Oct. 30, 2009
Box Score | Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio - It may not count in the record books, but the Ohio men's basketball team's 76-40 exhibition win over Taylor University on Friday night at the Convo certainly meant a great deal to Head Coach John Groce and his charges.
"The biggest thing for us is we've spent the majority of the fall and our practice time on defending and trying to establish an identity on that end of the floor," Groce said. "I was pleased for the most part with our ability to affect their field goal percentage, both from three and from the field. We were able to put some pressure on the basketball and be disruptive defensively. Off the ball, our positioning was good for the most part."
After just two weeks of practice, Friday night marked the debut, albeit unofficially, of a revamped Ohio roster, featuring one the largest and most anticipated classes of newcomers the Bobcats have had in recent years.
In their second season under Groce, the Bobcats' have adopted the motto "Attack U," and that was exactly what the Trojans were faced with from the game's opening tip-off. Ohio scored on each of its first 11 possessions, with seven different players scoring during a 25-2 run over the first eight minutes of the contest.
While it was a three from veteran Tommy Freeman (Muncie, Ind.) that opened the offensive onslaught for the Bobcats, it was newcomer D.J. Cooper (Chicago, Ill.) who put on the biggest show for Ohio fans in the first half. After missing his first shot of the game, Cooper connected on the next three, including a pair from beyond the arc, collecting nine points, three rebounds and a steal over the next ten minutes. The 5-11 guard also blocked a shot from Taylor's 6-9 Jake Burkholder under the basket.
It was fellow newcomer Reggie Keely (University Heights, Ohio) who led the Bobcats in the scoring column on the night, collecting 18 points behind seven of nine shooting from the floor and connecting on four of five from the stripe.
Cooper and Marquis Horne (Cincinnati, Ohio), another freshman, each had 13 points at the final buzzer, while classmate Ivo Baltic (Kansas City, Mo.) added nine points and led the Bobcats on the boards with a game-high 11 rebounds.
"I knew that they were going to be excited to play," Groce said of the freshmen. "I felt like for the most part those guys were really eager, and did a good job."
Redshirt Junior Asown Sayles (McKeesport, Penn.) scored 10 points and added seven rebounds, while Freeman and Kenneth van Kempen chipped in six points apiece.
"We've really challenged our veterans," Groce said. "I feel like we're getting better. That's the biggest thing. I think through seventeen practices and then watching us tonight, I feel like we're getting better. We're moving forward day by day."
The evening was also a debut of sorts for Groce himself, who for the first time as a head coach took to the sidelines against not only his alma mater, but his former coach and mentor, Paul Patterson of Taylor. Patterson, who has already been inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, has amassed more than 665 wins in 31 seasons. He also coached both Groce and Bobcat assistant coach Chris Holtman during the early 1990s, including the 1990-91 season when the Trojans advanced to the NAIA Final Four.
Ohio will face Ashland in its second and final exhibition of the season on Saturday, Nov. 7. Action will tip off at 2 p.m. in the Convo. The `Cats will officially open the 2009-10 season with a home contest against Ohio Valley University on Friday, Nov. 13.
