Feb. 9, 2008

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

ATHENS, Ohio-Senior forward Leon Williams (Baltimore, Md.) scored the Ohio men's basketball squad's last seven points to help lift the Bobcats to a 57-54 victory over Western Michigan Saturday afternoon in the Convocation Center. Ohio improved to 16-7 overall and 7-3 in the Mid-American Conference, while the Broncos dipped to 13-10 overall and 7-3 in the league.

The Bobcats have won their last 10 home games dating back to last season.

Williams finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds and three steals, while senior guard Bubba Walther ( Cincinnati, Ohio ) had 13 points and three assists.

WMU was led by David Kool's 17 points, while Joe Reitz had 12 and Derek Fracalossi had 10. Reitz also had a team-high nine boards, while the Broncos beat the Bobcats on the glass 35-33. Eight of Kool's points came at the line to counteract a 4-18 effort from the floor.

Fourteen of Williams' points came at the free throw line (in 17 attempts), while Ohio made 19 of 25 attempts (76 percent) on the day. The Broncos went a perfect 14-for-14 from the line.

Neither team shot well from the floor as Ohio held a 36.4 percent (16-44) edge to a 34 percent edge (18-53).

The two teams played a close first half, with the Broncos stepping out to an eight point lead on a tip-in by Reitz 30 seconds before the half. WMU took a 33-28 advantage into the locker room.

The Bobcats battled back in the opening moments of the second half, but WMU again pushed the margin back to eight (42-34) on a layup by Reitz with 11:05 to go. Gradually, Ohio cut the margin down and tied the contest at 52 on a Williams jumper with three minutes to go.

After Williams' scoring put Ohio ahead 57-54 with 12 seconds to go, WMU had two cracks to tie the game but Kool missed his three with four seconds and Andre Ricks had his 3-pointer blocked by junior guard Allen Hester ( Oakland , Ca.) at the buzzer.

The Bobcats will be back in action Wednesday at Toledo (7-14 overall, 4-5 MAC) at 7 p.m.