After facing its first two Mid-American Conference opponents on the road, Ohio will face Kent State in The Convo on Friday for its first home game against a conference opponent.
The Bobcats (11-2, 2-0 MAC) enter Friday’s game on a hot streak. They remain undefeated in The Convo this season and won their sixth consecutive game after toppling Akron on the road Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Golden Flashes (7-6, 2-1 MAC) have lost three of their last five games. Over those five games, four were decided by three points or less. Over the Bobcats’ last five games, its closest margin of victory was six points.
Here’s a look at the Golden Flashes ahead of Ohio’s conference home opener:
Game information
Opponent: Kent State
Venue: The Convo
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Watch: CBS Sports Network
Listen: Ohio IMG Sports Network
Live stats: Live stats are provided here.
Meet the opponent
Probable starters
02 Malique Jacobs (6-foot-3, 194 pounds)
03 Sincere Carry (6-foot-1, 185 pounds)
11 Giovanni Santiago (6 foot, 164 pounds)
04 Andrew Garcia (6-foot-5, 224 pounds)
21 Justyn Hamilton (6-foot-11, 208 pounds)
Individual statistical leaders
Points: Carry (16.7 points per game)
Rebounds: Jacobs (6.8 rebounds per game)
Assists: Carry (4.9 assists per game)
Field goal percentage: Akeem Odusipe (100%)
3-point percentage: Tervell Beck (42.9%)
Free throw percentage: VonCameron Davis (100%)
Team statistical profile
Points per game: 69.7
Rebounds per game: 35.5
Assists per game: 12.9
Turnovers per game: 12.2
Field goal percentage: 42.6%
3-point percentage: 30.5%
Free throw percentage: 80%
The series
Ohio leads 96-54. Despite dominating the all-time series, Ohio’s record has dipped against Kent State as of late. Ohio’s won just three times in the past 10 meetings, and it is 9-12 against Kent State since the 2011-12 season.
The two teams last met in the quarterfinals of the 2021 MAC Tournament, where the Bobcats dominated the Golden Flashes 85-63 in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
Player to watch
Carry — Although the redshirt junior ranks in the bottom half of the Golden Flashes for field goal percentage, he leads the team in points per game, assists and steals. Carry has also scored in double figures in his last five games, and he is the only member of the Golden Flashes to do so.
In Kent State’s most recent win over Ball State, Carry scored a season-high 26 points and tacked on seven rebounds and six assists.
