Ohio coach Jim Christian had something to be disgruntled about after a game for the first time this season Wednesday.
The Bobcats had been outrebounded in earlier games and had gone through imperfect patches previously, but not so much so that he classified their performances as falling short of their pregame areas of importance.
“Of the six games we’ve played, this was the first time we’ve emphasized something and didn’t do it in the game,” Christian said. “We emphasized keeping them out of the lane on penetration, and I thought at key times in the game they penetrated at will.”
The Bonnies won the rebound battle by seven boards, 11 of which were on the offensive end, and were able to distribute well from the interior, enabling them to hit 57 percent of their three-point attempts, including six of seven from long range in the first half.
Still, if Christian made it to game No. 6 before finding something to be disappointed about, the Bobcats are doing something right — a lot of things, actually.
As of Nov. 25, when the NCAA last tabulated national statistics, Ohio ranked second in the nation in turnover margin and within the top 10 in steals per game, scoring defense and scoring margin.
The Bobcats forced 20 turnovers and had nine steals in their slimmest win of the season Wednesday — marks that they would like to hold steady in order to be successful against Robert Morris on Saturday.
The Bobcats will hit the road for the first time this season in hopes of avenging a three-point loss to the Colonials in the teams’ last meeting — also Ohio’s most recent loss in The Convo, as it has won 15 straight since.
Christian mentioned that fatigue factored into Ohio’s foul trouble against the Bonnies, but things won’t be slowing down for the Bobcats anytime soon. After their trip to Moon Township, Pa., they will hit the road to Memphis for a matchup with the Tigers, who garnered 23 points in this week’s Associated Press poll.
The pair of games will mark the third and fourth contests in which Ohio has squared off against teams that had played in the NCAA Tournament in recent memory.
The Colonials made the tournament in 2010, when they tied Villanova in regulation before falling by three in overtime.
Memphis bowed out of last year’s tournament as an eight seed in the first round as well.
The late-game experience Ohio pulled from its win against St. Bonaventure will surely be to its benefit against Robert Morris (3-4) and later against Memphis (3-2).
“The beautiful part of playing basketball in November — and we’re still in November — is that win, lose or draw, there’s going to be things that your team has to get better and develop,” Christian said.
Robert Morris has a large handful of things it is looking to improve upon from its most recent game: a nine-point loss to Savannah State on Monday.
The Colonials shot only 29 percent from the field in the loss, in which they went on an 18-5 run late in the game to almost bridge a deficit induced by an 11-minute scoreless period earlier in the game.
In other words, the Colonials are no strangers to adversity — a trait that Ohio will look to put to the test Saturday.
“Close games are team wins, because every play is so magnified and every little close out,” Christian said. “Every pass becomes a big play.”
Christian has had to put Ohio under a microscope to pick out major faults so far this season, so it’s nothing the Bobcats aren’t used to.
OHIO (6-0) vs. Robert Morris (3-4)
7 p.m., Moon Township, Pa.
Charles L. Sewall Center
— Ohio fell by three to Robert Morris when the teams last met.
— The lead changed 15 times in Ohio’s Wednesday win against St. Bonaventure.
— Robert Morris has had a combined total of 478 in attendance for its two home games this season.
jr992810@ohiou.edu
