Ohio’s (1-2) slow start to the season continued Tuesday night in an 85-75 loss to Illinois State (2-1) on the road. While Ohio held a lead as large as 6 midway through the second half, it could not stop a hot Illinois State offense that was nearly unstoppable all night.
Last season, the Ohio defense allowed 85-plus points in non-overtime games only three times. Three games into the 2024-25 season, it has already allowed 85.
Ohio's start was slow on both sides of the ball. Within the game's first five minutes, it saw a deficit as large as 10 after scoring only 7 points to Illinois State's 17.
Redshirt sophomore AJ Brown highlighted the success of the Ohio offense in the first half with 10 points in what would be a 20-point night for Ohio’s starting guard.
The Bobcat’s starting lineup looked slightly different than the season's first two games, as Shereef Mitchell was sidelined. In his place, Elmore James stepped up for Ohio and delivered a strong night that included 12 points and a team-leading four rebounds.
Mitchell, the team’s veteran presence on the court, was missed on offense and defense as Ohio struggled against Illinois State.
Graduate student Dalton Banks was the most productive player for the Red Bird offense, tallying a season-high 23 points against a lackluster Bobcat defense.
Illinois State shot 61% from the field as a team while holding Ohio to just a 47% shooting percentage. The Redbirds' offensive attack can be accredited to the team's ability to pass the ball, tallying 14 assists to the Bobcats' eight.
Ohio’s primary defensive woes came inside the paint and off turnovers. Illinois State scored 34 points in the paint and 20 points off 10 Ohio turnovers.
Going into the half, Ohio trailed 40-37.
The Bobcats came out of the locker room on fire offensively, going on an 11-0 run and expanding their lead to as many as 6. However, the final 10 minutes of the game was the worst of what Ohio had to offer Illinois State.
In the final 10 minutes of the game, Ohio was outscored by Illinois State 28-17.
Banks, alongside teammates Chase Walker and Caden Boser, took over to close out the game for Illinois State, putting together a performance that Ohio could not find from anyone on its team.
Ohio lacked a defensive leader and a breakout player on offense en route to the biggest loss of its young season so far.
The Bobcats will be back in action on Friday night, taking one of its toughest matchups of the season in Memphis.
