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Well, it's here. BG Men's basketball is back, and the march to March begins tonight with an exhibition contest against a tough Findlay team. We played them last year and won by 25, but it was tied at halftime, 35-all. They also just played Toledo on Sunday, and only lost by 7 - so this could be more challenging than many expect.

Looking forward to seeing our guys come out and play again. Game is at 7:00pm at the Stroh. Go Falcons!

mbenecke wrote:Well, it's here. BG Men's basketball is back, and the march to March begins tonight with an exhibition contest against a tough Findlay team. We played them last year and won by 25, but it was tied at halftime, 35-all. They also just played Toledo on Sunday, and only lost by 7 - so this could be more challenging than many expect.

Looking forward to seeing our guys come out and play again. Game is at 7:00pm at the Stroh. Go Falcons!

Findlay is always one of the premier D-II programs in the country. I believe they were in the Elite Eight last year and are ranked #17 in the preseason polls this year. There were a few years during the Orr years where they were a legitimately better basketball team than BG. I like this as a regular exhibition matchup. It should still be a warmup, but it's against a well-coached team of solid athletes.

I'm planning to provide as many live updates as I can during the game, as I follow along with the stream. I should be set for the first half, but the 2nd half will be a little tougher as my attention will be split - Game 7 of the World Series tonight! (Any predictions? I think I like the Astros, but we'll see if they can hit Max Scherzer).

Hoping for a fast start and a stress-free evening of BG Hoops. Go Falcons!

Starting lineups are finished, and Mattos is indeed starting at the 5. Fr. Zeigler also started.

Falcons are wearing their new white "BGSU" jerseys, and this one is underway.

It's early, and at the under-16 timeout, BG is down 9-7. Plowden fought for an offensive rebound and layup, Frye had a nice runner off the glass (then had an unforced airball), and Turner hit a nice corner three. If he can shoot with consistency from beyond the three point line this season, we're going to be a problem.

Marlon Sierra the first off the bench for BG, in for Mattos.

He hits a jumper from the free throw line.

Matiss, Laster, and Diggs are now in. Frye the last remaining starter while Turner gets a blow.

Sierra steps up and hits 2 free throws. 13-11, Findlay.

Under 12, it's 22-13, Oilers.

Defense has been a step slow. Look a bit unfocused and out of position often. Not the start we were looking for.

Diggs has missed 2 threes. Not ugly or ill-advised shots, they just didn't fall.

Good defensive trap with Laster and Sierra forces a Findlay timeout. I like their chemistry playing together.

Matiss misses a 3, but Diggs grabs an offensive rebound. Turner hits another three from the corner.

Good defense toward the perimeter by Mattos forces a Findlay turnover.

On the other end, Mattos and Turner run the pick and roll and it ends with an easy bucket for Mattos.

Then, Diggs takes a charge. Seems like we're figuring it out now.

Findlay 22, BG 18 - under 8.

Plowden hits a 15-footer off the glass. Nice touch.

After some back and forth missed shots, Matiss goes to the line and knocks down both. We're back even, 22-all.

Frye hits turner on a backdoor pass for an easy layup, sandwiched between two Findlay threes. I can see why this is a premier D2 team. Unfortunately, Zeigler is 0-4 from the line - he's a freshman, but he needs to clear that up.

Under 4: Findlay 28, BG 24. Falcon ball out of the timeout, and the last little stretch of play seems to have lit our fuse to play a little harder. We'll see if we finish the half strong. I'd love to see us finish the half by grabbing the lead.

Women's coach Robyn Fralick is in the crowd. I absolutely love that she (and her family) support the men's program. We've got a good one coaching the women up.

Nice block and Euro step/layup combination in transition from Laster.

Another Turner three from the corner.

Diggs ends the half hitting a three just before the half.

HALFTIME: Findlay 36, BG 34.

For reference, it was 35-35 last year at halftime before we won by 25.