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In a season already filled with unexpected results, here we are three weeks into the conference season with two teams that have flipped the conventional script. Many might have expected Toledo at 2-3 and Bowling Green at 4-1 to have the opposing team's record at this point in the conference.
BG is coming off a dominant 74-58 win over Eastern Michigan in which four Falcons scored in double-figures while maintaining a comfortable lead for most of the 40 minutes. BG held Coach Rob Murphy's squad to .364 percent shooting.
Toledo sustained a loss to Kent State at the M.A.C. Center on Wednesday, 67-60, and is coming off two straight losses (the other to Western Michigan). The Rocket bench failed to produce enough to prevail, as the Toledo starters scored 54 of the UT points.
Five Rockets scored at least five points in the Kent game, but if they are to grab a home win come Saturday, the bench will need to step up. Either that, or the Rocket starters will have to have impressive offensive performances. For a team that is not deep and typically can't rely on anyone outside of the starting lineup to put up major contributions, the Rockets will have to shoot of the gates in Savage Arena on Saturday. Julius Brown's 9 points in the Kent game is not what has come to be expected of him, nor the 3-16 shooting from distance, which will need to change for Saturday's game.
Far from the negative performance review just given to Toledo, Bowling Green has looked as good as any team in the conference over the last three weeks. At 12 wins, the Falcons already have as many wins as they had ALL OF LAST YEAR. Zack Denny had his second straight double-double Wednesday. Anthony Henderson put up 17 points, Richaun Holmes controlled the glass and vigorously slammed home two put back dunks that gave the Falcons as much of an edge over Kent as any other big moment on the night. BG tied a season high with 11 treys, and again, might just prove itself to be the best team in the Mid-American.
Avoid playing like they did against Akron, and the Falcons could be moving to 6-1 with a win over the Rockets Saturday, a win that Toledo needs to move to .500 in-conference.