GAME NOTES: Nationally ranked during the regular season for the first time in school history, the 23rd-ranked Kent State Golden Flashes are set to do battle with the Bowling Green Falcons in Mid-American Conference action. Kent State has won its last six outings, including a 66-57 decision over a ranked Saint Mary's club last Saturday. The team is 23-7 overall and has now posted 10 consecutive 20-win seasons. At 11-2 in conference, it appears that the Golden Flashes are the best team in the MAC. Bowling Green is set to host a ranked opponent for the first time in nearly a decade, and the Falcons enter this contest with a 12-14 overall record, including a 6-7 mark in MAC action. They managed to halt a three-game skid last Saturday with an 81-65 decision over Detroit and have been idle since that clash. Kent State beat Bowling Green by a 63-49 final back on January 12th, but the Falcons hold a 77-62 series lead over the Golden Flashes.

Kent State is scoring 70.0 ppg this season while allowing 62.5 ppg to the opposition. The Golden Flashes are led by Al Fisher, who is posting 14.4 ppg and 4.3 apg. Mike Scott adds 12.9 ppg to the mix, and Haminn Quaintance is netting 10.2 ppg. In the victory of Saint Mary's, a strong non-conference opponent, Fisher exploded for 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the floor and 9-of-10 from the foul line. Haminn Quaintance checked in with 11 points, and Scott added 10 points and eight rebounds. Kent State finished the tilt with only seven assists against 15 turnovers, but the squad put forth a tremendous defensive effort, limiting the Gaels to 32.8 percent shooting from the field.

Bowling Green is scoring 63.8 ppg this season on 44.5 percent shooting from the floor, and the club is allowing 66.6 ppg to the opposition on 40.6 percent field goal efficiency. The top scorer for the Falcons is Nate Miller with his 13.5 ppg, and he is pulling down 6.2 rpg as well. The only other double-digit performer in the lineup is Chris Knight with his 10.7 ppg, and he leads the team in rebounding with 7.4 boards per contest. In the victory over Detroit last Saturday, Brian Moten scored 18 points for BGSU. Joe Jakubowski pitched in 17 points, and Miller finished with 13. As for Knight, he contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Falcons, who finished with 19 assists against only eight turnovers.

Although Bowling Green has the advantage of playing at home today, Kent State is simply a better team and will add to its already impressive record.