ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio Bobcats used a stingy defensive effort to shut down Cleveland State, 71-53, on Saturday at the Convocation Center.
Ohio held Cleveland State to 32.2 percent (19-of-59) from the floor -- including just 14.3 percent (3-of-21) from beyond the arc. Both percentages represent the lowest shooting effort by a Bobcat opponent in 2016-17.
The Bobcats (7-2) have now taken each of the last four meetings from the in-state rival Vikings (3-7).
"Throughout it all, the . . .
Ohio held Cleveland State to 32.2 percent (19-of-59) from the floor -- including just 14.3 percent (3-of-21) from beyond the arc. Both percentages represent the lowest shooting effort by a Bobcat opponent in 2016-17.
The Bobcats (7-2) have now taken each of the last four meetings from the in-state rival Vikings (3-7).
"Throughout it all, the . . .
. . . narrative tonight was we were really good defensively," said third-year head coach Saul Phillips, who has the Bobcats off to their best start through nine games during his tenure. "We handled their screen and roll. The help-side was terrific. At the half, they had 21 points. Six of them were in transition off turnovers and four of them were on offensive rebounds. That's pretty solid half-court 'D', overall."
The Bobcats' defensive effort helped them overcome a season-high 23 turnovers. Ohio shot just 38.5 percent (10-of-26) in the first half -- including 30.0 percent (3-of-10) from three-point range -- but bounced back with a 59.1 percent (13-of-22) second-half performance that saw the Bobcats hit 7-of-12 3-point attempts.
"I can promise you we do work on that and will continue to work on that," Phillips said of Ohio's turnover issues. "It's something that I've always taken a large amount of pride in. One of the cornerstones that I build my program on is taking care of the ball."
Senior forward Antonio Campbell led the way for the Bobcats with a game-high 14 points in 25 minutes of action, marking his ninth double-digit scoring effort of the season and fifth in a row. He also contributed six boards to tie for the team lead.
Sophomore guard/forward Gavin Block matched his season high with 11 points, going 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-5 from the free throw line. He also chipped in a rebound, two assists and a team-high two steals over 24 minutes.
"I got Jordan Dartis in my ear all the time telling me to shoot the ball," said Block. "I came in today loose and ready to play. Just a different mindset today. I feel like the way they played today favored me."
Redshirt junior guard Jaaron Simmons scored 10 points and grabbed a season-high six rebounds to tie Campbell for the team lead. He also dished out a game-high eight assists and recorded his first block as a Bobcat in 33 minutes of action.
Sophomore guard Jordan Dartis sank three treys to finish with nine points. He also contributed two rebounds over 34 minutes of work.
Ohio received 21 points from its bench, with sophomore forward Doug Taylor and freshman forward Jason Carter each going 3-of-4 from the field and finishing with eight points apiece. Taylor added two rebounds in 13 minutes, while Carter hauled in two boards over 12 minutes. Freshman guard Rodney Culver pulled down a career-high five rebounds to go along with one point and two assists over 16 minutes off of the bench.
"The bench is a huge part of our team. We bring a lot of energy," said Taylor. "Rodney brings a lot of energy, offensively and defensively. Jason brings a lot of energy, offensively, especially. I do what I can. (Junior guard) Mike (Laster) had a big game today. We do what we can do. It's fun to watch when the bench gets going, because it gets the everyone going. It gives everyone some energy."
After freshman guard Kasheem Thomas sank a pair of free throws to give Cleveland State the first points of the contest, the Bobcats went on a 10-0 run, highlighted by triples from Block and Campbell.
The Ohio defense held Cleveland State to an 0-of-5 start from the field until senior forward Demonte Flannigan ended the Vikings' drought with a layup that came nearly six minutes into the first half.
The Vikings went on their own run, though, scoring seven consecutive points to pull within two at 17-15 before Simmons drained a pair of free throws to stop the bleeding.
Ohio's defense was a driving force during a first half in which its offense struggled. The Bobcats held the Vikings scoreless for two three-plus minute stretches, including holding Cleveland State scoreless for the final 5:45 of the half -- a stretch in which the Vikings went 0-of-8 from the field.
Ohio held Cleveland State without a three-point bucket in the first half, with the Vikings going 0-of-9 from beyond the arc. The Bobcats held the Vikings to just 21 points in the first half, marking the fewest points scored by an Ohio opponent in the opening 20 minutes of play this season.
Dartis kicked off the second half with a three to put Ohio up by 10. Cleveland State answered with a 5-0 run, though, to pull within five at, 31-26, with a trey by sophomore guard Rob Edwards capping off the spurt.
That would be the closest margin for the remaining of the second half as Ohio answered by scoring 22 of the next 28 points to take a 21-point lead at 53-32 -- the largest of the contest for the Bobcats. Campbell scored 11 of his 14 points over the final 20 minutes of action.
