellarmine 85-67.
Head coach Todd Simon and his players were excited to be back after a four-game span on the road that included a trip to Montreal for the Northern Classic. The Falcons won two of three games in the three-day span of the tournament in late November.
“This is a much-needed home game,” Simon said. “It’s great to be back in our own beds.
“We were three weeks away and in a grueling stretch, so it was good here. And obviously with four guys out [due to injury], it was good to get a lot of guys minutes and get them some experience so they’ll be ready for league play.”
Even with the injury bug impacting BGSU, the Falcons have been able to compile wins.
Sunday’s victory over the Panthers was the fourth straight win for the Falcons, who won their previous two games by six total points. BGSU edged Canisius 77-73 in Montreal and escaped with a 54-52 win at Southern Indiana on Dec. 2.
BGSU’s 97 points, 53 rebounds, 32 free throws made, 15 assists, 11 steals, and seven blocks against Ohio Dominican were all season highs. The Falcons held the Panthers to 29.2 percent shooting; it was the fourth time in the past five games BGSU limited its opponent to less than 40 percent shooting.
“I feel like we just trusted our work. We have a group of guys that work extremely hard and are always in the gym, so just trusting our work and knowing that we work on this every day,” BGSU guard Trey Thomas said.
BGSU did so without forward Sam Towns and guard Da’Shawn Phillip, who were both in walking boots on their right legs. The duo had started multiple games for the Falcons this season.
“We’ve got to jell, and this is going to be an opportunity with some of the injuries and whatnot for different guys to get a lot of minutes,” Simon said.
The Falcons face University of Missouri-Kansas City (4-6) on Saturday, Hampton (3-5) on Dec. 19, and NAIA opponent Siena Heights (4-4) on Dec. 22 before beginning MAC play against Eastern Michigan (5-4) on Jan. 2. BGSU’s current four-game winning streak matched its longest during the 2022-23 season.
“I think it’s going to be huge for us, just closing out before break strong, getting some momentum and going into conference play,” said BGSU guard P.J. Edwards, who had career highs with 11 points and 12 rebounds against Ohio Dominican. “So right now, we’re just focused on taking each game at a time and getting these [wins].”
First Published December 11, 2023, 12:29 a.m.
