| Bobcats even record(s) with win over Toledo |
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OHIO 71, TOLEDO 58
ATHENS, OH - Ohio won its third-consecutive home game on Wednesday night, beating the visiting Toledo Rockets by a final score of 71-58. With the win, the Bobcats improve to 12-12 (5-5 Mid-American Conference) and have now won four of their last five MAC games.
The Bobcats opened the game in an exciting fashion as D.J. Cooper found teammate Tommy Freeman wide open for a fast-break three and then assisted on a spectacular alley-oop to DeVaughn Washington. Through the first three minutes and 33 seconds, the Bobcats held a 9-6 lead and registered an assist on all four of their field goals.
John Groce's squad continued to do a very good job of spreading the ball around in the first half, accumulating 13 assists on 14 first-half baskets. The Bobcats entered the locker room at halftime with a 36-23 lead, shooting 48.3 percent from the field in the process.
Freeman led all Ohio scorers with 12 points in the half while Toledo's Malcolm Griffin matched this mark to lead the Rockets. The `Cats not only shot the ball well in the first half, but they also forced the Rockets into nine turnovers and allowed only one offensive rebound.
Ivo Baltic got the fans fired up right away in the second half, making an acrobatic offensive rebound and scoring the put-back while drawing a foul to put the Bobcats up by 15. He converted on the ensuing free throw attempt to give the Green and White a 41-25 advantage.
With 10:08 remaining in the game, Freeman hit his sixth three-pointer to give the `Cats a 58-40 lead. That tied his career high in three-point field goals made, a mark he had previously achieved on six occasions.
With 2:14 remaining in the game, Freeman hit his seventh three-pointer of the evening to end Toledo's late 12-0 run. Freeman now needs 14 three-pointers to pass Steve Esterkamp for the most in Ohio history.
The senior led all scorers with 21 points and tied for the team lead with five rebounds. Baltic also grabbed five rebounds and chipped in 16 points and four assists. Washington added 14 to become the third Bobcat in double figures, while Nick Kellogg scored nine points and dished out a career-high six assists. T.J. Hall came off the bench for Ohio with eight points, four assists and three rebounds
Toledo never led throughout the course of the contest, while the Bobcats were at one point up by as many as 20 points. The 58 points were a season-low for an Ohio opponent in MAC play as the Bobcats held Norfolk State to 56 points during non-conference action.
The Bobcats will next be in action on Saturday, February 12 when they travel to Western Michigan to take on the Broncos. Tip time is set for 4 pm. Toledo hosts Miami.
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