Men's Basketball Open Regular Season at Georgia State in MAC/Sun Belt Challenge

Monday, November 2

Atlanta, Ga.

6 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Georgia State

October 30, 2026 | Men's Basketball

BGSU Game Notes

Bowling Green Will Tip Off in its 112th Season in Program History, Eyeing 1,500th Win All-Time

By: by Sam Hughes, BGSU Athletics

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will begin its 112^th season in program history in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge against Georgia State on Monday. The Falcons and Panthers are set for a 7 p.m. tip at the GSU Convention Center. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+ with a radio feed from Todd Walker available on WFRO Eagle 99.

Opening Tip

The Falcons will open the season at Georgia State as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
Since the challenge began in 2023-24, BGSU has a record of 3-3 in such games.
This will be the first time BGSU and Georgia State have met in the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge since its creation in the 2023-24 season.
The Bowling Green men's basketball program kicks off its 112th season.
BGSU welcomes nine newcomers consisting of six transfers and three incoming freshmen to join the six returners from last season's roster - Makhi Leach, Josiah Shackelford, Christian Dedivanaj, Preston Squire, Camden Karel and Aiden Goins.

A Bowling Green Win Would…

Grant Bowling Green its second straight season-opening win and mark the third time in the past four seasons that BGSU began 1-0.
Improve to 2-0 in the all-time series against Georgia State.
Mark the 1,500th win in the program's 111-year history.

A MILESTONE 112 YEARS IN THE MAKING
A victory over Georgia State would mark the 1,500th win in Bowling Green men's basketball history and make the Falcons just the fourth current MAC program to reach 1,500 all-time wins, joining Akron (1,774), Ohio (1,660), and Toledo (1,605). Since the Falcons' first season in 1915-16, BGSU has reached the 111th season of BG basketball in 2026-27. During that time, they have produced multiple eras of sustained success. The program has captured 12 MAC regular-season championships, made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and reached the Sweet 16 three times. Bowling Green's all-time win total has been fueled by some of the most successful stretches in program history, including a 22-win season in 1958-59, a school-record 31 victories and NCAA Sweet 16 run in 1962-63, and 24-win campaigns in both 1967-68 and 2021-22.

THE SIMON EFFECT
Since taking over the Bowling Green men's basketball program, head coach Todd Simon has made an immediate impact. In his first season at Bowling Green, the Falcons posted their highest win total since 2021-22 and showed improvement on both ends of the floor, continuing a pattern that has defined Simon's career. Known for developing talent, creating disciplined defensive teams and engineering rapid program rebuilds, Simon has guided teams to conference championships, postseason appearances and multiple 20-win seasons.

2026-27 SCHEDULE
Bowling Green's 2026-27 schedule features seven non-conference contests inside the Stroh Center against Cleveland State, Niagara, Northern Illinois, Gardner-Webb, Cornerstone and Aquinas. The Falcons' non-conference road schedule includes tilts at Indiana and William & Mary. BGSU begins its 22-game Mid-American Conference schedule, which begins on Dec. 2 at Kent State. Bowling Green will face Cornerstone and Aquinas on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29 before rounding out their non-conference slate when they play host to a Sun Belt opponent on Feb. 6.

NEW FACES
Bowling Green features a significantly revamped roster in 2026-27, with several newcomers expected to play key roles. Transfers Trey Simmons (Frostburg State), Tristan Beckford (South Florida), Juan Cranford Jr. (Eastern Kentucky) and Zach Howell (Drury) bring collegiate experience and versatility to the Falcons' lineup, while freshmen KJ Torbert and Talan Staley provide additional talent on the perimeter. Those additions join a returning core that includes Makhi Leach, Christian Dedivanaj and Josiah Shackelford, giving head coach Todd Simon a blend of proven experience and young talent entering the 2026-27 campaign.

MR. BASKETBALL, RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Freshman guard KJ Torbert arrived in Bowling Green with a basketball pedigree few players in the country can match. Torbert was named Michigan Mr. Basketball as the state's top high school player, following in the footsteps of his father, Kevin Torbert, who also earned Michigan Mr. Basketball honors during his prep career. The Torberts are one of the rare father-son combinations to both claim the prestigious award, placing them in an exclusive group of Michigan basketball royalty. The honor has been awarded annually since 1981 and features a distinguished list of winners that includes NBA standouts such as Chris Webber, Jason Richardson, Draymond Green and Jalen Rose. KJ was ranked as the number two player in the State of Michigan for the 2026 class by 247Sports, averging 25.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.5 assists per game. He led his East Lansing team to a State Championship in 2024-25 and was named MVP while also being a four-time All-State, All-City and All-Conference First Team selection. For the Falcons, KJ's arrival brings not only elite talent to the roster, but also a family legacy built on being recognized as the best high school basketball player in one of the nation's premier basketball states.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
The Panthers enter 2026-27 under first year head coach Jon Cremins. The 2026-27 campaign will be Cremin's first as a head coach after serving as an assistant at Vanderbilt. Gerogia State has recorded losing seasons in each of the last four years. Last season, the Panthers finished at 10-22 (7-11 Sun Belt) and fell to Louisiana in the first round of the 2026 Sun Belt Tournament.

BGSU vs. GEORGIA STATE, ALL-TIME
Bowling Green and Georgia State have met just once in the all-time series at the 2008 NABC Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. Falcons' sophomore guard Joe Jakubowski made six three-pointers, but none bigger than a long three-pointer as time ran out in overtime, giving Bowling Green a 77-76 win over Georgia State in the season opener for both teams. Bowling Green's 2008-09 lineup, coached by Louis Orr, featured two 1,000-career points scorers, Scott Thomas and Dee Brown.

Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' men's basketball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSUMBB
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsumhoops'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics' and 'BGSU Men's Hoops'
YouTube - 'Falcon Athletics'