ATHENS, Ohio -- Led by senior forward Antonio Campbell's sixth double-double of the season, the Ohio Bobcats (9-3, 1-0 MAC) cruised past West Division foe Western Michigan (4-9, 0-1 MAC), 89-58 in a Mid-American Conference opener at Convocation Center on Tuesday.
The Bobcats' 31-point margin of victory marked the largest over Western Michigan since the 1969-70 season, when Ohio came away with a 107-68 triumph on Feb. 7, 1970.
Ohio shot . . .
The Bobcats' 31-point margin of victory marked the largest over Western Michigan since the 1969-70 season, when Ohio came away with a 107-68 triumph on Feb. 7, 1970.
Ohio shot . . .
. . . 50.0 percent (31-of-62) from the field -- including 51.6 percent (16-of-31) from three-point range. The 16 made treys marked the most by the Bobcats this season and the most since Ohio drained 18 in a 83-82 win over Akron on Feb. 4, 2015.
The Bobcats put together another strong defensive effort as well, limiting Western Michigan to 33.3 percent (20-of-60) shooting -- including just 25.0 percent (4-of-16) from beyond the arc. Ohio also dominated the box score in assists (20-8) and blocks (5-1). The Bobcats' 20 dimes marked a new season high.
"I thought we were sharp in darn near every aspect tonight," said third-year head coach Saul Phillips.
Campbell went 7-of-12 from the field with a career-high six made three-pointers en route to 22 points to lead all scorers, marking his fifth 20-point effort of the year. He also grabbed 12 boards and contributed two assists and a steal in 27 minutes.
Sophomore guard Jordan Dartis and redshirt senior forward Kenny Kaminski each scored 12 points for Ohio, with both going 4-of-8 from the field. Kaminski knocked down four treys and added a rebound, an assist and a steal in 21 minutes of action while Dartis hit three three-pointers and tallied an assist and a steal in 28 minutes.
Redshirt junior guard Jaaron Simmons scored 11 points while contributing four assists and posting a team-high two steals and a rebound over 28 minutes.
Sophomore guard Gavin Block only scored three points but had an impactful 22 minutes on the court, leading all players with a season-high eight assists to go along with three rebounds.
"Ball movement," said Block of the key to Ohio's big win. "We got it going inside out, and it felt like we were getting a little three heavy, but they were going down, and, with the ball moving, they were great shots."
Ohio sank nine three-pointers in the first half en route to a 21-point halftime lead. Simmons made a layup to cap off a 20-6 run to start the game for the Bobcats. The Bobcats took their largest lead of the half when Dartis hit a free throw to give Ohio a 25-point lead, 44-19, with just over two minutes in the half.
Ohio picked up right where it left off in the second half and led by less than 20 points just once. Block gave Ohio its biggest lead of the game at 32 points when he drained a free throw with 3:01 remaining to complete a conventional three-point play, extending the Bobcats' advantage to 83-51.
The Bobcats had three dunks in the second half. Freshman guard Rodney Culver started it off with a breakaway slam, followed by a jam by sophomore forward Doug Taylor and an alley-oop dunk by sophomore forward Jaylin McDonald on a lob pass by senior guard Drew Crabtree.
The final points came off of a three-point bucket by junior guard Antonio Bisutti (Dublin, Ohio).
Western Michigan was led by junior guard Thomas Wilder, who recorded nine points, 10 rebounds, as well as two assists in 28 minutes.
Ohio plays host to East Division rival Kent State (9-5, 1-0 MAC) on Friday in a 9 p.m. ET nationally televised contest on ESPNU at the Convo. The Golden Flashes began MAC play with a 100-90 victory over West Division foe Ball State on Tuesday at the M.A.C. Center.
(Courtesy of Ohio Athletics)
The Bobcats put together another strong defensive effort as well, limiting Western Michigan to 33.3 percent (20-of-60) shooting -- including just 25.0 percent (4-of-16) from beyond the arc. Ohio also dominated the box score in assists (20-8) and blocks (5-1). The Bobcats' 20 dimes marked a new season high.
"I thought we were sharp in darn near every aspect tonight," said third-year head coach Saul Phillips.
Campbell went 7-of-12 from the field with a career-high six made three-pointers en route to 22 points to lead all scorers, marking his fifth 20-point effort of the year. He also grabbed 12 boards and contributed two assists and a steal in 27 minutes.
Sophomore guard Jordan Dartis and redshirt senior forward Kenny Kaminski each scored 12 points for Ohio, with both going 4-of-8 from the field. Kaminski knocked down four treys and added a rebound, an assist and a steal in 21 minutes of action while Dartis hit three three-pointers and tallied an assist and a steal in 28 minutes.
Redshirt junior guard Jaaron Simmons scored 11 points while contributing four assists and posting a team-high two steals and a rebound over 28 minutes.
Sophomore guard Gavin Block only scored three points but had an impactful 22 minutes on the court, leading all players with a season-high eight assists to go along with three rebounds.
"Ball movement," said Block of the key to Ohio's big win. "We got it going inside out, and it felt like we were getting a little three heavy, but they were going down, and, with the ball moving, they were great shots."
Ohio sank nine three-pointers in the first half en route to a 21-point halftime lead. Simmons made a layup to cap off a 20-6 run to start the game for the Bobcats. The Bobcats took their largest lead of the half when Dartis hit a free throw to give Ohio a 25-point lead, 44-19, with just over two minutes in the half.
Ohio picked up right where it left off in the second half and led by less than 20 points just once. Block gave Ohio its biggest lead of the game at 32 points when he drained a free throw with 3:01 remaining to complete a conventional three-point play, extending the Bobcats' advantage to 83-51.
The Bobcats had three dunks in the second half. Freshman guard Rodney Culver started it off with a breakaway slam, followed by a jam by sophomore forward Doug Taylor and an alley-oop dunk by sophomore forward Jaylin McDonald on a lob pass by senior guard Drew Crabtree.
The final points came off of a three-point bucket by junior guard Antonio Bisutti (Dublin, Ohio).
Western Michigan was led by junior guard Thomas Wilder, who recorded nine points, 10 rebounds, as well as two assists in 28 minutes.
Ohio plays host to East Division rival Kent State (9-5, 1-0 MAC) on Friday in a 9 p.m. ET nationally televised contest on ESPNU at the Convo. The Golden Flashes began MAC play with a 100-90 victory over West Division foe Ball State on Tuesday at the M.A.C. Center.
(Courtesy of Ohio Athletics)
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