Sports
Ohio jumps on Radford early, never trails in important victory
By: Michael Roth
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When Ohio welcomed the Radford Highlanders to the Convocation Center, they knew they had to take them seriously. The Highlanders had already gone to Notre Dame and Texas and walked away with victories, and Ohio didn’t want to get added to that list.
Ohio jumped all over Radford, en route to a 23-8 lead capped off by a Ben Vander Plas three ball. The Highlanders didn’t go away, but never got closer than three points when Carlik Jones made a layup to score two of his 16 points, to make it 48-45 Bobcats.
Ohio (6-3) managed to stay perfect at home, taking down a scrappy Radford Highlanders team, 78-69 at the Convocation Center Saturday afternoon.
“I emphasize every home game, that we don’t lose at home,” Senior Doug Taylor said. “Nobody comes into the Convo and thinks they will come out with a win.”
Ohio only played seven players all game, but each player contributed in their own way. Jason Preston and Teyvion Kirk were primary ball handlers to avoid the Highlanders press, that caused 17 Bobcat turnovers.
“This team is going to absolutely drive me nuts with turnovers,” Ohio head coach Saul Phillips said. “If we can get that straightened out I think you’ll see a really efficient offensive basketball team.”
Preston scored eight points today, while Kirk had 17 points, six rebounds, but a game high seven turnovers.
“At the beginning I felt a little tentative but my teammates have been pushing me this whole time to be aggressive,” Preston said.
Jason Carter was his usual self, scoring 19 points to pace the Bobcats offensively on solid efficiency (7-13 FG) to go along with six rebounds.
Doug Taylor commanded the paint today, the Senior big man had a career high 16 rebounds and was a force down low all night.
“I knew that Radford was physical and had one of the best rebounders in the country,” Taylor said. “I felt that challenge and stepped up.”
Taylor has stepped up throughout his career in Athens, losing plenty of weight to help himself stay in condition to play in games like this, against teams that pressure and try and speed the game up.
“Last season I wasn’t in physical condition to play in this game,” Taylor said. “My freshman year we scrimmaged Radford and I was ready to throw up two minutes into the game.”
Antonio Cowart Jr only scored seven points, but he drew the primary responsibility to defend Caleb Tanner in the second half. Tanner had four first half 3-pointers and was held to only one attempt (which he made) in the second 20 minutes of action.
Off the bench Gavin Block and Ben Vander Plas had the only 3-pointers for the Bobcats tonight, hitting two apiece. Vander Plas also did a good job creating contact on his jumpers, getting to the foul line two separate instances on three point tries, scoring six points from the charity stripe.
Radford came into the game led by Ed Polite Jr but he was held to 2-8 shooting from the floor and eight rebounds.
“If you would’ve told me Polite would go 2-8 before the game I would’ve said deal.” Phillips said.
Ohio had a very short rotation tonight, only having seven players see action, but the bench could be getting some more time soon.
“Somebody has to step up,” Phillips said. “Part of it is me having to pull the plug and invest in somebody as well.”
Ohio will return to action next Saturday when the Bobcats travel to Detroit to battle the Titans, the Bobcats won’t return to the Convo until December 30’th when Florida International makes the trip up to Athens.