Trailing for most of the first half, the Falcons closed the opening 20 minutes on a 15-4 run to claim a 32-25 halftime lead. Bowling Green then shot 56.5 percent (13-of-23) in the second half to pull away with the 21-point win.
COACH HUGER QUOTE
"I thought our defense was tremendous today, especially in the second half. I thought we picked it up as the game went on. We started to apply more pressure as we put different guys in. We didn't miss a beat with any subs.
FALCON FACTS
• Bowling Green has started a season 6-0 at home for the first time in Stroh Center history. The Falcons last started a season 6-0 at home in 2008-09.
• Bowling Green has won all six home games in 2018-19 by 10-plus points. Prior to this season, the last time BGSU won six-straight home games by double figures was 1996-97.
• Adding in a 25-point win over Findlay (Dec. 16) and a 29-point win over Green Bay (Dec. 8), the Falcons have now won three-straight games by 20-plus points for the first time since 1989-90.
• Inside the Stroh Center this season, Bowling Green is outscoring its opponents by an average of 23.2 points, and outrebounding its opponents by an average of 13.0 rebounds. BGSU is shooting 48.8 percent at home, while holding its opponents to 35.8 percent shooting.
• The Falcons held Western Carolina to 37.5 percent (21-of-56) shooting for the game, marking the sixth time this season that BGSU has held an opponent under 40.0 percent shooting. Last season, BGSU held an opponent under 40.0 percent shooting four times across the entire campaign.
• Bowling Green shot 50.0 percent (25-of-50) for the ballgame, marking the fourth time in 2018-19 that the Falcons have shot at least 50.0 percent. Last season, BGSU shot at least 50.0 percent four times across the entire campaign.
• Bowling Green committed just eight turnovers on the day. The Falcons have committed less than 10 turnovers a total of four times in 2018-19. Furthermore, the Falcons have now gone consecutive games committing less than 10 turnovers, marking the first time that has happened since November of 2017.
• The Falcons registered 14 assists – tying Bowling Green's third-best output of the season.
• The Falcons took care of the specialty statistics on the day, producing more points off turnovers (16-11), while also having more paint points (32-18), fast-break points (16-2) and bench points (30-3).
• The win is Bowling Green's first over Western Carolina. The Falcons now trail the all-time series with the Catamounts by a 2-1 margin.
• The win, along with putting the Falcons a season-best two games over .500, inches BGSU's winning streak to a season-high three games.
• Bowling Green moves to 31-20 in non-conference games under head coach Michael Huger.
• BGSU moves to 13-9 in the month of December under head coach Michael Huger.
PLAYER NOTES
• Entering today's game, redshirt-sophomore guard Justin Turner led the Mid-American Conference in 20-point games. Turner added to that total by scoring 21 points. He's now had seven 20-point games in 2018-19, pushing his career total up to 17.
• Turner tied his season high with six assists. He's now had six assists in three games this season, which is just one assist off his career high. Turner has dished out multiple assists in eight-consecutive games.
• Senior guard Antwon Lillard scored in double figures for the third time in 2018-19, as he finished with 12 points. He also tied a season high with seven rebounds.
• Senior forward Demajeo Wiggins collected 11 points and nine rebounds. Wiggins went 9-for-13 at the free throw line. He's attempted 10-plus free throws in four games in 2018-19.
• Junior guard Dylan Frye went 3-for-7 from downtown to finish with nine points and two assists. Frye is now tied for eighth all-time in three-point makes at BGSU with 131. On the day, he surpassed Joe Jakubowski, who made 130 triples at Bowling Green from 2007-11. Frye is currently tied with DeMar Moore (1995-99) and Brian Moten (2005-09).
• Junior forward Marlon Sierra went a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor, tying a career high with three field goal makes. Sierra also tied a career high with seven points. The junior recorded three rebounds and two assists, as well.
• Redshirt-senior forward Jeffrey Uju and junior guard Michael Laster each scored four points. Laster added three rebounds and three assists, while Uju had two rebounds and drew two charges.
• Sophomore center Joniya Gadson, on his birthday, contributed with three points and two rebounds.
UP NEXT
• Bowling Green concludes its non-conference schedule with a 2:30 p.m. home contest versus Tennessee-Martin on Sunday, Dec. 30.
• The Falcons are set to open conference play on Jan. 5 at Kent State. The MAC opener is set for 7 p.m. inside the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.