Sports
Preview: Ohio Finishes Nonconference Play With UNC Asheville
By: Michael Drapcho
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With conference play on the horizon, Ohio will go on the road and take on the University of North Carolina at Asheville for a final nonconference tune up Saturday.
Ohio comes into this game against UNC Asheville off a convincing 78-43 win over Longwood. The Bobcats used an explosive second half to get past the Lancers on Monday. Ohio was cold in the first half, going only 10-of-28 from the field, but in the second half, Ohio got hot and pulled away from Longwood. The Bobcats went 15-of-33 from the field in the second half on their way to the victory.
Ohio’s final nonconference opponent is currently the owner of a 5-game win streak. However, three of those five wins came against non-Division I opponents. The Bulldogs defeated USC Upstate 73-63 on Dec. 15. Guard Andrew Rowsey led UNC Asheville in the game with 19 points.
The Bulldogs picked up its third win against a Division I opponent when they defeated UNC Wilmington 75-61 on Dec. 28. Center D.J. Cunningham had a big night for the Bulldogs against UNC Wilmington with 13 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocks.
Cunningham and Rowsey have been leaders for UNC Asheville all season, as they are two of three players that average double figure points for the Bulldogs. Rowsey leads the team with 15.5 points per game. He is not efficient, though, shooting 37.6 percent from the field.
Guard Jaron Lane is the team’s second leading scorer, averaging 12.7 points per game. Lane is slightly more efficient than Rowsey, shooting 42.1 percent from the field.
Cunningham is the team’s third leading scorer, averaging 11.1 points a game. Cunningham is a force on the boards, however, grabbing 9.5 rebounds a game.
While the Bulldogs have several players that can score, they struggle stopping teams from scoring. The Bulldogs have given up more than 70 points in each of their seven losses. Ohio has scored at least 70 points in all but one of its wins, so reaching that bench mark should not be a problem for the Bobcats.
Tipoff for the game is set for 2 p.m. in Kimmel Arena.