Feb. 22, 2012
Final Stats
BUFFALO, N.Y.- Ohio received a career-high 23 points from Walter Offutt as it defeated Buffalo this evening 88-77 at Alumni Arena. D.J. Cooper added 20 points as the Bobcats improved to 22-6 and moved into a three-way tie for second place in the Mid-American Conference standings.
Offutt hit five three-pointers and also grabbed seven rebounds while Cooper had eight assists and four steals. The junior from Chicago is now 15 assists away from breaking Ohio's all-time mark. Offutt and Cooper became the first Ohio teammates to each surpass 20 points in the same game this year.
Nick Kellogg scored eight of his season-high 15 points during a stretch in the second half that saw Ohio go in front by double figures. Ivo Baltic and T.J. Hall each had nine points and nine rebounds. It was a career night on the glass for the sophomore from Florida and he also scored his most points in MAC play this season.
Ohio shot 39 percent for the game but was helped by 20-of-21 shooting at the free-throw line and +8 advantage on the glass against one of the best rebounding teams in the country. The 'Cats also limited UB to 7-of-25 shooting from beyond the arc (28%).
Trailing 13-8, Ohio went on a 12-2 run to take a 20-15 lead with 9:09 remaining in the half. Free throws by Cooper on the Green & White's last possession pushed the lead to seven before Titus Robinson slammed home two of his 14 points off the bench for UB.
Cooper and Offutt each scored 11 in the first half as Ohio took a 37-32 lead into the lockers.
With the score tied 39-39, Kellogg scored eight straight points thanks to two three-pointers and a fast break layup. A Reggie Keely putback gave Ohio its first double-digit lead of the game at 49-39 with 15:32 to play.
The lead would eventually swell to 15 points as the `Cats held the Bulls without a field goal for almost eight minutes. Trailing 60-45, UB went on an 8-0 run before Smith converted a putback to make it 62-53 with 8:15 showing on the clock.
A Robinson dunk cut it to a two-possession game, but the UB player was whistled for a technical foul and Ohio got two free throws from Kellogg and a three-pointer from Offutt to stretch the lead back to 10 at 7:20.
Cooper hit two free throws with 1:38 left for its largest lead, 19 points, and coasted to an 88-77 win.
Ohio scored 18 points off 14 UB turnovers, notched 24 second chance points and held an 11-0 edge in fastbreak points.
Ohio will host Akron on Sunday night at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU and will also be the Green Fever game for the Bobcats.
