PREGAME
The Bobcats (1-1) host Valparaiso (2-1) today at 2 p.m. Ohio is coming off its first loss of the season as they fell to No. 10 Ohio State Tuesday 79-69. Senior guard Nick Kellogg and junior guard Stevie Taylor each had 21 points apiece to pace the Bobcats. The Crusaders fell to Illinois Wednesday 64-52. Senior guard Jordan Coleman, who averages 15 points per contest, leads the transfer heavy roster. Valparaiso earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament last year and fell to Michigan State in the first round.
Ohio starters for the contest are: junior guard Stevie Taylor, senior guard Nick Kellogg, junior forward Jon Smith, junior forward Maurice Ndour and senior guard Ricardo Johnson.
Valparaiso starters are: senior guard Jordan Coleman, senior guard LaVonte Dority, senior forward Bobby Capobianco, senior center Moussa Gueye and freshman forward Alec Peters.
FIRST HALF
Valparaiso controlled opening tip and Ohio got rebound as Ndour converted on a shot in the paint. Bobcats scored first in game and lead 2-0.
Maurice Ndour just scored his ninth point in game with 17: 35 remaining in the first half.
Kellogg adds three-pointer of his own. Bobcats just extended lead to 15-8. Valparaiso took timeout with 16:02 left in first half.
Maurice Ndour just added a slam dunk to his resume for the day. With timeout on floor Bobcats extended lead to 20-8 with 15:15 remaining in first half.
Ndour has scored 11 points in the contest. He leads all Bobcats.
With 11:33 left in the first half, timeout called on the floor. Bobcats lead the Crusaders 20-10.
Capobianco converted on a three-point opportunity. Smith answered with two points on the other end for Ohio. Smith added another jumper on the Bobcats ensuing posession. With 8:14 remaining in the first half, Ohio leads 27-15.
Coleman went to foul line for Crusaders and converts on both chances. He then fouled Johnson in act of shooting three pointer. Johnson made on of three attempts. Bobcats lead Valparaiso 28-18 with 6: 38 remaining in the first half.
Timeout called as the Crusaders cut Ohio's lead to 30-23 with 3:46 left in the first half.
Ndour at foul line, converted on both attempts. Taylor proceeds to steal ball for Bobcats and made a layup. Ohio leads 40- 26 with 18.5 seconds left in the half.
At halftime the Bobcats lead the Crusaders 40-28.
Maurice Ndour leads all Bobcats with 13 points at the half. He also has three rebounds.
Ohio held the Crusaders to a 33.3 shooting percentage in the first half. Forward Alec Peters leads Valparaiso with six points.
SECOND HALF
Taylor began second half for Bobcats with thre-pointer that was airballed. Valparaiso then threw pass out of bounds. They regained posession after an Ohio miss and scored the first two points of the half. Score now stands 40-31 with 18:20 left in the contest.
With 16:52 left in the second half, Valparaiso has cut the Bobcats lead to four. Ohio leads 40-36.
Nick Kellogg scored a quick five points for the Bobcats. with 15:24 remaining the game Ohio leads 48-39.
With 13:38 left in the game, Bobcats lead by 10, 49-39.
Valparaiso went to free throw line. The Crusaders Lexus Williams made one of two. Bobcats lead 51-40 with 12:07 remaining in the contest.
Bobcats leading 51-42 with timeout on floor with 11:42 left in game.
Ohio leads 62-46 with 9:41 left in the game. Before timeout on floor, Taylor followed a Travis Wilkins miss with a layup.
Maurice Ndour tacked in two more. Ohio now leads 68-58 with 6:35 left in the game.
Valparaiso cut into Bobcats lead. Ohio leads 69-63 with 4:14 remaining in the contest.
The Crusaders are still hanging around with 3:03 left Ohio leads 69-66.
Valparaiso's Coleman goes to foul line. He converts on both attempts. The Crusaders lead 72-70 with 1:56 remaining to play.
Ohio retakes lead 73-72. Kellogg fouled with 24.9 seconds left in the game. He converted on both attempts.
FINAL: Ohio 76 Valparaiso 72.
