Sports

[Grant Kiefer | WOUB]

Ohio Men’s Basketball gets back on track, downs Robert Morris 84-68

By: Grant Kiefer
Posted on: Saturday, November 30, 2024

ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Saying a win was sorely needed would be an understatement.

Ohio (3-5) stumbled out to a 2-5 start and came into Saturday’s contest against Robert Morris (6-3) desperate for a win. That’s not something you typically hear in November of the college basketball season, but Ohio’s nonconference schedule isn’t exactly littered with favorable games. Head Coach Jeff Boals loaded up the nonconference schedule, and it’s absolutely challenged the Bobcats so far. Fighting back after a disappointing sixth place finish in the Myrtle Beach Invitational, Ohio played its first ‘complete game’ of the season, defeating Robert Morris 84-68.

It’s been an emphasis for Ohio to get out to hot starts, and it did that on offense, but couldn’t do it on defense at first. Both teams were tied 9-9 at the under-16 timeout, and it looked like the Bobcats were heading towards a shootout once again. However, Ohio strung together its best defensive performance of the season.

Ohio Men’s Basketball players huddle pregame vs UNC Asheville on Nov. 9. [Andrew Bowlby | WOUB Public Media]

The Bobcats led the game in almost every statistical category, but their defensive stats stood out the most, especially for a team that’s struggled defensively all season. Ohio outrebounded Robert Morris on defense 27-10, led 3-0 in blocks, and led 9-6 in steals. Also adding 84 points on the offensive end, it was Ohio’s most complete game of the season.

“I think it is,” Boals said when asked if its the most complete game the team’s played. “You look at every single game, we’ve played well in spurts and in some games 22 minutes, some games 30 minutes. But unfortunately, it’s a 40 minute game and the consistency, the effort, that’s what we’re looking for.”

The Bobcats had a variety of players step up on the offensive end, with five players scoring in double figures. Ohio’s bench has also struggled to bring energy on offense so far, but that wasn’t the case Saturday. Vic Searls led a 28-point scoring effort from the reserves with 14 points of his own.

“I mean, we probably have eight guys who can start,” Boals said. “Elijah Elliott’s gotten better…I think our bench was really good tonight.”

The Bobcats’ backups stepping up also aids the team while they await the return of star guard Shereef Mitchell. Mitchell started in the team’s first two games of the season, before sitting the next four games nursing a right knee injury. Mitchell returned on Nov. 24 against Texas State off the bench, but reaggravated the injury slipping on a wet spot on the floor. Boals said the injury wasn’t as serious as initially thought, but doesn’t have a timetable for his return.

Ohio will return to action on Dec. 7, hosting Morehead State (3-4) at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.