Ohio is set to tip off Mid-American Conference play on Saturday afternoon when the Bobcats host Northern Illinois at 2 p.m. on ESPN3. The Bobcats finished non-conference play with an 8-4 record, topping it off with a 68-66 win on Dec. 30 against Florida International. Jason Carter’s layup with 2.6 seconds remaining secured the win.
Game information
Opponent: Northern Illinois
Game time: 2 p.m.
Venue: The Convo (Athens, Ohio)
Watch: ESPN3/WatchESPN App
Listen: Ohio IMG Sports Network
Meet the opponent
Starters
00 Dante Thorpe (6-4, 195)
04 Lacey James (6-9, 240)
10 Eugene German (6-0, 185)
22 Rod Henry-Hayes (6-4, 185)
42 Levi Bradley (6-7, 210)
Reserves
05 Zaire Mateen (6-0, 170)
12 Anastasios Demogerontas (6-7, 215)
15 Jalen Key (6-7, 215)
32 Austin Richie (6-6, 225)
Individual Statistical Leaders:
Points: German (20.9)
Rebonds: James (7.2)
Assists: German (2.9)
FG Pct: James (55.6 percent)
3-point percentage: German (44.2 percent)
FT Pct: Key (73.3 percent)
Team Statistical Profile:
Points Per Game: 79.7
Rebounds Per Game: 36
Assists Per Game: 14
Turnovers Per Game: 12.4
Field goal Percentage: 50.5 percent
3-point Percentage: 37.5 percent
FT Percentage: 68.2 percent
The series
Ohio is 35-18 all-time in the series versus Northern Illinois. The Bobcats have won the last four meetings and 10 out of the last 12.
Saul Phillips is 4-2 against Huskies head coach Mark Montgomery.
Key player to watch
Eugene German — The USA Today Sports MAC Preseason Player of the Year — has lived up to the hype so far. The junior guard is averaging 20 points per game, leading the MAC in scoring. He ranks 28th nationally. German has scored in double figures in all 11 games he has played this season and 45 consecutive games overall.
