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Kellogg, Ndour Propel Bobcats Over Spiders in Overtime
By: Michael Drapcho
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Sometimes 40 minutes is just not enough to decide a basketball game. Ohio’s (8-3) matchup with Richmond (8-4) Sunday was one of those times, as the Bobcats needed an overtime period to defeat the Spiders 70-69 at the Robins Center.
Trailing by two with 0:13 left in overtime, the Bobcats called a timeout to set up a play. Then on the ensuing possession, the ball was swung around to Nick Kellogg, who fired up a fade away three-pointer over a defender. His shot found the bottom of the net and gave Ohio a one-point lead.
With 7.8 seconds to go, Richmond guard Cedrick Lindsay raced down court and forced up a layup attempt that did not go. Richmond corralled the rebound and put up a last second prayer. The prayer was not answered as the shot clanged off the rim as the horn sounded, giving Ohio the win in a hard fought game.
Kellogg finished the game with 14 points and four rebounds while Maurice Ndour led all Bobcats in scoring with 19 points and also grabbed seven rebounds in the game. Ndour was instrumental in the Ohio’s second half as the Bobcats repeatedly went to the 6-foot-9 forward in the post. The Spiders had no answer for Ndour, as he scored 12 of his 19 in the second half.
It looked as though Richmond was going to run away with the game when the Spiders built up a 10 point lead on a 6-0 run, highlighted by a Cedrick Lindsay to Deion Taylor alley-oop to open up the second half.
However, the Bobcats clawed their way back into the game on the strength of their defense. Ohio held Richmond scoreless for nearly 10 minutes, allowing the ‘Cats to close the gap.
Then with Ohio back in the game, both teams traded baskets going down the stretch. With 0:39 left in the second half and with Ohio up one, Ricardo Johnson went to the line hoping to give his team a three point lead. He made the first and missed the second keeping Richmond alive.
Cedrick Lindsay raced the ball down floor and put up a shot, but Johnson came from the weak side and blocked Lindsay’s attempt to tie the game. The ball found its way to Kendall Anthony, who hit a jump shot as time expired to send the game into overtime.
Ohio played well defensively in the second half, but the first half was a completely different story. Much like Ohio’s last opponent, UMass, Richmond attacked the rim early and often in the first half. Bobcat defenders did not struggle with rotations against the Spiders, but they did struggle with contesting shots without fouling. Richmond attempted 14 free throws in the first half and converted 10 of them.
Ohio entered halftime trailing Richmond 42-38. Ndour got the Bobcats off to a quick start by scoring their first seven points. The Spiders clamped down on Ndour, though, which forced other Bobcats to step up. Ricardo Johnson, Nick Kellogg, T.J. Hall and Javarez “Bean” Willis all rose to the occasion and scored seven points each in the first half. Willis and Hall both finished with seven points while Johnson had 14.
Junior Kendall Anthony came off the Spiders’ bench to provide his team with a spark. The 5-foot-8 guard scored 11 points in the first half and finished with 17 points in the game. Cedrick Lindsay led the Spiders, though, with 23 points on 10-for-19 shooting.
Ohio has a bit of a break as it does not play again until December 30 when it will host the Longwood Lancers (5-8) in the Convo.