And then there was one...The Ohio Bobcats are the last remaining Mid-American Conference squad still alive in postseason play. The Bobcats travel to take on the Bradley Braves is a second-round College Basketball Invitational (CBI) contest Monday evening. The game is set for an 8:00 pm Tip-off.
CBI SECOND ROUND
OHIO (20-12, 9-7 MAC) vs. BRADLEY (18-15, 9-9 MVC)
Date: Monday, March 24
Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: None
SERIES HISTORY: Ohio leads 2-1. Last meeting: Ohio 63, Bradley 52 in 1999.
Overview/Game Notes:
Ohio advanced to the second round of the College Basketball Invitational after defeating Brown 80-74 in the opening round on March 18 in Athens. The Bobcats had three players registered double-doubles in their come-from-behind victory over the Bears. Guard Bubba Walther recorded ten points and a career-high twelve assists while All-MAC forward Leon Williams notched his 43rd career double-double with twenty points and a dozen rebounds. Junior forward Jerome Tillman completed the Bobcats' trifecta of double-doubles with a game-high 21 points and eleven rebounds.
The Bobcats currently boast the highest RPI (76) of the remaining eight teams in the CBI field and have a 6-8 record against teams that have reached the postseason this year.
Bradley is hosting the Bobcats in the second round of the CBI after defeating Cincinnati 70-67 in their opening round game on March 19. The Braves were led by senior guard Jeremy Crouch's team-high 20 points and a fifteen point effort from forward Theron Wilson in getting past the Bearcats.
The Braves topped the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring, averaging 73.2 points per game and senior guards Jeremy Crouch and Daniel Ruffin have each surpassed 1200 points in their career. Bradley owns a 4-10 mark against teams that have qualified for postseason play this year and own an RPI of 105.
The winner of tonight's game advances to the semifinals of the CBI for which teams will be re-seeded based on Monday's results.
OHIO BOBCATS
OVERALL RECORD: 20-12
CONFERENCE: 9-7 (3rd, MAC East)
PROBABLE STARTERS :
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F Leon Williams
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16.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg
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F Jerome Tillman
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13.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg
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F Justin Orr
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6.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg
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G Michael Allen
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4.7 ppg, 4.4 apg
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G Bubba Walther
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12.0 ppg, 3.8 apg
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Coach: Tim O'Shea (120-94).
Ohio Postseason History:
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NCAA:
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4-12 (Last Appearance: 2005)
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NIT:
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4-4 (Last appearance: 1995)
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BRADLEY BRAVES
OVERALL RECORD: 18-15
CONFERENCE: 9-9 (6th, Missouri Valley Conference)
PROBABLE STARTERS:
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F Theron Wilson
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11.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg
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C Matt Salley
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5.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg
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G Jeremy Crouch
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15.6 ppg, 3.0 apg
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G Sam Maniscalco
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7.7 ppg, 3.3 apg
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G Daniel Ruffin
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14.5 ppg, 5.8 apg
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Coach: Jim Les (102-88).
Bradley Tournament History:
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NCAA:
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12-8 (Last Appearance: 2006)
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NIT:
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26-18 (Last Appearance: 2007)
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Tale of the Tape:
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Ohio
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Bradley
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Points Per Game
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67.5
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73.2
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Scoring Margin
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+2.9
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+2.0
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Field Goal Pct
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.448
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.440
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3PT FG Pct
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.343
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.378
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3PT FG Per Game
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6.7
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9.1
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Free Throw Pct
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.718
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.749
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Rebounds Per Game
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33.5
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33.3
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Rebound Margin
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+3.0
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-1.4
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Assists Per Game
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14.3
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15.7
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Turnovers Per Game
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14.2
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14.6
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Turnovers Forced Per Game
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14.5
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15.1
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Steals Per Game
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7.5
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7.8
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Blocks Per Game
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2.0
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2.5
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