Ohio will host Eastern Michigan on Tuesday in The Convo for its first Mid-American Conference home game of the season.
The Bobcats (8-6, 0-1 MAC) started off their MAC run on Jan. 4 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where they lost 77-65 to Western Michigan. Redshirt sophomore Ben Vander Plas led Ohio with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
While obviously not the vision Ohio had for its start, there were positives as the return of Ben Roderick happened, and Connor Murrell made his first appearance of the season.
Now, back at home for the first time in 2020, here is everything you need to know ahead of the Bobcats game against the Eagles.
Game information
Opponent: Eastern Michigan (10-4, 0-1 MAC)
Game time: 7 p.m.
Venue: The Convo
Watch: ESPN 3
Listen: Ohio IMG Sports Network
Meet the opponent
Starters
31 Ty Groce (6-8, 212)
21 Boubacar Toure (7-0, 240)
05 Noah Morgan (6-5, 182)
00 Yeikson Montero (6-5, 195)
10 Darion Spottsville (6-3, 195)
Individual statistical leaders
Points: Groce (12.2 points per game)
Rebounds: Toure (8.4 rebounds per game)
Assists: Spottsville (2.1 assists per game)
Field goal percentage: Toure (66.3%)
3-point percentage: Morgan (34.6%)
Free throw percentage: Groce (71%)
Team statistical profile
Points per game: 66.3
Rebounds per game: 34.9
Assists per game: 10.8
Field goal percentage: 42.2%
3-point percentage: 30.2%
Free throw percentage: 63.9%
The series
Ohio leads the all-time series versus the Eagles, 47-24. The Bobcats lost the last meeting 66-57 in The Convo. They haven’t won a conference home opener since the 2017-18 season where they defeated Northern Illinois 78-68.
Ohio is looking to avoid starting off another season 0-2 in MAC play after last season’s 0-2 start.
Player to watch
Toure Boubacar – The 7-foot tall center has potential to give Ohio’s big men trouble all evening long merely because of his height. Sylvester Ognonda, the Bobcats’ starting center, is two inches shorter and has been in foul trouble a few times this season – including fouling out against Western Michigan.
Ohio’s big man rotation consists of freshman Nolan Foster (6-10) and redshirt freshman Nate Springs (6-10). Boubacar ranks second in the MAC in rebounds per game and is tied for third in blocks per game with 1.2
