Dec. 6, 2008
Final Stats
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Senior forwards Jerome Tillman and Justin Orr combined for 44 points, including 39 in the second half, but a late flurry by the Ohio University men's basketball team fell short and the Bobcats dropped a 76-67 decision to Lamar in their opening game at the Marques Maybin Classic.
Ohio was held to 37.9 percent shooting on the day, but used a 17-of-21 (81.0 percent) team effort from the free throw line to remain within striking distance in the latter stages of the game.
The Bobcats (3-2) trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half, but Orr (Cincinnati, Ohio) poured in seven-straight points for the Green & White to cut the deficit to 70-61 with just over a minute left in regulation. After a defensive rebound by sophomore forward Adetunji Adedipe (Orange Village, Ohio), Tillman (Beavercreek, Ohio) connected from beyond the arc to bring the Bobcats within six with a minute to play. Despite another triple from Tillman with 30 seconds on the clock, Lamar was able to convert on six-consecutive free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the victory.
"My hat's off to Lamar because they set the tone early and forced us to do some things that we typically don't like to do," Ohio head coach John Groce said. "We didn't shoot the ball particularly well, and we weren't able to overcome a slow start this time around. I like the fact that we played hard until the final horn, but I'd have liked to have seen us get off to a better start."
Tillman led all players with a career high-tying 25 points, hitting the 20-point mark for the third-straight outing. He knocked down 7-of-16 shots from the floor, matching his career best with three three-point field goals, and was nearly flawless from the line for the second game in a row, connecting on 8-of-9 from the charity stripe just three days after sinking 9-of-10 in the Bobcats' home victory over Tulsa. He also added six rebounds, an assist and a steal in 32 minutes of work.
Orr finished the game with 19 points, just one shy of his career high, after drilling 8-of-15 field goal attempts, both personal bests. He paced the Ohio offense after the break, knocking down six shots from the field in 19 second-half minutes. Orr was also a major contributor on defense against Lamar, collecting two of the Bobcats' three blocks and picking up a steal.
Senior guard Michael Allen (Detroit, Mich.) was also active on both ends of the floor on Saturday, scoring 10 points to reach double figures for the second-straight game, while also pulling down four rebounds and notching two steals. Freshman guard Frankie Dobbs (Lakewood, Ohio) handed out four assists and grabbed three rebounds in 31 minutes of action, all career highs.
"Lamar played well with the lead and was strong on the glass in the second half, both of which make it difficult for any team to come from behind," Groce said. "We didn't defend as well as we could have, and to their credit, they made a lot of tough shots."
Down by 11 early in the first half, the Bobcats reeled off a 16-4 run, fueled by four points from both Allen and Tillman, to charge back and take a 25-24 lead with 6:11 left in the opening period. Lamar was able to secure 12 of the half's last 19 points, but a three-point bucket from Tillman and a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Tommy Freeman (Muncie, Ind.) helped Ohio head to the locker room with just a 36-32 deficit.
Tillman netted a team-high 10 first-half points, while Allen added eight and Orr chipped in with five in addition to a pair of blocked shots. Tillman also shared team-high honors in the rebounding department in the first frame, as he and sophomore forward DeVaughn Washington both pulled down three boards.
Ohio will play its third game in five days on Sunday when it takes the Freedom Hall floor against No. 11/11 Louisville at 4 p.m. ET. Coverage will begin on the Citizens Bank ISP Ohio Sports Network at 3:30 p.m. ET with a 30-minute pregame show leading up to tip-off between the Bobcats and the Cardinals.
