Improbability defined Ohio’s 58-56 win against Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
In fact, according to Ken Pomeroy’s 2010 chart of in-game win probabilities, when the Eagles held a 53-44 lead with five minutes remaining, the Bobcats had only a 7.5 percent chance to win.
But a 14-3 run from that point forward propelled Ohio to its fourth Mid-American Conference victory and its first win in Ypsilanti, Mich. since 2006.
The run was topped off by a Javarez “Bean” Willis three-pointer from the elbow, which gave Ohio (14-5, 4-2 MAC) the only lead it needed, while also capping off what was perhaps Willis’ best game as a Bobcat, scoring a season-high 12 points.
In regards to that game-winning shot, Willis said it was the best make of his career.
“By far number one that I can remember,” he said. “And my teammates, the reason I made that, my teammates had the most confidence in (the shot) than anybody. When that ball went up, I know everybody stood up and knew it was going in.”
Ohio’s 33.3 shooting percentage was its worst of the season, but coach Jim Christian was pleased with the performance of his team on the offensive end.
“Look at the possessions,” Christian said. “The ball was popped to the high post, the ball was moved, the ball wasn’t turned over, (we were) attacking on the break for layups. Wide open shots for wide open shooters and sometimes they don’t go in.”
And there were quite a few shots that didn’t go in. At the spot in the lineup opened up by Ricardo Johnson’s injury, seniors T.J. Hall and Travis Wilkins combined to shoot one of 18 from the field.
But facing a team in Eastern Michigan that was ranked atop the conference in forced turnovers (15.8 per game) and steals (8.9 per game) entering the contest, Ohio took care of the basketball with only 10 turnovers.
That giveaway total is the lowest mark since the Bobcats’ conference opener against Kent State, when they also turned the ball 10 times. Before Saturday’s win, Ohio averaged 13.4 turnovers per game in league play.
The Bobcats’ win also marked their third road win of the conference schedule, giving them an undefeated record on the road in the MAC while sporting an uncharacteristic 1-2 home record.
Christian joked after the game that he was going to move the rest of the games this season on the road, as the Bobcats have lost more home conference games this season than they had in the past two seasons combined (one).
@C_Hoppens
ch203310@ohiou.edu
Fast Facts
Ohio 58
Eastern Michigan 56
Trailing 53-44 with five minutes remaining in the game, Ohio had a 7.5 percent chance to win.
Javarez “Bean” Willis scored a season-high 12 points, including the game-winning three-pointer.
