THE BASICS

Score: Ohio 72 UNCW 53

Location: The Convocation Center - Athens, Ohio

The Short Story: After trailing the UNCW (5-6) the entire first half, the Ohio men's basketball team (5-6) inched its way back in the second behind 23 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high four blocks from senior forward Maurice Ndour (Mbour, Senegal) to take a 72-53 win.

OHIO STARTERS: #3 Javarez Willis, #5 Maurice Ndour, #14 Ryan Taylor, #24 Mike Laster, #33 Antonio Campbell

UNCW STARTERS: #0 Craig Ponder, #10 Freddie Jackson, #23 C.J. Gettys, #24 Addison Spruill, #40 Cedrick Williams

HOW IT HAPPENED

- The Seahawks started the game going on a 10-2 run before the `Cats started to claw their way back, finding themselves down two at 10-8 with 15:29 left in the first half. Redshirt senior guard Javarez Willis (Homer, La.) started the contest with four points, making his first two shots.

- The Bobcats narrowed the deficit going into halftime courtesy of a layup by freshman guard Ryan Taylor (Gary, Ind.). Ohio trailed, 34-30, heading into the second half.

- Ohio came out of the halftime break on fire, going 3-for-4 from the floor.

- Sophomore forward Antonio Campbell (Cincinnati, Ohio) gave the `Cats their first lead of the game after hitting a three pointer, putting Ohio up 37-34 with just over 18 minutes left.

- Ohio went on a 16-0 run and never looked back.

- Ohio's defensive presence stepped up in the second half, holding the Seahawks to shooting just 17.1% from the field.

- Willis finished with 12 points and five rebounds and matched Taylor with a game-high five assists. 

- Campbell tallied 11 points, five rebounds, a team-high two steals and a block.

- Freshman guard Mike Laster (Detroit, Mich.) scored a career-high 11 points off a career-best 4-of-6 shooting in addition to grabbing three boards and a steal and dishing out an assist.

- Redshirt junior forward Treg Setty (Maysville, Ky.) set a new career high by snatching a team-high 12 rebounds. He also contributed four points and an assist.

- Senior guard Addison Spruill led the Seahawks with 16 points. He also collected four rebounds and handed out two assists.

- Redshirt junior guard Craig Ponder totaled 13 points to go along with a rebound and an assist.

- Redshirt sophomore center C.J. Gettys pulled down a game-high 13 boards in addition to scoring six points.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

- Ndour recorded his fifth double-double of the season and ninth of his career. He posted his ninth double-digit scoring effort of the year and 34th of his career and sixth double-digit rebounding outing of the season and 12th of his career. He eclipsed the 20-point mark for the third time this season and 12th time in his career. 

- Willis tallied his eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season and 18th of his career.

- Campbell posted his sixth double-digit scoring performance of the year and ninth of his career.

- Ohio was 0-6 from deep in the first half, but shot 42.9% from beyond the arc in the second half. That was the exact opposite of UNCW, which shot 57.1% from three in the first half but did not make a single three in the second.

- Ohio held UNCW to only six total field goals in the second half.

- With this win, the Green and White advance to 18-2 all-time against the Colonial Athletic Association.

QUOTABLE:

First-year head coach Saul Phillips

"As a team, we held them to 17 percent shooting in the second half. I don't care who you're playing, that's a good effort. Winning is more fun than losing. We've got five wins in the preseason, which is better than four, but not as good as six. That's how I analyze it."

Senior forward Maurice Ndour

"I feel like at some point there's only one thing you can control. And one thing I can control is my energy. My teammates kind of feed off of that. I was just trying to do everything, trying to be everywhere and help my teammates. We were playing big guys, and every time we switched, I just tried to be everywhere and help them."

Redshirt senior guard Javarez Willis

"It was mainly about effort and attitude, and a little bit with just having a couple games under your belt. We got some freshmen that just need to see it, game after game after game. I think they did a pretty good job today. Together, I think we all did a good job."

UP NEXT:

Ohio begins 2015 Mid-American Conference play from the friendly confines of the Convo next Wednesday (Jan. 7) against West Division foe Northern Illinois in a 7 p.m. ET clash.

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