Jan. 31, 2010
Final Stats | Quotes | Notes
ATHENS, Ohio - A late overtime surge from Ball State cost Ohio as the Cardinals swooped in and stole a 67-66 win Sunday in the Convo. Three Bobcats scored in double figures on the day, paced by Muncie native Tommy Freeman's 16 points.
With Ohio holding a 66-63 lead just over halfway through the extra period, BSU managed to score the last four points of overtime to sneak out with the win.
The Cardinals managed to win the battle on the boards, outrebounding the Green and White 44-34, while Ohio had a strong day on defense, holding BSU to just under 38 percent shooting on the afternoon.
Freeman's (Muncie, Ind.) 16, including three 3-pointers, led Ohio, while Kenneth van Kempen (Weert, The Netherlands) recorded a season-high 13 points to go with his team-high nine rebounds. Armon Bassett (Terra Haute, Ind.) added 10 points and three assists, while freshman D.J. Cooper (Chicago, Ill.) totaled seven points, five rebounds and eight assists.
The `Cats jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead behind a trey from Freeman and buckets from van Kempen and Reggie Keely (University Heights, Ohio). BSU would not go away and managed to eventually claw its way back and took a 21-20 lead with 10:28 left in the half.
Action remained tight over the next few minutes with the Cardinals clinging to a 28-27 advantage. Back-to-back treys from Bassett and Cooper sparked a big 10-0 `Cat run that gave them a 37-28 lead with 1:58 left in the half. BSU scored a pair of quick buckets to come within five, but a Freeman triple in the waning seconds of the first half extended the Green and White lead to 40-32 heading into the lockerroom.
Ohio shot the ball well in the opening frame, shooting at a 57 percent clip from the field, including 55 percent from downtown. BSU claimed the advantage on the glass, outrebounding the `Cats 17-12 in the half.
Defense controlled the early part of the second half as the two teams managed to combine for just four points the first 6:34 of play. Ohio held the lead, 46-38, following a bucket inside from Ivo Baltic (Kansas City, Mo.) with 12:10 left.
Keely extended the `Cats' lead to 50-41 on a jump hook with 9:21 left. The Cardinals came back to cut the lead to four on a 3-pointer from Randy Davis with 6:56 left. BSU then cut the lead to one on a trey from Jauwan Scaife. Action remained tight over the next couple minutes, with Ohio clinging to a 56-55 edge with 3:58 left.
Freeman struck again with a big trey with 3:45 left to put the `Cats in front by four. BSU would not go away, however, and eventually tied the score at 59 apiece after a Brawley Chisholm jumper with 2:59 left. Following a series of scoreless possessions from each side, Ohio had a chance to end things, but a Cooper jumper in the last couple seconds rimmed off to send the game into overtime.
Freeman opened the extra stanza with an old-fashioned three-point play to put Ohio back up on top 62-59. Two Jarrod Jones free throws pulled the Cardinals to within one with 3:50 left, before Pierre Sneed converted a fast-break lay-in to put BSU on top 63-62. Ohio kept its composure and retook a three-point advantage following two Cooper freebies and a van Kempen jumper.
Davis hit a running floater with just under 14 seconds left to make it 66-65. Following a five-second call against Ohio, Jones converted on a tough inside bucket to give the Cardinals the lead with just over two ticks remaining. The `Cats had a chance, but a three-point attempt at the buzzer missed off the backboard.
BSU was paced by Terrence Watson's 20-point, 16-rebound double-double. Three other Cardinals also scored in double figures, including Jarrod Jones (12), Brawley Chisholm (11) and Randy Davis (10).
Ohio will be back in action Thursday, when it heads to Toledo to take on the Rockets. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Savage Arena.
