Bowling Green State University’s men’s basketball team will finish their current road trip with a game against Kansas State University on Monday, December 1. The matchup, scheduled for 8 p.m. EST in Manhattan, Kansas, marks the first meeting between the two programs. Fans can watch the game via ESPN+ or listen to Todd Walker’s radio broadcast on WFRO Eagle 99.
Both teams enter the contest with 5-2 records. Bowling Green has won its last two games, while Kansas State is coming off two consecutive losses. Under head coach Todd Simon, Bowling Green holds a 7-2 record in December games, making it his most successful month as head coach.
A win for Bowling Green would improve their season start to 6-2, which would be their best since beginning the 2020-21 season at 9-2. It would also be their first victory over a Power Four opponent since defeating Virginia Tech on November 12, 2005. Additionally, it would mark Bowling Green’s first-ever win against Kansas State and add to their list of victories over unique opponents.
This season’s start is notable for Bowling Green. Their .714 winning percentage in November is their best since going 6-2 (.750) in November of the 2019-20 season.
Kansas State began its season with five straight wins before losing to Nebraska and Indiana in recent games. PJ Haggerty leads Kansas State and the nation in scoring with an average of 26.3 points per game. Nate Johnson leads the Wildcats in rebounds at six per game, and former Falcon Marcus Johnson is also on their roster but has not played this season.
The upcoming contest makes Kansas State the sixth new opponent for Bowling Green this year and the program’s 333rd all-time opponent.
In a recent game against VMI, Sam Towns recorded a double-double with 12 points and 18 rebounds—15 of those boards came in the first half. His performance was notable as he became one of only eleven players nationally to secure at least eighteen rebounds in a single game this season and was the only player from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) to do so.
Defensively, Bowling Green held VMI to just ten made field goals on twenty percent shooting—both believed to be program records—and limited them to forty-eight points. This was the second time this season they have held an opponent under fifty points; Texas State was also held to forty-eight points earlier this year. The Falcons are allowing an average of sixty-five point seven points per game, leading the MAC and tying for forty-eighth nationally.
Bowling Green has been effective at forcing turnovers this year, averaging thirteen point four steals per game (first nationally) and forcing twenty point four turnovers per game (second only to Florida State). They have recorded at least eleven steals in five out of six games and forced fourteen or more turnovers each time.
Javontae Campbell has contributed significantly on defense by averaging four steals per game—tied for first nationally—with twenty-eight total through six games. Last year he set a school record with ninety steals; he is currently projected to surpass that mark this season.
Fans can follow updates about Bowling Green men’s basketball through various social media channels including Twitter (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMBB), Instagram (‘bgfalcons’ and ‘bgsumhoops’), Facebook (‘BGSU Athletics’ and ‘BGSU Men’s Hoops’), and YouTube (‘Falcon Athletics’).
