The Bobcats ‘took steps in the right direction’ but foul trouble prolongs their search of their first MAC victory of the season.
After Ohio’s loss to Bowling Green on Saturday, coach Saul Phillips said there wasn’t much — if anything — positive that the team could take away from the defeat.
But after the Bobcats’ 80-73 loss against Toledo on Wednesday, it was a different story. The game was much closer throughout, and Ohio even took a lead midway through the second half.
Phillips, however, said he doesn’t want to hear anything about a “moral victory” as the Bobcats (5-9, 0-3 Mid-American Conference) are still searching for their first conference win.
“It feels like a loss just like the Bowling Green game feels like a loss,” Phillips said. “People talk about moral victories, and I’ve got no idea what that means.”
The part that Ohio will not want to remember came when the team got itself into trouble, when Maurice Ndour and Antonio Campbell picked up their fourth fouls during the second half. Ndour committed his fourth foul with jus under 15 minutes left and Campbell got his fourth with just over four minutes to go.
The Bobcats committed 20 fouls and made just nine of their 14 free throw attempts. Their chances at the line were limited, however, because Toledo (10-6, 2-1 MAC) only committed 10 fouls.
“Refs don’t make all the calls, we don’t make all the shots,” senior guard Stevie Taylor said. “At the end of the day it’s about the product that you put on the court.”
Ndour, a senior forward, finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. He was matched up against J.D. Weatherspoon, who scored a game-high 19 points and added 10 rebounds.
Three other Toledo players scored in double-digits, as the Rockets’ game plan centered on being physical against Ndour, which in turn helped them score in the paint while Ndour was in foul trouble.
“That’s the mindset of any team, they’re going to come at me everytime,” Ndour said. “I just have to be ready for it. It’s going to be a grind this whole season.”
Ohio redshirt senior guard Javarez “Bean” Willis helped the Bobcats stay within 10 points of their opposition for the entire game and finished with a team-best 18 points and four assists.
Ohio’s effort, which had been a question mark during the team’s first two MAC games, was there throughout but wasn’t good enough for a win. Defensively, Ohio allowed up 14 offensive rebounds and 22 free throw attempts.
“The margin isn’t that big from anybody in this league to us. Period,” Phillips said. I’ll guess you’re going to see a team that’s ready to come out of the locker room on Saturday.”
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