Defensively, Ohio held each of Cleveland State's top-three scorers heading into Saturday's game to less than 10 points.
Thomas led the Vikings with nine points and added five rebounds, three steals and two assists in 34 minutes. Flannigan and junior guard Bobby Word each tallied eight points for Cleveland State. Flannigan added four rebounds and a block over 19 minutes, while Word hauled in a game-high seven boards and also had two steals. Edwards notched seven points, three steals and a rebound in 19 minutes.
Ohio will visit Bowling Green, Ky., for its final road non-conference game of the 2016-17 regular season as it clashes with Western Kentucky next Wednesday (Dec. 21) in a 9 p.m. ET matchup that will be televised on FOX College Sports.
(Courtesy of Ohio Athletics)
"I can promise you we do work on that and will continue to work on that," Phillips said of Ohio's turnover issues. "It's something that I've always taken a large amount of pride in. One of the cornerstones that I build my program on is taking care of the ball."
Senior forward Antonio Campbell led the way for the Bobcats with a game-high 14 points in 25 minutes of action, marking his ninth double-digit scoring effort of the season and fifth in a row. He also contributed six boards to tie for the team lead.
Sophomore guard/forward Gavin Block matched his season high with 11 points, going 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-5 from the free throw line. He also chipped in a rebound, two assists and a team-high two steals over 24 minutes.
"I got Jordan Dartis in my ear all the time telling me to shoot the ball," said Block. "I came in today loose and ready to play. Just a different mindset today. I feel like the way they played today favored me."
Redshirt junior guard Jaaron Simmons scored 10 points and grabbed a season-high six rebounds to tie Campbell for the team lead. He also dished out a game-high eight assists and recorded his first block as a Bobcat in 33 minutes of action.
Sophomore guard Jordan Dartis sank three treys to finish with nine points. He also contributed two rebounds over 34 minutes of work.
Ohio received 21 points from its bench, with sophomore forward Doug Taylor and freshman forward Jason Carter each going 3-of-4 from the field and finishing with eight points apiece. Taylor added two rebounds in 13 minutes, while Carter hauled in two boards over 12 minutes. Freshman guard Rodney Culver pulled down a career-high five rebounds to go along with one point and two assists over 16 minutes off of the bench.
"The bench is a huge part of our team. We bring a lot of energy," said Taylor. "Rodney brings a lot of energy, offensively and defensively. Jason brings a lot of energy, offensively, especially. I do what I can. (Junior guard) Mike (Laster) had a big game today. We do what we can do. It's fun to watch when the bench gets going, because it gets the everyone going. It gives everyone some energy."
After freshman guard Kasheem Thomas sank a pair of free throws to give Cleveland State the first points of the contest, the Bobcats went on a 10-0 run, highlighted by triples from Block and Campbell.
The Ohio defense held Cleveland State to an 0-of-5 start from the field until senior forward Demonte Flannigan ended the Vikings' drought with a layup that came nearly six minutes into the first half.
The Vikings went on their own run, though, scoring seven consecutive points to pull within two at 17-15 before Simmons drained a pair of free throws to stop the bleeding.
Ohio's defense was a driving force during a first half in which its offense struggled. The Bobcats held the Vikings scoreless for two three-plus minute stretches, including holding Cleveland State scoreless for the final 5:45 of the half -- a stretch in which the Vikings went 0-of-8 from the field.
Ohio held Cleveland State without a three-point bucket in the first half, with the Vikings going 0-of-9 from beyond the arc. The Bobcats held the Vikings to just 21 points in the first half, marking the fewest points scored by an Ohio opponent in the opening 20 minutes of play this season.
Dartis kicked off the second half with a three to put Ohio up by 10. Cleveland State answered with a 5-0 run, though, to pull within five at, 31-26, with a trey by sophomore guard Rob Edwards capping off the spurt.
That would be the closest margin for the remaining of the second half as Ohio answered by scoring 22 of the next 28 points to take a 21-point lead at 53-32 -- the largest of the contest for the Bobcats. Campbell scored 11 of his 14 points over the final 20 minutes of action.
Defensively, Ohio held each of Cleveland State's top-three scorers heading into Saturday's game to less than 10 points.
Thomas led the Vikings with nine points and added five rebounds, three steals and two assists in 34 minutes. Flannigan and junior guard Bobby Word each tallied eight points for Cleveland State. Flannigan added four rebounds and a block over 19 minutes, while Word hauled in a game-high seven boards and also had two steals. Edwards notched seven points, three steals and a rebound in 19 minutes.
Ohio will visit Bowling Green, Ky., for its final road non-conference game of the 2016-17 regular season as it clashes with Western Kentucky next Wednesday (Dec. 21) in a 9 p.m. ET matchup that will be televised on FOX College Sports.
(Courtesy of Ohio Athletics)
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