Sports
Campbell Leads Ohio in Win Over Ball State
By: Mitchell Lyons
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The Ohio Bobcats picked up their first win of conference play, 79-73, thanks in large part to Antonio Campbell.
The junior forward had a career-high 27 points and four 3-pointers in the win over Ball State.
Campbell started off the game by hitting back-to-back threes, giving Ohio lead a 6-4 at the under 16-minute timeout. After the time out, the scoring began to pick up. Over the next eight minutes, the two teams combined to score 39 points.
With 7:53 to go in the first half, the Bobcats led 20-19. The two teams traded baskets, and the game was tied at 26 with 3:41 to go in the first half. Ball State then went on a 10-2 run. With 30 seconds to go in the half Block hit a 3-pointer to cut it to a three-point game, and the 6,700 fans at the Convocation Center erupted. However, that was short lived because Bo Calhoun hit a 3-pointer, of his own with just one second left. At the half, the Bobcats trailed the Cardinals 39-33.
“I thought the game changed when we decided to be a little, more aggressive at half time, when a little more soft edge offense became a more sledge hammer,” Phillips said. “I think that was the turning point in the game. We suggested politely at half time to touch it to Tony a little more and Jaaron got going.”
Over the first five-and-a-half minutes of the second half, the Bobcats scored 16 points. Dartis tied the game at 39 with a 3-ball. With 12 minutes to go in the game, a three-pointer by Campbell gave Ohio a 56.
Ohio had a fairly comfortable lead going down the stretch, but Ball State would not go away. A few baskets by Francis Kiapway and then a layup by Trey Moses with 20 seconds to go made it a four-point game. Dartis hit two free throws to extend the lead to six on the next possession. Khari Harley iced the game with a steal and a layup in transition after Dartis’ free throws.
It was not all-good news for Ohio. Freshman standout Gavin Block suffered an injury that forced him to leave the game. Phillips said he was still being evaluated but initial diagnosis was that it was not a bad as we first thought.
The win moved Ohio’s record to 10-4 overall and 1-1 in MAC play. Ohio’s next game will be Tuesday at home against Bowling Green. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.