Chippewas Aim to Bounce Back at Bowling Green

GAME PREVIEW
• For the second consecutive game, Central Michigan (16-7, 5-5 MAC) will take to the road to matchup with one of the MAC East's top teams when it clashes with first-place Bowling Green (16-7, 8-2 MAC) on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Falcons' Stroh Center.
• The Chippewas held an 18-point first-half lead against No. 23/25 Buffalo but could not maintain it and fell, 90-76, while Bowling Green tasted defeat for the first time at home this season in its last outing, going down to defeat to MAC West frontrunner Toledo, 78-71.
• Central Michigan currently resides in sole possesion of second place in the MAC West standings, 2 1/2 games behind the Rockets. The Chippewas are in position to serve as the No. 6 seed for the MAC Tournament with eight conference games left to play.
• Central Michigan owns a 4-4 road record this season, including two victories in MAC play, while Bowling Green is 11-1 at home in 2018-19.
• CMU possesses a 38-41 record in the all-time series versus Bowling Green and has won two-straight meetings at the Stroh Center.
• Earlier this year, in the teams' first meeting, CMU was handed its first home loss of the season, falling to the Falcons, 97-87, in overtime. That setback snapped a three-game winning streak in the series for the Chippewas.
• ONE TO WATCH: Tuesday's game will feature two of the MAC's top backcourts. CMU's Larry Austin Jr. (17.2 ppg) and Shawn Roundtree Jr. (16.0 ppg) combine for a conference-best 33.2 points per game while BGSU's Justin Turner (18.1 ppg) and Dylan Frye (12.2 ppg) also score at a high rate.

CHIPPEWAS TO WATCH
• Senior guard Larry Austin Jr. leads CMU and ranks No. 5 in the MAC in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game. The three-time MAC West Player of the Week also ranks first in the MAC in assists (5.5) and second in steals (2.3).
• Senior guard Shawn Roundtree Jr. ranks second on the team in scoring (16.0 ppg), assists (75) and 3-pointers (43). Against Buffalo last weekend, he posted a season and game-high 26 points.
• Junior forward David DiLeo leads the Chippewas (5th in the MAC) with 61 3-pointers and is fourth on the team in rebounding (5.2 rpg).
• Junior Kevin McKay leads CMU in rebounding (No. 10 in the MAC, 7.0 rpg) and averages 11.2 points per game. He also ranks No. 4 in the MAC in offensive rebounds (3.1 rpg).
• Junior forward Rob Montgomery has been a force in MAC play, ranking third on the team in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game.

TRENDING
• Junior forward David DiLeo is in line this season to become the 33rd Chippewa in program history to score 1,000 career points. He currently has 986 points.
• With the win over Western Michigan, CMU has recorded double-digit wins at home for five consecutive years, totaling 60 during that time frame. CMU is 10-2 in McGuirk Arena thus far this season.
• With CMU's next win, the Chippewas' sixth consecutive .500 or better season will be guaranteed, tying the second-longest streak in program history.
• Central Michigan ranks prominently in three national stat categories:
   - No. 6 in free throw attempts (627)
   - No. 12 in scoring offense (84.3)
   - No. 14 in free throws made (418)
• Currently with 52, senior guard Larry Austin Jr. is on pace to threaten or break the Central Michigan single-season steals record, held by Dave Grauzer (63, 1978-79). He is currently tied for 10th with all-time Chippewa great Dan Roundfield (1973-74).
• Austin is also close to making an appearance on the CMU single-season assists list. Currently with 127 and averaging 5.5 per game, he needs 28 to move into the top 10.

SCOUTING BOWLING GREEN
• Led by four-year head coach Michael Huger, a 1994 graduate of Bowling Green, the Falcons enter Tuesday's game coming off its first home loss of the season, a 78-71 setback to MAC West leader Toledo.
• After winning 10 consecutive MAC games, Bowling Green has dropped two of its last four, however, the Falcons' biggest win of the season came in that stretch, a 92-88 home victory over nationally-ranked Buffalo.
• Bowling Green is led by the back court tandem of redshirt sophomore Justin Turner and junior Dylan Frye and MAC Player of the Year candidate, senior forward Demajeo Wiggins.
• Turner ranks fourth in the MAC in scoring, averaging 18.1 points per game, and leads the Falcons with 77 assists.
• Frye is third on the team in scoring (12.2 ppg) and has a team-best 57 3-pointers.
• Wiggins, who averages 13.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, has a MAC-best 15 double-doubles this season. He also is ranked sixth nationally in defensive rebounds per game (8.35) and rebounds per game (11.5).
• Senior guard Antwon Lillard plays near 22 minutes per games, averaging 9.4 points and 4.0 rebounds.
• Rebounding remains Bowling Green's calling card, as it ranks No. 2 in the NCAA in total rebounds per game (42.5), No. 10 in defensive rebounds per game (29.7), No. 12 in rebound margin (7.4) and No. 16 in total rebounds (977).

UP NEXT FOR THE CHIPPEWAS
• Central Michigan will return home to McGuirk Arena for its next two games, starting on Saturday, Feb. 16 when it welcomes MAC East foe Ohio (11-11, 3-7 MAC) to Mount Pleasant for a 4:30 p.m. contest.
• Ohio has dropped three-straight MAC games, all by double digits, and will host Eastern Michigan before visiting CMU.
• The Bobcats reside in sixth place in the MAC East, 1 1/2 games behind Miami (Ohio).
• Ohio is led by redshirt sophomore forward Jason Carter (16.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and sophomore guard Teyvion Kirk (14.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg).
• The Chippewas will then host Kent State (17-6, 6-4 MAC) for a 7 p.m. game on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Larry Austin Jr.

David DiLeo

Kevin McKay

Rob Montgomery

Shawn Roundtree Jr.

Central Michigan University Athletics