ATHENS, Ohio -- Redshirt senior forward Kenny Kaminski paced an effort that saw the Ohio Bobcats (10-3, 2-0 MAC) place four players in double figures and dominate Mid-American Conference East Division rival Kent State (9-6, 1-1 MAC) on national television, 85-67, Friday at the Convocation Center.
The Bobcats, under third year coach Saul Phillips, are . . .
The Bobcats, under third year coach Saul Phillips, are . . .
. . . off to their best start through 13 games since the 2013-14 campaign and start 2-0 in league play for the first time since '13. Since losing to Western Kentucky, 67-66, the ‘Cats have steam-rolled three opponents by margins of 27, 31, and 18. The latter two were against conference foes Western Michigan and Kent State. Ohio twice led KSU by 29 points Friday before ending with the 18-point bulge.
Ohio shot 53.4 percent (31-of-58) from the field while holding Kent State to just 36.6 percent (26-of-71) shooting -- including a 29.2 percent (7-of-24) effort from beyond the arc.
The Bobcats turned 20 turnovers by the Golden Flashes into 23 points. Ohio forced the opposition to commit at least 20 turnovers for the second time in three games. The Bobcats' 15 steals marked the most by an Ohio team since posting 12 against Kent State on March 1, 2014. The last time Ohio tallied 15 steals in a game was against UNC Asheville on Feb. 18, 2012.
Kaminski's 23 points marked a game high and his second 20-point effort of the season. He shot 7-of-13 from the field -- including 5-of-9 from three-point range -- as well as a perfect 4-of-4 performance from the free throw line. He has knocked down at least five treys in a game four times this year. Kaminski also chipped in two rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes.
Senior forward Antonio Campbell scored 18 points while contributing five boards, a block and an assist in just 20 minutes of play as he battled foul trouble throughout the night.
Sophomore guard Jordan Dartis scored 13 points while shooting 5-9 from the field. Dartis also contributed a career-high five steals to go along with five rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes.
Redshirt junior guard Jaaron Simmons had his second double-double of the year and ninth of his career with 10 points and a game-high 10 assists. He also contributed a career-high four steals over 34 minutes of work.
Kent State led for most the first six minutes of the first half. Sophomore guard Jaylin Walker scored 10 of the Golden Flashes' first 18 points as Kent State built up an 18-16 edge. However, Kaminski drained a three-point basket to give Ohio its first lead of the game at 19-18 with 13:20 remaining in the half.
Kaminski's three led to the start of a 13-0 Bobcat run that saw Kent State go scoreless for a six-minute stretch. Senior forward Jimmy Hall ended the run by making one of two free throw attempts with 7:26 left in the opening half to make the score 28-19, marking the last time Kent State trailed by single digits in the contest.
Ohio went on a 17-9 run to end the half and led 45-28 at the break. The Bobcats extended their lead to 20 points, 45-25, when sophomore guard/forward Gavin Block drained a three with just over a minute to go in the half.
After Hall hit a three-pointer to start the second half for Kent State, Ohio answered with a 14-2 run that culminated with a Campbell layup to give the Bobcats a 25-point lead at 58-33 four minutes into the half.
The Golden Flashes immediately went on a 9-0 run of their own to pull within 16 at 58-42, but Dartis ended Kent State's charge with a pair of free throws.
Ohio continued to attack and led by a game-high 29 points at 81-52, after an alley-oop slam by sophomore forward Doug Taylor off of a lob from Simmons with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
"It was a great all-around effort," Phillips said.
Senior guard Deon Edwin led Kent State with 16 points and nearly achieved a double-double with nine boards. He also led the Golden Flashes with three assists and blocked a shot in 28 minutes.
Walker contributed 12 points, an assist and a rebound over 27 minutes for Kent State. Ohio held him scoreless in the second half.
Hall finished the game with a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of work for the Golden Flashes but turned the ball over a game-high seven times.
Ohio is now set to hit the road for the first time in league play, visiting MAC East Division rival Buffalo -- the two-time defending conference tournament champion -- Tuesday in a 7 p.m. ET contest at Alumni Arena in Amherst, N.Y. Kent State will host Northern Illinois Tuesday (7 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of Ohio Athletics/MRO edit)
Ohio shot 53.4 percent (31-of-58) from the field while holding Kent State to just 36.6 percent (26-of-71) shooting -- including a 29.2 percent (7-of-24) effort from beyond the arc.
The Bobcats turned 20 turnovers by the Golden Flashes into 23 points. Ohio forced the opposition to commit at least 20 turnovers for the second time in three games. The Bobcats' 15 steals marked the most by an Ohio team since posting 12 against Kent State on March 1, 2014. The last time Ohio tallied 15 steals in a game was against UNC Asheville on Feb. 18, 2012.
Kaminski's 23 points marked a game high and his second 20-point effort of the season. He shot 7-of-13 from the field -- including 5-of-9 from three-point range -- as well as a perfect 4-of-4 performance from the free throw line. He has knocked down at least five treys in a game four times this year. Kaminski also chipped in two rebounds and two steals in 27 minutes.
Senior forward Antonio Campbell scored 18 points while contributing five boards, a block and an assist in just 20 minutes of play as he battled foul trouble throughout the night.
Sophomore guard Jordan Dartis scored 13 points while shooting 5-9 from the field. Dartis also contributed a career-high five steals to go along with five rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes.
Redshirt junior guard Jaaron Simmons had his second double-double of the year and ninth of his career with 10 points and a game-high 10 assists. He also contributed a career-high four steals over 34 minutes of work.
Kent State led for most the first six minutes of the first half. Sophomore guard Jaylin Walker scored 10 of the Golden Flashes' first 18 points as Kent State built up an 18-16 edge. However, Kaminski drained a three-point basket to give Ohio its first lead of the game at 19-18 with 13:20 remaining in the half.
Kaminski's three led to the start of a 13-0 Bobcat run that saw Kent State go scoreless for a six-minute stretch. Senior forward Jimmy Hall ended the run by making one of two free throw attempts with 7:26 left in the opening half to make the score 28-19, marking the last time Kent State trailed by single digits in the contest.
Ohio went on a 17-9 run to end the half and led 45-28 at the break. The Bobcats extended their lead to 20 points, 45-25, when sophomore guard/forward Gavin Block drained a three with just over a minute to go in the half.
After Hall hit a three-pointer to start the second half for Kent State, Ohio answered with a 14-2 run that culminated with a Campbell layup to give the Bobcats a 25-point lead at 58-33 four minutes into the half.
The Golden Flashes immediately went on a 9-0 run of their own to pull within 16 at 58-42, but Dartis ended Kent State's charge with a pair of free throws.
Ohio continued to attack and led by a game-high 29 points at 81-52, after an alley-oop slam by sophomore forward Doug Taylor off of a lob from Simmons with just over four minutes remaining in the game.
"It was a great all-around effort," Phillips said.
Senior guard Deon Edwin led Kent State with 16 points and nearly achieved a double-double with nine boards. He also led the Golden Flashes with three assists and blocked a shot in 28 minutes.
Walker contributed 12 points, an assist and a rebound over 27 minutes for Kent State. Ohio held him scoreless in the second half.
Hall finished the game with a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of work for the Golden Flashes but turned the ball over a game-high seven times.
Ohio is now set to hit the road for the first time in league play, visiting MAC East Division rival Buffalo -- the two-time defending conference tournament champion -- Tuesday in a 7 p.m. ET contest at Alumni Arena in Amherst, N.Y. Kent State will host Northern Illinois Tuesday (7 p.m. ET).
(Courtesy of Ohio Athletics/MRO edit)
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