BG MBB Heads to Athens

 The road does not get any easier for the MBB team.

Next up is the OU Bobcats...who are playing as well as anyone in the MAC.  When BG faced them the first time, they were in the midst of a tough start.  They were on their way to a 1-3 MAC start and four non-conference losses to 200+ teams.

Things turned around.  Since the 1-3 start, they are 8-2 in MAC play, with their only losses @UA and @UT.  They beat Akron at the Convo in their last game, and they are 7-1 in MAC play at home and have won their last 7.

In the first matchup, BG led wire to wire, making 50% of their 3FGs.  They also had an edge on offensive rebounding.  (BG made 12 3FGs that day, their season high.  They have 9 in the last 3 games.

Anyhoo, Thomas had 20, his high as a Falcon.

OU is the #2 offensive team in the MAC and #5 on defense.  BG is still #5 in offense, but have been "scoring challenged" of late.  The Falcons are #9 in defensive efficiency. 

OU is the best shooting team in the MAC and BG is #9 on defending the shot. OU takes the most 3FGs in the MAC, and make 37%, #4 in MAC.  They lead the MAC with 55% on 2FGs.  They take excellent are of the ball and are pretty good at getting to the line and make 74% when they do.  They do not seem to contest the offensive boards, which will force BG into a half court game, just as Miami did.

BG is the #11 shooting team in the MAC.  OU does force some turnovers.  There is an opening for BG on the offensive boards, but OU is good at keeping opponents off the line, which is something BG has relied on.

Progress at this point would be BG getting into the paint and make some shots, and hope that maybe they have a shot to get to the line.

Jaylin Hunter is scoring 14.5 PPG. He makes 63% of his 2FGs, #5 in the MAC.  He also makes 33% from 3FG. He leads the MAC with 4.9 APG and is #5 in ratio. AJ Clayton is scoring 12.5 PPG, on 67% and 40%, the top overall shooter in the MAC and #5 in efficiency. Shereff Mitchell scores 12.2 PPG on 50% and 34%. Aidan Hadaway is their leading rebounder with 5.1 per game, though they spread them around to a bunch of guys.

So here we go. BG is 3-4 on the road in MAC play.  It will be interesting to see---only game of the night in the conference.