Jan. 22, 2011
Final Stats | Quotes
ATHENS, Ohio - Ohio’s Shavon Robinson and Symone Lyles combined for 27 points as the homestanding Bobcats defeated visiting Western Michigan, 60-54, Saturday evening at the Convocation Center on the University’s Dads Weekend.
The Bobcats improved to 6-13 overall and 2-4 in the Mid-American Conference, while the Broncos dropped to 5-15 and 1-5 in the league. Ohio, who led 34-26 at halftime, shot 44.2 percent from the floor and limited the Broncos to 37 percent from the field. The Green and White also pounded the opposition on the glass 40-27 on its way to scoring 36 of its 60 points in the paint.
Defense shined once again for the 'Cats, holding its fifth league foe under 60 points while also winning the rebounding battle for the 10th time in 11 games.
Robinson (Canton, Ohio), Lyles (Silver Spring, Md.) and Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) all finished in double figures for the Green and White as the trio combined for almost two-thirds of the offensive output for Ohio. Fowler finished with 12 points, while also adding three assists. Kamille Buckner (Chicago, Ill.) recorded six points, six rebounds and two blocks.
It was almost all WMU coming out of the gates as the Broncos jumped out to a 10-2 lead 2:47 in. Ohio wouldn't roll over, however, and battled back to even the score at 19 with 10:24 left in the half. Fowler converted from long range to put the 'Cats up 22-21, a lead they would never surrender.
Ohio kept its strong play going as part of a huge 15-4 run that saw the Green and White take its largest lead of the contest at 34-23 with just over a minute left in the opening half. The 'Cats took a 34-26 advantage into the lockerroom.
Fowler paced all scorers with 10 points in the half, while Ohio shot 46 percent from the field. Robinson finished with nine in the stanza. The 'Cats held a 16-10 advantage in points in the paint and also scored 10 points off of Bronco turnovers.
WMU continued to chip away and pulled within four after an Ebony Cleary bucket inside with 18:53 left. The Green and White responded with a quick 6-0 outburst to extend the lead back to 10. The Broncos still would not go away, however, as they took advantage of a 14-4 run to even the tally at 44 with 8:55 left.
A Buckner lay-up and a Lyles bucket off the fast break put Ohio back in front for good with 7:42 left. WMU continued to hang around, but were never able to get closer than four points the rest of the way. With time running out, the Broncos were forced to foul over the last minute of play. The 'Cats responded by hitting their free throws to seal the 60-54 win.
Ohio finished the game shooting 44.2 percent (23-52), while WMU made 37 percent (20-54).
WMU's Cleary matched Robinson for game-high honors with 17 points, while Taylor Manley chipped in 14 for the Broncos. Kemmy Dominique paced the team on the backboards with six rebounds.
The Bobcats return to the hardwood on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in Ypsilanti, Mich. against Eastern Michigan.
