Ohio’s winning streak has been stomped out.
For the first time in over a month, the Bobcats have lost a game. After a dismal first half and failed rally after halftime, the Bobcats fell 87-69 to Toledo inside The Convo.
Here are a few fast reactions to Ohio’s first loss to a Mid-American Conference opponent:
Flimsy first half
The Bobcats couldn’t catch a break before halftime. Their 3-point shooting percentage flatlined early and barely improved. They went 3-for-15 from beyond the arc in the first half. Meanwhile, Toledo was conservative with its 3-pointers and only shot when confident.
The only two Bobcats with any sort of success in the first half, Jason Carter and Ben Vander Plas, combined for just 16 points before the break. Mark Sears, Ohio’s usual trustworthy scorer, scored just three points in the first 20 minutes.
Trouble containing Toledo’s starters
Ohio and Toledo were the top two teams in the MAC standings ahead of Friday night. Both ranked in the top half of the conference for scoring offense and were known for solid starting lineups.
The Bobcats learned about Toledo’s offense the hard way.
Four of Toledo’s starter scored in double figures, and every member of its starting rotation shot 50% or better from the field. Ryan Rollins, Toledo’s scoring leader, ran circles around Ohio and ended the night with 26 points. Ohio needed to contain Rollins and the rest of Toledo’s lineup, but it wasn’t able to lock down on defense.
Reality check
Ohio went up against one of the giants of the MAC and got flattened. It lead the game for just 19 seconds and spent the first half sputtering behind Toledo. The late rally it attempted midway through the second quarter never brought its closer than six points.
The Bobcats were slapped in the face on their home turf. After building up a nine-game winning streak, they finally ran out of gas on Friday night.
