 OHIO 59, BALL STATE 55 Junior guard Walter Offutt led the Bobcats, posting team-highs of 13 points and six rebounds. Offutt was joined in double figures by junior forward Ivo Baltic ,who added 10 points. Junior guard D.J. Cooper contributed six points and six assists while junior forward Reggie Keely added eight points and five rebounds.
Chris Bond led Ball State, scoring a game-high 14 points and pulling in 12 rebounds. Other key contributors for the Cardinals were Randy Davis with 12 points and Jarrod Jones with 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
The Bobcats shot 40 percent from the field and thrived off an active bench (outscoring Ball State, 21-13). On defense, Ohio forced the Cardinals into 22 turnovers, including eight steals. The 22 Ball State turnovers marked just the second time this season that the Cardinals have had 20-or-more miscues.
Ohio also was able to hold Ball State to just 33 percent shooting from the field overall and 35 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Ball State was quick out of the gate, racking up a five point, 7-2 lead behind five points from Bond with 16:22 remaining in the first half. Ohio responded by going on a 21-2 run to take a 14-point, 23-9 lead with 8:37 left to play in the first.
The Bobcats' run was keyed by Baltic who scored four points and Offutt who also added four. Ohio also benefited from 3-pointers from Cooper, freshman guard Stevie Taylor and sophomore guard Ricardo Johnson .
The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the first half with Ohio holding a 34-27 lead at the break. Offutt led the Bobcats in scoring in the first half putting up eight. Baltic added seven points and three rebounds and sophomore forward Jon Smith scored six points.
Ohio shot 44.8 percent from the field on the offensive end and was able to force Ball State into 13 turnovers on the defensive end.
Bond led the Cardinals in the first half, leading all scorers with nine points and adding six rebounds. Davis added six points and Jarrod Jones scored four points and pulled down five rebounds for Ball State.
The Bobcats scored nine of the first 13 points to start the second half, extending their advantage to 43-31. Ball State fought back, tying the game at 48 with just over six minutes left in the game. Both teams continued to battle to the final buzzer with Ohio eventually claiming the victory. Over the final two minutes, there were four lead changes and two ties.
Keely led the Bobcats in the second half scoring six points and pulling in five rebounds. Offutt contributed five of his team-high 13 points and added four rebounds in the last 20 minutes.
Jones led Ball State scoring seven points and adding 10 rebounds in the second half.
As a team Ohio shot 33 percent from the field in the second half and on the defensive side of the ball forced the Cardinals into nine turnovers.
The Bobcats return to action Wednesday night as the travel to take on Northern Illinois (8 p.m.). Ball State is at Buffalo Wednesday (7 p.m.).
Courtesy of Ohio Athletics
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