12:30PM et - #2 Western Michigan(19-11, 11-5) Vs. #7 Bowling Green(14-18, 8-8) ESPN3
The 2011 MAC Tournament Quarterfinals get under way this afternoon as the scene shifts to Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. The first game of the day sees the #2 Seed Western Michigan taking on the #7 seed, Bowling Green. The Falcons finished the season losers of 7 of their lat 10 games and lost their only meeting with Western Michigan 75-61 on February 5.
The Falcons are led by sophomore A'uston Calhoun's 12.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, and junior Scott Thomas, who average 11.4 points per game, give the Falcons a solid front court. If both of these guys get some help from a shaky backcourt, the Falcons could be a surprise team this weekend.
Western Michigan seems to be peaking at the right time. The Broncos come into the game having won 8-of-10. Like BG, Western gets solid front court play from junior forward Flenard Whitfield who averages 13.3 ppg. Where they really have an advantage over BG is in the backcourt where Demetrius Ward drops in 14 points per game.
The Broncos also feature freshman forward Juwan Howard Jr., the son of the former Fab-5'er, who gives the Broncos nearly 10 points per game and has been improving all season long.
PREDICTION: Western Michigan is too much for Bowling Green - WMU 72 - BG 59