Eleventh-seeded Ohio lost 82-74 to sixth-seeded Western Michigan in the opening round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament on Monday.
When Javarez “Bean” Willis hit a three from the “O” in “Ohio” at halfcourt, it looked to be a making of another dominating offensive performance.It was senior night for Willis and the Bobcats, and some who have watched Ohio for the past four years may have called his career-best 34-point night during his last game in The Convo a D.J. Cooper-type performance.He’s done it before, however, during his two seasons with the Bobcats. But Friday’s 95-65 win over Miami exemplified another level of domination by Ohio (10-19, 5-13 Mid-American Conference). Amid a seven-game losing streak, the team’s seniors — Willis, Maurice Ndour and Stevie Taylor — found a way to close out their careers with the Bobcats' largest senior night victory since 2006.After a 27-point loss against Buffalo on Tuesday, it was a complete flip in performances after just a three-day span. Friday, coach Saul Phillips commended the seniors, adding that they were a more collective unit compared to the past games when one problem would create a domino effect, ultimately leading to a discouraging loss.“I just thought we really shared the ball well regardless of what offense we were in,” Phillips said. “When that happens, it sure is much, much easier to feel good about yourself and your teammates.”The three seniors combined for 67 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists, with Ndour finishing with a double-double (27 points, 11 rebounds). In the past, the Bobcats have been forced to live and die by individual performances, but on Friday they were fueled with an all-around showing that had the entire team clicking on all cylinders.Willis, a guard, hit a program fourth-best 10 3-pointers on 15 attempts and was 12-for-20 from the field. But he dished the ball around as well, which helped get his teammates into the game. He finished with six assists.“Pop it. If you’re open, by all means,” Taylor, a guard, said. “That’s just our relationship just as seniors and how we police each other and be OK with it.”Miami (13-18, 8-10 MAC) struggled to get things going out of the gate, as it shot just 32 percent in the first half and the Bobcats went into the locker room with a 23-point lead. Miami came out in the second half firing, but it ultimately resulted in a loss, as it finished shooting 36 percent from the field.But the outcome really came from an unmatched energy by Ohio, fueled from the three seniors’ final home games as Bobcats.“We made each other better today. We played off each other,” Willis said. “If I had to go out any way, then I wouldn’t take it any other way.”With the results around the MAC on Friday, Ohio will hit the road to take on Western Michigan (19-12, 10-8 MAC) Monday in the first round of the MAC Tournament.@Alex_Busch91ab109410@ohio.edu
Maurice Ndour, Stevie Taylor and Javarez “Bean” Willis will play their final game in The Convo of their careers as the Bobcats host the RedHawks on Friday.
Ohio was again unable to stop the bleeding against the Bulls during its now seven game losing streak.
The Bobcats have two games remaining in the regular season and are looking to snap their six-game losing streak before the MAC Tournament hits.
The Bobcats lost their sixth straight game on Friday, begging the question: “where do they go now?”
The Bobcats were unable to snap their recent losing streak on Friday, increasing it to six games — the most since 1998.
The Bobcats will face the Zips on Friday in Akron, as both teams are looking to break their longest losing streaks in more than a decade.
The Bobcats were able to limit Richaun Holmes in the first half, but as they came out after halftime down 18 points, it didn’t matter.
The Bobcats are undoubtedly struggling, but a game at home could give them the opportunity to turn the tide with five games left.
The Bobcats pose with their trophies after winning their eights Mid-American Conference Tournament in program history. Ohio swept Eastern Michigan in straight sets on Sunday.
Solutions by The State News
