Tom Howland played his best game of the season in Ball State's 87-62 win over Bowling Green on Tuesday, according coach Tim Buckley. Against the Falcons, Howland scored seven points on 3-of-5 shooting, grabbed four rebounds, and added a steal in 20 minutes.
Entering the game, the 6-foot-11 junior had averaged 1.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 10 minutes per game.
Buckley said that at the weekly luncheon he speaks at each Monday, one of the attendees suggested Buckley play Howland more.
"So when I was driving back from the luncheon, I said, 'You know what? We ought to play Tom Howland some more,' Buckley said. " It's a great suggestion. I owe the gentleman an assist and I'll probably buy him lunch on Monday."
But Buckley added that Howland had earned the right to play more, and that he had more conducive matchups against the Falcons, unlike the Toledo game last Wednesday.
"We're going to take a look at that and see if Tom can guard some smaller, quicker guys," Buckley said.
With Anthony Kent benched for the game, that also presented Howland with an opportunity to play more.
"I feel like--and the staff feels like--we've given (Kent) ample opportunities to produce, and to this point he has not," Buckley said. "I hope he looks at this and says, 'I'd really like to be a part of that victory,' and until that happens consistently, we move on. The train's moving."
Kent had started eight the first 12 games, but averaged just 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds.
Howland's efforts were also recognized by his teammates.
"Tom gave us a big boost at the center position by grabbing rebounds and knocking down shots," Skip Mills said. "That definitely helped when one of us couldn't get open or we had to get a shot off on time."
On defense, Buckley said when Howland plays low and wide, "he has a chance to be a really good player. When he plays straight up and down defensively, he has a better chance of getting injured and lacks any explosiveness.
"Tonight, I think he did a terrific job with that. He fought through fatigue at certain times, too."
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