"Just really proud of . . .
All five starters for the Bobcats scored in double figures. Roderick finished the game with 20 points, going 7-of-12 from the field and 6-of-9 from three-point range, Sears, in his second start in place of an injured Jason Preston, scored a career-high 18 points. Senior forward Dwight Wilson III added 14 points and eight rebounds, while redshirt junior Ben Vander Plas added 14 points. Sophomore guard Lunden McDay contributed 10 points.
Overall, Ohio shot 55.4 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from the field and 69.2 percent from the free throw line, while Ball State shot 46.4 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from three and 77.8 percent from the line.
Ohio out-rebounded the Cardinals, 32-26, while Ball State dished out 18 assists to Ohio's 13. Both teams recorded 11 turnovers, however the Bobcats registered eight steals and three blocks.
Ohio went on an 8-1 run to take a 10-3 lead, a owned a 21-11 lead after Roderick hit a three and a layup with 12:30 to go.
After another Sears jumper put Ohio up 15, Ball State started to head up, cutting the lead to nine at the eight minute mark. Two-straight threes from Ball State late in the half cut into the Bobcats lead once again, but a Sears layup with 3:34 left make it a 38-27 game. The Cardinals would not back down, and after two threes and a few free throws from Ball State, the Bobcats took a 42-37 lead into the locker room at the half.
Ball State opened the second half on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 46-46 going into the first media timeout. After trading baskets, Vander Plas hit a three and a jumper to give Ohio a two-point lead with 11:40 left in the game. A Roderick three put Ohio up by five, however, the Cardinals battled back to tie the game at 60-60 with 7:31 left.
After Sears put Ohio back up on top with a layup and a free throw, Roderick drained his sixth three of the night, giving the Bobcats a 66-62 lead with 6:39 left. The Bobcats would not trail again, getting clutch points from Vander Plas and Sears, including Sears with the final layup with 25 seconds left to give Ohio the 78-68 victory.
(OU Athletics/MRO Edit)