PREGAME
Ohio (23-11, 11-7) will get a another chance to further its season Wednesday, as they host Cleveland State (21-11, 12-4) in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.
The Bobcats, who last played in the CIT during the 2010-2011 season, are 11-20 all-time in post-season tournaments, which do not include the conference championship. This season’s CIT berth marks a school-record fifth consecutive appearance in a postseason tournament. The Bobcats enter the tournament, following an 83-77 loss to Akron in the Quarterfinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament. Ohio was paced in scoring by senior guard Nick Kellogg, who scored 25 points.
The Vikings finished second in the Horizon League this season, before losing in the semifinals of their conference tournament. Cleveland State is 2-2 against MAC teams this season. The Vikings are on the best shooting teams in the country, as they rank second nationally with a 40.9 team 3-point field goal percentage. Cleveland State sophomore guard Bryn Forbes, an All-Horizon League Second Team selection averages 15.4 points per game. Vikings senior forward Jon Harris is also an offensive threat for the Vikings, as he averages 10.4 points per contest to go along with an average of 6.0 rebounds per game.
STARTING LINEUP:
OHIO: redshirt junior guard Javarez Willis, senior guard Nick Kellogg, senior guard Travis Wilkins, junior forward Maurice Ndour, freshman forward Antonio Campbell.
CLEVELAND STATE: sophomore guard Bryn Forbes, sophomore guard Trey Lewis, sophomore forward Anton Grady, junior forward Marlin Mason, junior guard Charlie Lee
FIRST HALF
Hot shooting for Ohio was the difference in the first half, as they clung to a 32-31 lead over Cleveland State at intermission. The Bobcats connected early and often from behind the arc in the first half they hit six of nine 3-pointers. The half consisted of multiple scoring runs, as each team sought to put its mark on the first half.
Ohio opened up an early 7-4 lead before the Vikings stormed back, and took a 13-7 lead with 15:44 remaining in the first half. After the Bobcats hit three consecutive 3-pointers from junior guard Stevie Taylor and senior guard Travis Wilkins at the 10:00 mark the Bobcats took an 18-17 lead. A defining trend in the opening half was the Bobcats defense. Ohio held the Vikings, who are characteristically one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country to 25 percent. A major issue for the Bobcats however was their turnovers. Ohio gave the ball away 11 times in the first half. Ohio also distributed the ball well, as they had 10 assists and seven Bobcats entered the scoring column. The Bobcats bench outscored the Vikings bench 22-3.
With 3:21 left in the first half, Cleveland State tied the game at 26 apiece after a basket by Vikings senior forward Jon Harris before Ohio regained the lead following a pair of free throws by redshirt sophomore forward Treg Setty.
SECOND HALF
On a night where freshman forward Antonio Campbell provided the majority of the offensive fireworks for Ohio, it was fitting he hit two free throws with four seconds left against Cleveland State to ice the game for the Bobcats. Ohio defeated the Vikings 64-62, as Campbell led the way with a career-high 21 points as Ohio advances to the second round of the CIT.
Sophomore guard Bryn Forbes lead the Vikings with 20 points, while Setty and Taylor helped lead the way for Ohio, as each finished with 13 points apiece. While Campbell played well, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Ohio in the second half. After Ohio took a 37-35 lead with 15:39 left in the game, the Vikings roared back to tie the game at 42 all with 12:54 remaining in the second half. Both teams traded baskets before Ohio took a 54-52 lead with 6:25 remaining in the contest. Cleveland State then came back in the waning minutes to tie the game at 60.
Ohio senior guard Nick Kellogg hit a crucial basket that gave Ohio a 62-60 lead with 36 second remaining in the game before Campbell’s free throws gave the Bobcats a four point lead. Cleveland State’s Harris missed a decisive jumper at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.
BOX SCORE:
CLEVELAND STATE:
Bryn Forbes- 20 points and nine rebounds
Charlie Lee- 11 points and four rebounds
Anton Grady- 10 points and three rebounds
OHIO:
Antonio Campbell- 21 points and three rebounds
Treg Setty- 13 points and three rebounds
Stevie Taylor- 13 points and three rebounds
