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Sunday, Dec. 6 vs. Cleveland State, 2 pm ET | Athens, Ohio| Convocation Center | ESPN3 | TuneIn | Live Stats | Ohio Game Notes | Cleveland State Game Notes
ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (2-1) returns to action on Sunday, Dec. 6 when Ohio hosts Cleveland State (0-1) inside the Convocation Center. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. Sunday's game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App, where Marty Bannister and Jackie Windon will have the call. General public will not be permitted until further notice. A maximum of four tickets per student-athlete will be available for family members.
The game can be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield IMG College. Russ Eisenstein returns for his 13th season as the "Voice of the Bobcats." WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station network's flagship. The broadcasts are also available online through TuneIn.com/OhioBobcats and on the TuneIn app.
STORY LINES
• This is the 15th all-time meeting between the Bobcats and the Vikings, with Ohio leading the all-time series, 12-2.
• Jason Preston was named the MAC Player of the week on Nov. 30, marking a week capped off by a 31-point performance on Nov. 27 against No. 8 Illinois.
• The Bobcats have not lost to the Vikings since Dec. 6, 1998 and have never dropped a contest to Cleveland State inside the Convo.
• Ohio has registered an impressive 519-172 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
• The Bobcats opened the 2020 season at the Illinois MTE last week, finishing with a 2-1 record and nearly knocking off No. 8 Illinois in a 77-75 battle.
• The Bobcats last game inside the Convocation Center was on March 9, 2020 when the Bobcats defeated Central Michigan 85-65, in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE
Cleveland State enters the contest with an 0-1 record after falling to Toledo, 70-61 in their season opener on Dec. 1.
As a team, CSU is averaging 61.0 points per game, while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 29.2 percent from three-point range and 40.0 percent from the free throw line. The Vikings average 44.0 rebounds per game, along with 12.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 5.0 blocks per contest.
Individually, Craig Beaudion averages 14.0 points pr game while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and grabbing four rebounds a game. Tre Gormillion and Jayson Woodrich both add 11.0 points a game, while Gomillion shoots 62.5 percent from the field an Woodrich shoots 50.0 percent from the field. Deane Johnson leads the Vikings with 10.0 boards per game.
SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats enter the matchup with Cleveland State with a 2-1 overall record after their opening weekend in Illinois. The Bobcats defeated Chicago State and North Carolina A&T, before falling in a battle to No. 8 Illinois, 77-75.
Overall, the Bobcats are averaging 81.0 points per game, while shooting 49.7 percent from the field, 41.7 percent fro three-point range and 58.7 percent from the free throw line. The Bobcats also average 34.0 rebounds an game to go along with 16.3 assists, 5.7 steals and 2.0 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 70.0 points per game, while shooting 41.0 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from three-point range and 76.3 percent from the free throw line. Opponents also average 34.3 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 6.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
Individually, Jason Preston leads Ohio with 21.0 points per game, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field, 53.8 percent from three-point range and 44.4 percent from the free throw line. He also adds 7.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game.
Ben Vander Plas is next, averaging 14.0 points per game, while shooting 48.4 percent from the field, 85.7 percent from the free throw line and adds 5.0 rebounds a game. Dwight Wilson III averages 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds a contest, while Ben Roderick averages 11.7 points per game and is shooting 50 percent from three-point range.
ALL TIME VS. CLEVELAND STATE
This is the 15th all-time meeting between the Bobcats and the Vikings, with Ohio leading the all-time series, 12-2.
Ohio and CSU last met on Dec. 17, 2016, where Ohio won, 71-53, inside the Convocation Center.
The Bobcats have not lost to the Vikings since Dec. 6, 1998 and have never dropped a contest to Cleveland State inside the Convo.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 519-172 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW
After his 31-point performance against No. 8 Illinois on Nov. 27, Jason Preston's star has exploded on the national level.
Already this season, the junior point guard is averaging 21.0 points per game, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field, 53.8 percent from three-point range and 44.4 percent from the free throw line. He also adds 7.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game.
In the Bobcats first game of the year against Chicago State, Preston scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out eight assists in Ohio's 84-61 victory. He went 5-of-9 from the field and 1-of-2 from three-point range and had no turnovers in 30 minutes on the court.
Preston was even better against North Carolina A&T, scoring 21 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists in the 84-72 victory. He went 8-of-13 from the field, 3-of-7 from three-point range and 2-of-3 from the free throw line.
Preston was named the MAC Player of the Week on Nov. 30 for his performance that week.
1,000 POINT WATCH
Early in the season and two Bobcats are on path to hit the 1,000-point thresh hold this season.
Junior Jason Preston currently sires at 781 career points, while redshirt junior Ben Vander Plas has 796 career points.
MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jason Preston was named the MAC Player of the week on Nov. 30 for her performance the week on Nov. 24.
ALL TIME ASSISTS MARK
Junior Jason Preston currently sits seventh all-time on Ohio's all-time assist list with 367.
1. D.J. Cooper (2010-13) .......................934
2. Dennis Whitaker (1990)...................651
3. Paul Baron (1983-86) ........................579
4. Jaaron Simmons (2016-17.)..............475
5. Roger Smith (1984-87)......................401
6. Sonny Troutman (2004-07)...........384
7. Jason Preston (2019-Present)..... 367
STEADY BVP
Redshirt junior Ben Vander Plas continues to be a steady force for the Bobcats. Over the first three games, Vander Plas adds 14.0 points and is shooting 48.4 percent from the field, 85.7 percent from the free throw line and is averaging 5.0 rebounds per game.
WELCOME TO OHIO DJ
Since senior transfer Dwight Wilson III's transfer waiver was approved three days before the Bobcats first game of the season, he has fit right in to the starting five.
After three games, Wilson III is averaging 12.0 points per game and a team-leading 7.0 rebounds per game, while shooting 57.1 percent from the field.
BREAKOUT YEAR FOR BROD?
After a freshman year that was hampered by injuries, sophomore Ben Roderick is looking for a breakout year.
Three games in, Roderick is averaging 11.7 points per game and is 8-of-16 from three-point range.
Preston had a career day against North Carolina A&T where he scored a career0hgih 22 points and tied his career-high six made threes in the victory.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats are back on the road on Sunday, Dec. 13 when the Bobcats head to Huntington, W. Va. to take on Marshall. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. inside the Cam Henderson Center.
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