JEFF'S NCAA HOOPS NON-CONF GAME OF WEEK

Bowling Green possesses a deep and talented roster that features four returning starters, including its top eight scorers from last season not named Justin Turner. Bowling Green also welcomed back three players who averaged double-digits in minutes played per game. The return of forward Daeqwon Plowden has been instrumental to the Falcons' success this season as the super senior is averaging a team-high 15.0 points per game. After leading the team in rebounds (7.8 rpg) last year, Plowden is currently second with 7.1 rebounds per game. MAC Sixth Man of the Year Trey Diggs also decided to return to Bowling Green for this super senior season, giving head coach Michael Huger experience in the backcourt. Diggs is fourth on the team in both scoring (8.8 ppg) and rebounds (4.0 rpg). Coach Michael Huger recognized the significance of losing Turner (turned pro) and signed a plethora of Division I transfers to give the Falcons more firepower. The most productive transfer has been Joe Reese (Old Dominion), who is second in scoring (10.6 ppg) and leads the team in rebounding (7.3 rpg). Samford graduate transfer guard Myron Gordon has also paid immediate dividends, averaging 9.8 points (3rd) and 2.3 assists (3rd) per game. Evansville shooting guard Samari Curtis is averaging 17.6 minutes per game off the bench, leads the team assists (2.6 apg) and is shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc. The Falcons rank 48th in the nation for free throw percentage, converting at a 75.9% clip from the line. Plowden has been among the best in the nation from the stripe, ranking17th in the nation for free throws made (42) as well as 24th for free throws attempted (53). Bowling Green has posted its best record in the month of December during Huger's seven-year tenure. When playing during the calendar's 12th month, the Falcons are 22-12 (.647), the best winning percentage of any month under Huger. Bowling Green enters off back-to-back wins, including an impressive 78-70 upset over Duquesne as a 4.5-point underdog. Two of the Falcons' four losses this season have come by an average of 6.0 points per game, including an 8-point defeat in overtime at Western Carolina. Oakland is on a five-game winning streak but four of those victories have been by eight points or less and three have been by four points or less. Oakland also tallied a one-point victory over Oklahoma State earlier this season. With Bowling Green standing at 4-1-1 ATS in its last six home games versus opponents with a .601 or greater road mark, grab the points with the Falcons and invest with confidence.