Jan. 14, 2015
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THE BASICS
Score: Toledo 80, Ohio 73
Location: The Convocation Center - Athens, Ohio
The Short Story: Despite a late second half flurry, the Ohio men's basketball team (5-9, 0-3 MAC) dropped Wednesday's matchup against Mid-American Conference West Division foe Toledo (10-6, 2-1 MAC), 80-73, on Wednesday (Jan 14) at the Convocation Center.
OHIO STARTERS: #3 Javarez Bean Willis, #5 Maurice Ndour, #14 Ryan Taylor, #24 Mike Laster, #33 Antonio Campbell
TOLEDO STARTERS: #1 Jonathan Williams, #4 Justin Drummond, #20 Julius Brown, #24 J.D. Weatherspoon, #53 Nathan Boothe
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ohio shot 50 percent compared to Toledo's 43.9 percent, but was outrebounded by a 38-34 margin and turned the ball over 11 times compared to the Rockets' six turnovers.
- After scoring just three points in the first half, redshirt senior guard Javarez Willis (Homer, La.) scored 15 second half points -- including three three-point field goals -- en route to a team-high 18 points for the game. He also dished out four assists and grabbed four rebounds in 34 minutes.
- Senior forward Maurice Ndour (Mbour, Senegal) finished the game with 16 points, a team-high seven rebounds, a game-high four blocks and a steal in 28 minutes.
- Sophomore forward Antonio Campbell (Cincinnati, Ohio) and senior guard Stevie Taylor (Gahanna, Ohio) each posted nine points. Campbell tallied four rebounds and an assist in 18 minutes while Taylor totaled a team-high five assists to go along with four rebounds in 26 minutes.
- Freshman guard Mike Laster (Detroit, Mich.) compiled seven points, a rebound and an assist in 17 minutes while redshirt junior forward Treg Setty (Maysville, Ky.) recorded six points, six rebounds, two assists and a block in 23 minutes of work off of the bench.
- Senior forward J.D. Weatherspoon powered the Rockets with a double-double, totaling a game-high 19 points and a game-high 10 boards to go along with three assists, a game-high three steals and a block in 37 minutes.
- Senior guard Julius Brown posted 16 points, a team-high five assists, a rebound and a block in 34 minutes for Toledo.
- Junior center Nathan Boothe and senior guard Justin Drummond each piled up 12 points in 32 minutes for the Rockets. Boothe pulled down eight boards while Drummond collected two assists, two rebounds and two steals.
- The Bobcats jumped out to an early 14-9 lead on the back of great play from big Ndour and Campbell. Ndour scored four points while hauling in two rebounds and dishing two assists in that early stretch. Campbell grabbed two boards and scored five points, with one basket coming on a wide open three from the top of the arc.
- Toledo's frontcourt also answered the bell, with the combo of Boothe and Weatherspoon causing trouble for the Bobcat defense. Boothe scored nine points in the first half and Weatherspoon scored 10 while also grabbing six rebounds.
- The Rockets took a 41-35 lead into the half. Ndour led all scorers with 11 points.
- Ohio shot 46.7 percent in the first half, converting on 14 of its 30 shot attempts, nine of which were created by assists.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- With his 16 points, Ndour recorded a double-digit point total for the 12th time this season and the 36th time in his Ohio career. He also tallied at least three blocks in each of the last three games.
- Willis reached double figures for the 10th time this season and 20th time in his career.
- Willis' four three-pointers made against the Rockets marked the seventh time Willis hit at least three treys in a game this season.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Saul Phillips
- "It would be silly for us to do anything but to come back and work our butt off because the margin isn't that big from anybody in this league to us. Period."
- "People talk about moral victories -- I've got no idea what that means. I've got no idea. I don't want to hear any of that talk. But, I will say this, the conclusion that you better come to if you want to be successful is that we can still get there."
Senior Forward Maurice Ndour:
- "We played more together this game compared to other games. We had a lot more energy. I think we competed well too. But, at the end of the day, defense wins championships, and we didn't do a good job of that this game."
Senior Guard Stevie Taylor
- "I definitely think we took a step in the right direction to turn things around, but it's going to be a grind all season."
UP NEXT
Ohio hits the road again to visit MAC East Division rival Kent State on Saturday (Jan. 17). The opening tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at the M.A.C. Center.
#SaulBall
