Netter closes in on BG milestone; Broncos determined to deny him

2/7/2004

BOWLING GREEN - Kevin Netter needs just 11 points to become the 33rd player in Bowling Green men's basketball history to score 1,000 points in his career.

In three of his last five games the senior center has scored 20 or more points.

So passing the century mark in today's game at Western Michigan should be a breeze, right?

Wrong.

The Broncos have one of the league's better frontlines, one of the reasons WMU sits atop the MAC's West Division with a 9-1 league mark. And Western Michigan seniors Mike Williams and Anthony Kann should provide a stern test for Netter and the Falcons.

Williams has grabbed many of the headlines this season, ranking third in the MAC in scoring (18.3 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (7.2 rpg).

But Kann also has been a force of late, notching a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards in the Broncos' 16-point win at Central Michigan.

Williams and Kann combined for 21 rebounds in that victory, nearly matching the Chippewas' team total of 22.

What's more, the pair stymied one of the MAC's top low-post players in Gerrit Brigitha, who went scoreless for the game's first nine minutes and finished with just four rebounds, roughly half his season average.

“Kann just puts on his hard hat and brings his lunch pail every day,'' said Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins.

“He's the toughest kid I've ever coached.''

Kann and Williams will provide a challenge for Netter, who lately has become a bigger part of the BG offense and defense.

With 21 points and seven boards in the loss at Miami, Netter has bumped his season averages to 13.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest.

In the league Netter is averaging 15.8 points per game, and his seven boards against the RedHawks marked the third time in four games he had reached that mark.

However, the Falcons are far from a one-man team.

The trio of Netter, Ron Lewis and John Reimold all rank among the league's top 15 scorers, with Lewis fourth (18.3 ppg), Reimold seventh (15.2) and Netter 15th.

BG is one of two teams with two players in the top seven - the other, though, is Western Michigan. Williams is third while outside shooter Ben Reed is fifth at 17.1 ppg.