Jan. 29, 2009
Final Stats
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Sophomore forward DeVaughn Washington recorded his second-career double-double, but the Ohio University men's basketball team dropped a 76-69 decision to Central Michigan Thursday night at Rose Arena. Originally scheduled for Wednesday night, the game was postponed until Thursday due to travel complications from the weather.
Despite the cold temperatures outside, the Chippewas (6-12, 3-3 Mid-American Conference) heated up Rose Arena by hitting 57.1 percent from the field, including 5-of-11 from behind the arc. The Bobcats (10-9, 3-3 MAC) shot a 47.8 percent clip, including 52.2 percent in the second frame. Ohio was 20-of-28 from the free-throw line, while CMU made 23 of its 39 freebies.
"The fact that they shot 57 percent is completely unacceptable," Ohio head coach John Groce said. "If you give up 57 percent on the road, you're going to lose every time. We didn't defend well enough and I'm just not very pleased with how we defended, but I can assure you we're going to start defending."
Washington (Virginia Beach, Va.) tallied a career-best 25 points to pace the 'Cats, breaking his previous high by seven, on 7-of-11 shooting, while collecting a game-high 11 rebounds. He also knocked down 11-of-13 free throws, with both his makes and attempts setting career highs. It was just the third time this year he has led the Bobcats in scoring.
Senior guard Michael Allen (Detroit, Mich.) contributed 10 points, his third-straight double-figure performance, while also grabbing three boards and dishing out three assists, which were all in the first half. Fellow senior Jerome Tillman (Beavercreek, Ohio) extended his double-figure scoring streak to 24 games as he finished with 10 as well. Tillman drained his only free throw of the game for his 13th-straight made free throw, while adding five rebounds, two assists and Ohio's lone steal.
Sophomore guard Tommy Freeman (Muncie, Ind.) chipped in eight points, all in the opening period, on 2-of-3 shooting from distance, while also supplying five caroms and a pair of assists. Freshman guard Steven Coleman (Melbourne, Fla.) also garnered eight points and two assists.
In a game that featured 13 lead changes and nine ties, Ohio jumped out to an 11-7 lead, with five points coming from Freeman, including a 3-pointer to open the contest. The Chippewas responded however, with an 11-0 run over a five and a half minute stretch for an 18-11 edge, until a Washington free throw snapped Central's spurt with 6:55 to play in the half. Another triple from Freeman and six-straight points from Washington put Ohio on top, 26-23, with 2:31 remaining. After CMU took a 29-28 lead, a pair of Washington free throws sent the 'Cats into the break holding a slim 30-29 advantage.
Washington led all scorers at recess with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 5-of-6 attempts from the stripe, including Ohio's final 10 points of the opening 20 minutes. The sophomore also had eight of the Bobcats' 13 first-half rebounds. The Chips grabbed 13 boards in the first frame as well. Ohio hit 10-of-23 shots over the game's first 20 minutes, including 3-of-4 from deep, to go along 7-of-8 shooting from the free-throw line. Central Michigan shot 57.1 percent (12-of-21), but managed just 3-of-9 free throws.
The game see-sawed back and forth in the opening five minutes of the second stanza, until the Chippewas stretched their lead to five at 44-39 with 14:07 to play. A 9-2 Bobcat spurt, capped by four-straight from Washington, gave Ohio a 50-48 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. Ten-consecutive points from CMU over a six-minute period gave the Chips an eight-point advantage they would not relinquish, however. Despite a strong effort, Ohio would get no closer than six, as Central Michigan hit 10-of-14 from the charity stripe in the final two minutes to secure the 76-69 win.
"We didn't make enough plays down the stretch," Groce said. "Even when I thought we had a chance there at the end, continually going 1-for-2 and 1-for-3 from the free-throw line, I thought it hurt us and didn't give us an opportunity to maybe make a run at it there at the end."
The Bobcats have a short turnaround, as they'll travel to Muncie, Ind. Saturday, for a showdown with MAC West leader Ball State. Pregame coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. ET on the Citizens Bank ISP Sports Network, with tip-off slated for 2 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
