Feb. 15, 2011

Box Score

ATHENS, Ohio - Ivo Baltic and D.J. Cooper each scored 24 points and the Bobcats erased a second-half deficit with strong defensive play as they toppled Buffalo at Alumni Arena, 76-69. Ohio used an 11-2 run to overtake the Bulls, who had led by double figures.

Cooper and Baltic became the first Ohio teammates to each score over 20 points in a game this season. The last duo to record the feat was Cooper and Armon Bassett in last season's NCAA Tournament win over Georgetown. Baltic finished with a game-high nine rebounds and scored 20 of his points during the second half. Cooper added five assists and shot over 50 percent from the floor (8-of-15, 3-of-5 on threes).

DeVaughn Washington added 12 points for Ohio and took a late charge that was critical in the Bobcat run. The senior also played well defensively, stepping out and making deflections and causing steals by disrupting passing lanes. His breakaway dunk in the second half off one of those steals quieted the raucous UB crowd and fired up the Ohio bench.

Facing one of the nation's best defensive teams, Ohio committed only three turnovers in the second half while making its critical run. The Bobcats only turned the ball over nine times in the game as compared to 16 for the Bulls. In the end, Ohio out-scored Buffalo 19-2 in points off turnovers and scored 52 points off 74 percent shooting in the second half. The ‘Cats defense also limited the Bulls to 29 percent shooting from beyond the arc (5-of-17).

Buffalo jumped out to a 7-2 lead which prompted Ohio Head Coach John Groce to burn a quick timeout. The ‘Cats cut it to one on a layup by Cooper that made the score 10-9 with 13:06 to go in the first half.

However, that would be as close as the Green & White got in the first half, falling behind by double figures and trailing by eight at intermission, 32-24. The point total was the lowest in a half during MAC play this season for Ohio. Cooper led all scorers at the break with 11 as the ‘Cats only shot 33 percent. Buffalo shot 52 percent and on the defensive end, blocked six shots and limited Ohio to one three-pointer.

Buffalo led 48-39 with 13:57 remaining in the game before Ohio went on a 9-2 run to pull within a bucket at the 10:30 mark. However, UB pushed the lead back to seven at 58-51 with an even nine minutes showing on the game clock.

Ohio continued to push and used an 11-2 run to finally take the lead for the first time on free throws by Baltic with 5:21 to go. Cooper hit a three, then stole a post entry pass that lead to a fast break dunk for Washington. Washington then intercepted a pass on the perimeter and drew a foul that led to Baltic free throws on the ensuing possession that tied the game. After forcing another UB turnover, Baltic was fouled again and calmly converted for Ohio’s first lead.

The teams traded buckets before a Cooper jumper gave Ohio a 67-65 lead with 2:51 left. That was when Washington stepped in and drew a charging foul on Buffalo’s Byron Mulkey which allowed the ‘Cats to have possession while maintaining a lead. Baltic was eventually fouled and made two more free throws, finishing with a career-best eight conversions on 10 tries.

A Zach Filzen jumper cut the Ohio lead to two and Cooper was blocked on the next offensive possession for the Bobcats. However, Washington knocked the loose ball free and Baltic tapped the ball to Nick Kellogg. The freshman made a heady play and spotted Cooper in the far corner for a three-point try that found nothing but twine.

Now leading by five, 72-67, Ohio contested Mulkey on a three, which he missed, and Baltic recovered the rebound. After making one of two tries and extending the lead to six, the ‘Cats denied Filzen and Mitchell Watt scoring opportunities on consecutive possessions and made their foul shots to wrap up a 76-69 win.

Javon McCrea and Zach Filzen tied for the team lead with 15 points apiece as McCrea also added a team-high six rebounds and three blocked shots and Filzen, the MAC leader in three-pointers made, connected on 3-of-7 tries. Mulkey finished with 13 for Buffalo after scoring nine in the first half to lead the team.

The Bobcats return to action on Saturday evening when they travel down to Rock Hill, S.C., for an ESPNU BracketBuster contest at Winthrop. Tip-off will be at 7 p.m. with Ohio holding a 4-3 record in BracketBuster games.