Sports
Campbell’s Career-High Leads Way to ‘Cats Fourth Straight Win
By: Mitchell Lyons
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It was the Antonio Campbell show Tuesday night at the Convocation Center. Campbell scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in an 86-64 win against the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
Campbell played the first 37 minutes before being taken out because the game was decided. The Eagles (13-13, 5-8) had no answer for the Ohio (17-8, 8-5) forward who scored 24 first half point en route to a career-high 33 points, scoring from seemingly everywhere on the court.
“[He has] A veritable smorgasbord of offensive moves,” head coach Saul Phillips said. “He has more weapons to select from than Golden Corral has entrees.”
The Bobcats moved the ball very well against the 2-3 zone of Eastern Michigan, assisting on 20 of their 29 field goals. Freshman Gavin Block had career-high nine assists, while Mid American Conference assist leader Jaaron Simmons had six assists.
Jordan Dartis got the scoring started when he drilled a 3-pointer just 11 seconds into the game. That was part of a 10-3 run to start the game, capped off by a Campbell layup. A layup by Tim Bond tied the game at 12. Ohio scored six of the next 10 points to go up 18-14 with 11:58 left.
Wadly Mompremier blocked a shot attempt by Thompson before Dartis found Campbell open in the corner for three. Next possession it was Campbell again. This time from the top of the key, drilling another three, forcing the Eagles to take a timeout, down 24-14. After the timeout, the Eagles went on a 14-4 run, capped off by a 3-ball by Willie Mangum IV putting Eastern Michigan up two. Campbell scored 12 of the next 14 points putting the Bobcats up 40-31 at the half.
“I say it all the time. You just can’t stop him,” Dartis said about Campbell.
With 9:45 remaining Dartis and James Thompson IV went for a lose ball and Dartis came up with it. Thompson IV thought he was fouled on the play and slammed his hand on the floor out of frustration and was assessed a technical foul. That was his second of the game so he was ejected. Ohio was awarded four free throws and Dartis made them all. That was part of a 10-0 run to extend the lead to 65-49 in favor of Ohio with 8:26 remaining.
The two teams went back-to-back-back, hitting three threes in a row. Two by Dartis and one by Setty to all but end the game, putting the ‘Cats up 77-58 with 4:56 remaining.
Dartis contributed 18 points and Setty had 16. For Eastern Michigan, Mangum IV, had 19 points and seven rebounds. Tim Bond contributed 11 points before fouling out.
“I’ve been on a pretty good roll myself but I think the team is too,” Campbell said. “We’ve won six of our last seven, we showed we can win on the road, which is huge in this conference. The confidence on this team is high”
The win gives Ohio its fourth straight and six of its last seven overall. Up next for Ohio is rival Miami on Saturday at the Convocation Center. Tipoff is set for 2p.m.