Michigan State 64 Bowling Green 53

Men's Basketball
Home Team: BGSU Falcons
Visiting Team: Michigan State Spartans
Venue: Stroh Center (Bowling Green, Ohio)
Game Time: 7:00 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: None (sort of)

Game Story | Box Score

A lot of times when a school, particularly a mid-major school, opens a new basketball arena, they'll bring in a big-name opponent for the first game. If they take the expected pounding, it doesn't really matter, because it's still the first game in a new arena; if they actually win, it's icing on the cake.

BG didn't do that last year when they opened the Stroh Center, so Michigan State was the first big-name opponent to grace the new arena. Actually, they're the biggest name to visit Bowling Green for a men's basketball game since I started watching in 1997. Anderson Arena was visited by Northwestern (a BG loss) and Michigan (a BG victory, and one of the most thrilling finishes to a game I've ever seen) during the Dakich administration, but those teams weren't the Spartans. (Michigan is really good now; then, under Tommy Amaker, not so much.)

Allow me to gush for a moment. I started casually following Michigan State basketball at the same time I was falling head-over-heels for BG basketball. At the time, MSU had a guy named Andre Hutson on their team, who was from the Dayton area, and I like following local guys. Over the years, as my basketball jones grew, I just really dug the way the Spartans played, and I developed a huge respect for Tom Izzo as a coach. So, for me, they're like the hoops equivalent of a rock star. I saw the Falcons play them once before, in 2000, at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit. Having them come to our place, there was no way I was going to miss it.

I didn't have particularly high hopes for the game itself, but it turned out to be a pretty solid contest. The Falcons played as well as I've seen them play all year (granted, most of that is via Internet streaming--this was only the second game I've seen in person, and the first was unimpressive, to say the least). They were tenacious on defense and on the glass, and they gave Michigan State all they could handle for 3/4 of the game. It was tied at 45 with about 45 minutes left. Unfortunately, that's when the Falcons' offensive inconsistency reared its ugly head, and Sparty was able to pull away for the win.

Still, it was a good game, and I'm really glad I went. The Stroh Center was full, which was really nice to see. I don't think it'll ever equal Anderson Arena in noise level or energy, but I'm glad to report that it can get fairly loud when the situation demands.

As a sidenote, Brandi wasn't feeling well, so she was unable to accompany me to the game. I took the extra ticket anyway. By the time I got through the Stroh Center traffic and parked, it was about ten minutes to tipoff, so I had to hustle to get inside in time. As I was almost inside, a guy who was also on his way in asked if I happened to have an extra ticket (it was, officially, a sellout, although he probably could have gotten a standing room ticket inside). When I gave it to him, and told him I didn't want anything in return, I could tell it made his night. Even more so when we got inside and he saw that our seats were just five rows off the court. He was a Michigan State fan, of course (he went to school when Magic Johnson played there), but we ended up having really good conversation throughout the game. It was a good reminder that doing something nice for someone (even a complete stranger) when you have an opportunity is usually worth it.

Bowling Green 63 Lake Erie College 53

Men's Basketball
Home Team: BGSU Falcons
Visiting Team: Lake Erie Storm
Venue: Stroh Center (Bowling Green, Ohio)
Game Time: 7:00 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: None

Game Story | Box Score

I miss Anderson Arena.

This is by no means a knock on the Stroh Center. This is BG's second season playing in their new arena, and there's no doubt they needed a new facility. I've been to three games there now, and it's beautiful, an absolute gem as far as basketball arenas go.

One of the great things about Anderson Arena, though, was the vast expanse of student/general admission seating in primo territory, on the floor along one sideline. That area was all bleacher seating, which gave you plenty of room to spread out and be boisterous if you were so inclined (I usually was), as well as some leeway in choosing the company in your general vicinity.

Not so at the Stroh. The students are segregated behind one basket, and all the rest of the seating is ticket-specific. Tonight I was situated between two old ladies. The one on my left seemed to be paying attention to the game but didn't clap once all night, not even during pregame introductions. The lady on my left was staring at her phone almost the entire time; she put it away about five minutes into the second half, yawned twice, then got it back out and kept it out for the duration. I felt like an annoyance anytime I clapped or cheered. I did it anyway.

So yeah, the Stroh is great, but it just doesn't quite feel like home to me just yet. Of course, I also prefer BG's old logo to the new one, and I'd take Dan Dakich over Louis Orr anyday. I also want you to get off my lawn.

As for the game...well, hey, I was at a BG basketball game, and they won, so far be it from me to complain. I feel like they should have beaten Lake Erie by far more than they did, but it was the first game of the season and a couple of guys were unavailable due to injury, so that may have played a part. I was really impressed by Richaun Holmes in his first game action as a member of the Falcons. I was not particularly impressed with anything else.

Piqua 14 Troy 0

High School Football
Home Team: Piqua
Visiting Team: Troy Trojans
Venue: Alexander Stadium
Game Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: Gary and Nikki

Read my thoughts here.

Troy 28 Greenville 6

High School Football
Home Team: Greenville Green Wave
Visiting Team: Troy Trojans
Venue: Harmon Field
Game Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: None

Read my thoughts here.

Trotwood-Madison 42 Troy 14

High School Football
Home Team: Troy Trojans
Visiting Team: Trotwood-Madison Rams
Venue: Troy Memorial Stadium
Game Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: Gary and Nikki

Read my thoughts here.

