Men's basketball preview: Central Michigan at BG

1/18/2004

When: 2 p.m.

Radio: 1230.

Records: Central Michigan is 3-11, 0-4 MAC; Bowling Green is 7-8, 3-2.

Last game: CMU lost at Ball State, 90-75; BG d. Akron, 77-72.

Series: BG leads 32-26.

Outlook: While CMU has won the last two meetings, including last year s MAC Tournament quarterfinals, this isn t last year s Chippewas. Last year s league MVP, Chris Kamen, is in the NBA now, and while Gerrit Brigitha is scoring (17.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg) well, he doesn t have much help. Meanwhile the Falcons seem to be getting more help on offense, scoring 76.2 points per game in their last five contests after averaging 10 points fewer through their first 10. What s the key to BG s recent offensive surge? The Falcons have shot well in the second half, making 59.1 percent of their shots.