FOLLOW OHIO MEN'S BASKETBALL: Facebook | Twitter

Box Score (HTML) | Box Score (PDF) | Photo Gallery 

ATHENS, Ohio -- Despite a career-high 20 points and a team-high seven rebounds from freshman forward Jason Carter (Johnstown, Ohio), the Ohio men's basketball team (12-6, 4-3 MAC) fell to Mid-American Conference West Division foe Toledo (11-9, 4-3 MAC), 79-76, on Tuesday (Jan. 24) at the Convocation Center.

It was a strong offensive night for both the Bobcats and the Rockets. Toledo shot 53.6 percent (30-of-56) from the field while Ohio converted at a 50 percent (30-of-60) rate. The Rockets held the edge at the free throw line, sinking 68.4 percent (13-of-19) of their foul shots compared to a 64.3 percent (9-of-14) conversion rate for the Bobcats. Toledo also held a 19-10 advantage in second-chance points en route to the victory.



Carter went 8-of-16 from the field and also added a block and a steal in 29 minutes.

"The more you play, the more comfortable you get," said Carter, who is averaging 14.3 points over his last four games. "The more comfortable you get with the guys. It’s simple as that."

Redshirt junior guard Jaaron Simmons (Dayton, Ohio) logged his third double-double of the season for the Bobcats with 17 points and a game-high 10 assists to go along with three rebounds and a steal over 38 minutes.



Sophomore guard Jordan Dartis (Newark, Ohio) went 5-of-7 from the field -- including 3-of-5 from three-point range -- to tally 13 points. He also recorded two assists, two steals and a rebound in 31 minutes.

With 19 seconds left, Toledo senior guard Jonathan Williams hit one of his two free throw attempts to make it a 79-76 lead for the Rockets.

Ohio then drove down the court, and Simmons passed the ball to Carter, whose three-point attempt was off the mark. Simmons was able to get the rebound and found Dartis on the outside, but the last-second shot didn't fall.

"We need to be very careful as to how reactionary we are as a group in the locker room," said third-year head coach Saul Phillips. "Nobody likes losing, and we are mixing and matching some parts right now. If this is the finished product, it’s not good enough. But, it’s not the finished product."

Carter tallied 11 points in the first half while Simmons totaled eight points and five assists to help the Bobcats build a 39-34 halftime advantage.

Ohio's lead swelled to double digits as a layup by Simmons, a three by redshirt senior forward Kenny Kaminski (Medina, Ohio) and a layup by Carter put the Bobcats up by a 46-36 count with 17:41 to play.

The Rockets came back with a 16-2 run to take a 52-48 lead with 14 minutes remaining. A trey by sophomore forward Nate Navigato capped the rally.

The ensuing eight minutes featured two ties and four lead changes. A layup by Dartis put Ohio back in front, 65-64, with 6:34 to go, but a three by sophomore guard Jaelan Sanford after an offensive rebound by Navigato put the Rockets up by two with six minutes left. Carter tied the score at 67-all on Ohio's next trip down the floor, but a 7-2 run by the Rockets that saw senior forward Steve Taylor, Jr. account for five of Toledo's points gave the visitors a 74-69 lead with just over four minutes left.

Simmons knocked down a jumper, then sank a pair of free throws to cut Ohio's deficit down to one with just over three minutes remaining, but Toledo went back up by five with 1:15 to play thanks to a layup by Taylor and two freebies by Navigato. Sophomore guard/forward Gavin Block (Lincoln, Ill.) hit a three with just over a minute left on the clock to make it a two-point game, but that's as close as the Bobcats got.

Taylor led all scorers with 25 points thanks in large part to a 10-of-18 effort from the field. He also added a game-high 15 rebounds and posted five assists and two steals over 34 minutes of work for Toledo.

Williams collected 15 points, five assists, two rebounds and a steal in 37 minutes for the Rockets.

Navigato finished with 12 points, six boards, three assists and a block over 30 minutes for Toledo.

Sanford also finished in double figures for the Rockets, tallying 11 points. He also contributed a rebound and a block in 38 minutes of action.

Ohio is back on the road again to visit MAC East Division rival Bowling Green (8-12, 2-5 MAC) on Saturday (Jan. 28). The contest was picked up by Spectrum Sports and Buckeye Cable Sports Network and tip at 4 p.m. ET. The game will also be broadcast on ESPN3 and streamed live nationally on WatchESPN and the ESPN app.

#BleedGreen