Vandalia Butler 6 Troy 0

High School Football
Home Team: Butler Aviators
Visiting Team: Troy Trojans
Venue: Butler Memorial Stadium
Game Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: Aunt Sissy

Read my thoughts here.

Troy 26 Sidney 7

High School Football
Home Team: Troy Trojans
Visiting Team: Sidney Yellowjackets
Venue: Troy Memorial Stadium
Game Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: Gary and Nikki

Read my thoughts here.

Miamisburg 7 Troy 6

High School Football
Home Team: Miamisburg Vikings
Visiting Team: Troy Trojans
Venue: Harmon Field
Game Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday / 11:00 a.m. Saturday
Fellow Attendees: Gary

Read my thoughts here.

Springfield 27 Troy 21

High School Football
Home Team: Troy Trojans
Visiting Team: Springfield Wildcats
Venue: Troy Memorial Stadium
Game Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: Gary and Nikki

Read my thoughts here.

Troy 41 Springfield Shawnee 14

High School Football
Home Team: Shawnee Braves
Visiting Team: Troy Trojans
Venue: Dave Long Memorial Stadium
Game Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: Gary, Nikki

Read my thoughts here.

Chaminade-Julienne 21 Troy 14

High School Football
Home Team: Troy Trojans
Visiting Team: Chaminade-Julienne Eagles
Venue: Troy Memorial Stadium
Game Time: 7:30 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: None

Read my thoughts here.

Dragons 5 Lugnuts 4

Minor League Baseball
Home Team: Dayton Dragons
Visiting Team: Lansing Lugnuts
Venue: Fifth Third Field (Dayton, Ohio)
Game Time: 7:00 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: Doug, Deseree

Game Story | Box Score | A Photo

The name of this game was heat. It was hot outside; the pitchers were bringing some heat; their pitches were getting smoked; and some players and coaches got pretty hot about some calls.

One cool thing, though, is that one player for the visiting team, 2B Chris Peters, is a local kid. He had a heck of a night, too, going 3 for 5 with a triple and two runs scored. He looked like a quick, scrappy little player.

This was my first chance to really see the Dragons play this year. I know they aren't having a great season, but I liked what I saw out of them. They were really putting some good wood on the ball, and they were aggressive on the bases. I don't know how many of these guys will ever take the field for the Reds, but it's always fun to go have a look at them.

We ended up leaving after the bottom of the seventh inning. Luckily, that was the inning in which the Dragons took the lead, so we didn't miss any scoring.

Pirates 8 Reds 4

Major League Baseball
Home Team: Cincinnati Reds (H. Bailey)
Visiting Team: Pittsburgh Pirates (A. Burnett)
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Game Time: 7:10 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: Shawn, Doug, Pops

Game Story | Box Score

The real story of this game, at least for me, was the seats we had. My buddy Doug got his hands on four "Scout Seats"--if you check out a map of Great American Ball Park, look for Section 24; not only is that where we were, but we were in the second row of said section, right behind the coveted Diamond Seats and looking directly at home plate. There are no bad seats at GABP, but these were definitely the best I've had. The only bad thing about them is that now I want to sit there every time. I was really hoping Aroldis Chapman would get a chance to pitch for the Reds so I could see what a 105MPH fastball looks like from that close, but alas, that didn't happen.

As for the game, it can be summed up in the words "Bad Homer." Reds pitcher Homer Bailey has dominated the Pirates throughout his career, so I went in with a good feeling. No streak lasts forever, though, and tonight Homer didn't have his best stuff. The Reds put up a couple of runs in the first inning, but Homer couldn't hold the lead, and the Reds' offense couldn't muster enough the rest of the night to overcome the deficit.

Still, it was a perfect night for baseball, and it's always great to be at the ballpark with some friends. This was my first trip to see the Reds in person since their one playoff game at home after the 2010 season, so it was long overdue.

Akron 56 Bowling Green 55

Men's Basketball
Home Team: BGSU Falcons
Visiting Team: Akron Zips
Venue: Stroh Center (Bowling Green, Ohio)
Game Time: 7:00 p.m.
Fellow Attendees: None

It's a rarity when my work schedule has me in Toledo on the same day as a BG basketball game, but it happened tonight. I was glad for a chance to make my second visit to the Stroh Center, with a chance to see the Falcons take on the hated Akron Zips.

For the most part, I thought BG played pretty well in this one. It certainly looked like they were going to pull out a victory, as they were tied or ahead for over 39 minutes of gametime. Alas, it's a 40-minute game, and Akron was able to pull it out with a last-second shot that probably should have been negated by a charging call. I was pretty salty about that when the buzzer sounded, but the drive home afterwards helped me to put things in perspective. Had they done just a few more things right, they would have been able to hold on. With even one more made free throw (a 4 for 9 night is not something to be proud of), Akron's last shot would have resulted in overtime instead of a loss.

Still, Akron is always tough, and while I'm not going to pretend that a close loss is a moral victory in a game they should have won, there were some encouraging things. Sophomore center Cam Black had a really nice game, with ten points and seven rebounds, and I thought freshman guard Jehvon Clarke did a good job running the point off the bench. If those two can continue to contribute at that level for the rest of the season, BG should be in decent shape.