Looking at the scoreboard after Ohio’s 88-87 win against Kent State Saturday, one might think it was just another close game. That would be like saying the 1987 stock market crash was just another manic Monday.
The Bobcats and Golden Flashes went on huge runs Saturday before finding themselves deadlocked after 40 minutes. Two key buckets by DeVaughn Washington lifted Ohio over the Mid-American Conference leaders in overtime.
“We made some plays, and this time of year, it’s about confidence. It’s about making plays,” coach John Groce said.
Ohio (16-13, 8-6 MAC) opened the game with two old-fashioned three-point plays. DeVaughn Washington was fouled while making the first bucket of the game, and Ivo Baltic followed suit less than two minutes later. Both players sank their free throws to start a 22-9 run for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats extended the lead to 56-35, but Kent State (19-10, 10-4 MAC) needed only eight minutes to turn the 21-point deficit into a one-point lead. Only a clutch 3-pointer by D.J. Cooper 11 seconds after Kent State grabbed the lead stopped the bleeding.
“There’s a lot of big plays made during the game. Certainly that was one,” Groce said.
“They were chugging in the second half. They were driving the ball. They were playing the four-guard lineup a lot. We didn’t have a lot of answers defensively.”
In overtime, Washington contributed a key dunk and the game-winning basket. With 15 seconds to play, Washington put up a contested shot from the paint that gave Ohio a one-point lead.
Kent State’s Michael Porrini misfired on a 3-point attempt with two seconds remaining, and Ohio gained possession on a hard-fought jump ball.
FREEMAN REACHES MILESTONE
Two Bobcat free throws late in the first half seemed to mean little at the time, but they were important in more ways than one.
Senior guard Tommy Freeman’s pair from the line with 3:15 to play before halftime gave him his 999th and 1,000th career points. He is the 31st Ohio player to reach the plateau.
“I think he’s had a heck of a career,” Groce said. “He epitomizes what a student athlete is all about.”
With his 11 points, Freeman passed three players on the Bobcats’ all-time scoring list. He now has the 28th most points in school history.
“It’s just great to be a part of that great group of Bobcats,” he said.
WASHINGTON FINDS SUCCESS THROUGH DISCIPLINE
Four stellar dunks and a game-winning field goal highlighted a strong effort from Washington Saturday.
The senior from Virginia Beach, Va., scored 14 first-half points to pace the Bobcats before the break. Two of those slams were alley-oops off half-court passes from Cooper and Nick Kellogg.
Washington played a career-high 42 minutes and committed only two fouls.
“He’s come a long way. He’s one of the best players in our league,” Groce said. “He plays with much more discipline at both ends of the floor. It’s made him a better player.”
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