Sports
Ohio Loses Close Game to MAC East Division Leader Buffalo
By: Jacob Murray
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During most games, if you shoot only 26% from the field in the first half against a division leader, you won’t be in the game. That wasn’t the case for the Bobcats Wednesday night.
Strong defensive play from the Bobcats kept them in the game, but 4th quarter shooting problems gave Buffalo the edge, winning 67-63.
The Ohio Bobcats (9-8, 3-3 MAC) did not shoot the ball well in the first half, as they didn’t hit a three the entire half. Timely baskets kept it close and even gave the Bobcats the lead in the 4th quarter.
The offensive struggles didn’t help the Bobcats tonight, as they shot 33% from the field tonight and they didn’t hit a three until the 4th quarter. Amani Burke lead the team in scoring with 20 points. Struggles from the rest of the team held them back tonight. Other players couldn’t support Burke’s offensive output, as the rest of the team struggled to make a shot.
The defense did keep them in most of the game. They forced 25 turnovers to get some easy buckets, but some of those opportunities were missed. Buffalo did a nice job of getting back on defense, being able to force the Bobcats to stop the fastbreak and run a play.
“These kids just want to figure this out,” Coach Bob Bolden said. “We just didn’t score.” Bolden says the team isasketball also trying to shoot themselves out of their funk, but so far there is no luck.
They couldn’t keep up with MAC East division leader Buffalo’s (14-3, 5-1 MAC) top two scorers as Summer Hemphill and Cierra Dillard combined for 39 of the team’s 67 points. They outrebounded the Bobcats by 42-40 and got critical second chance baskets in the last seconds of the game.
The Bobcats will look to bounce back in their next game against the Bowling Green Falcons (9-7), trying to break out of these shooting troubles. The tip off time will be at 1:00 p.m in the Stroh Center at Bowling Green University.