Tuesday, November 17th, 7:30 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: Cintas Center (10,250) -- Cincinnati, Ohio. Television: FSN-OH. Home Record: BGSU 1-0, Xavier 1-0. Away Record: BGSU 0-0, Xavier 0-0. Neutral Record: BGSU 0-0, Xavier 0-0. Conference Record: BGSU 0-0, Xavier 0-0. Series Record: Bowling Green leads, 6-4.

GAME NOTES: The Bowling Green Falcons will attempt to begin a season 2-0 for the first time since 2003-04, but they are obvious underdogs in tonight's non- conference clash with the Xavier Musketeers.

Bowling Green began the season with a 67-45 romp over Wayne State on Saturday. Clearly, however, the competition level spikes tonight for coach Louis Orr and his Falcons, members of the Mid-American Conference.

As for Xavier, an Atlantic 10 Conference club, it opened this new campaign with an 83-57 romp over Youngstown State. The Musketeers reached the NCAA Tournament's "Sweet 16" a year ago and have several key contributors back from that squad. Chris Mack has taken over for Sean Miller as head coach of the program, but Mack was a member of the Xavier basketball family for seven years before being elevated to the top position.

Bowling Green holds a 6-4 series lead over Xavier, but the two programs haven't met since 1988.

Bowling Green opened the season on Saturday against Wayne State as mentioned, and the Falcons played well at both ends of the court. They connected on 51 percent of their own field goal attempts while limiting their overmatched opponent to 36.2 percent shooting. A 35-28 rebounding advantage also helped the cause, as did 16 forced turnovers. Otis Polk scored 14 points from his center position for Bowling Green on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor. Forward Scott Thomas, who hit 4-of-5 three-pointers, led the way with 15 points. The three top scorers from last season's team are gone, so there is plenty of room for players such as Polk and Thomas to emerge as leaders moving forward.

Jordan Crawford transferred from Indiana to Xavier, and in his first game with the Musketeers he scored a team-high 14 points in the victory over Youngstown State. As usual, Xavier achieved terrific balance offensively, as five players reached double figures in scoring. Jason Love and Mark Lyons tallied 12 points apiece, and Love pulled down eight boards. Brad Redford netted 11 points, and Terrell Holloway finished with 10 points. Xavier connected on 51.1 percent of its field goal attempts in the clash, and a 30-of-37 effort from the foul line was certainly impressive. Defensively, the squad limited the overmatched Penguins to 32.8 percent shooting from the floor.

Expect Xavier to play well at both ends of the floor and beat Bowling Green by double figures. The Musketeers may very well be the class of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Predicted Outcome

Xavier 74, Bowling Green 58