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OHIO MEN'S BASKETBALL 2019-20 • GAME 26
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020 | 7 p.m. EST | Ohio (12-13, 4-8 MAC) vs. Central Michigan  (13-11, 6-5 MAC) | Convocation. Center | Athens, Ohio | ESPN3 | Live Stats | Listen | Ohio Notes | CMU Notes | Tickets

ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio men's basketball team (12-13, 4-8 MAC) returns to the Convocation Center on Tuesday, Feb. 18 when the Bobcats host Central Michigan (13-11, 6-5 MAC). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday's game can be seen on ESPN3 where Russ Eisenstein and Rob Cornelius will have the call. 

Tuesday's game can be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield IMG College where Marty Bannister will have the call. 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.

STORYLINES
• This is the 79th all-time meeting between Ohio and Central Michigan.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 45-32.
• The Bobcats and Central Michigan last met on Feb. 16, 2019 in Mount Pleasant, Mich. 
•  Sophomore guard Jason Preston is currently third in the nation in total assists and third in assists per game.  
• Ohio has a 516-464 all-time record in MAC Play.  
• Jordan Dartis became the all-time leader in three-pointers made on Feb. 8 against Miami. He now currently sites with 298. 
• Dartis is currently 19 made three-pointers away from setting the new MAC record for three made. Current Central Michigan forward David DiLeo just set the new record on Feb. 7 with 317 made threes. 
• Since the start of conference play, Ben Vander Plas is averaging 17.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while Jason Preston is averaging 16.4 points per game, 6.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game. 
• Last week, Preston was on fire, averaging 20.5, 9.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists. 
• Ohio is 3-7 against CMU since the start of the 2011-12 season. 
•  The Bobcats have lost seven-straight to CMU, last defeating them on Jan. 29, 2014 in Athens. 
• Ohio has registered an impressive 515-172 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
• Jason Preston recorded the second triple-double in Bobcats history on Feb. 8, second only to D.J. Cooper who registered one on Dec. 10, 2011 at Portland. 
•  Ohio's Feb. 29 home game against Kent State has been flexed to Friday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. and will be seen on the CBS Sports Network. 
•  Jason Preston was the number three play on SCTop 10 on Feb. 11 for his second half dunk against WMU. 
•  Jordan Dartis was named to the Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship Midseason Watch List on Feb. 4. 

SCOUTING CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Central Michigan enters the matchup with the Bobcats with an 13-11 record and a 6-5 mark in MAC play.  CMU is coming off of an 80-67 loss against Akron at home on Saturday (Feb. 15).

Overall, CMU averages 80.7 points per game, while shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 33.8 percent from three-point range and 73.2 percent from the free throw line. CMU also average 37.0 rebounds, 12.0 assists and 9.3 steals per game. Central Michigan also averages 2.5 blocks and 12.7 turnovers per game. 

Opponents are averaging 75.9 points and 37.3 rebounds a game, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from three-point range and 70.6 percent from the free throw line. Opponents average 13.8 assists, 16.7 turnovers, 6.2 steals and 3.3 blocks per game. 

Individually, David DiLeo leads CMU with 14.7 points per game, while grabbing 4.8 boards and shooting 39.3 percent from three-point range. Earlier this season, DiLeo became the all-time MAC three-point leader with 317 made threes. Kevin McKay adds 14.1 points and a team-leading 6.6 rebounds, while Dallas Morgan adds 14.0 points per game. 

SCOUTING OHIO
The Bobcats are 12-13 on the season and 4-8 in MAC play after falling to Kent State, 87-72, Saturday in Kent, Ohio. 

Overall this season, the Bobcats are averaging 70.9 points, 35.4 rebounds, 14.7 assists and 6.3 steals per game. The Bobcats are shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 34.0 percent from three-point range and 67.8 from the free throw line. 

Ohio is holding opponents to 68.8 points, 33.6 rebounds, 11.1 assists and 6.3 steals per game. Opponents are also shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 34.0 percent from three-point range and 77.4 percent from the free throw line. 

Ohio is averaging 13.2 turnovers per game, while forcing opponents to turn the ball over 13.1 times a game.  

Jason Preston leads the Bobcats with 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game. Ben Vander Plas averages 15.4 points per game and 6.9 rebounds, while shooting 51.4 percent from the field. Jordan Dartis adds 12.8 points per game. 

ALL TIME VS. CENTRAL MICHIGAN
This is the 79th all-time meeting between Ohio and Central Michigan.

Ohio leads the all-time series, 45-32.

Ohio is 3-7 against CMU since the start of the 2011-12 season. 

The Bobcats have lost seven-straight to CMU, last defeating them on Jan. 29, 2014 in Athens. 

LAST TIME VS. KENT STATE 
The Bobcats and Central Michigan last met on Feb. 16, 2019 in Mount Pleasant, Mich.  

THE JAY PRESTON SHOW
Preston scored 11 points, while setting a new career-high in assists (13) and steals (7) while playing all 40 minutes. 

Preston's seven steals was the first 7+ steals game for a Bobcat since 2010 when D.J. Cooper has eight against St. Bonaventure. 

Preston was masterful on Nov. 13 at Iona. Scoring a career high 27 points, going 10-of-17 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-point range and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. He also grabbed a team-leading and career-high 14 rebounds, dished out five assists and had two steals. 

This season, Preston is averaging 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 7.7 assists, while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 72.0 percent from the free throw line. 

Preston was named the MAC East Co-Player of the Week on Nov. 18 for his play the week of Nov. 11. 

On Nov. 22 against Utah, Preston scored 21 points, going 8-of-16 from the field, while dishing out four assists. 

On Nov. 30 against Detroit Mercy, Preston finished the game with 20 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists. 

On Dec. 8 against Tennessee Tech, Preston finished the day with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. 

Preston was named the MAC East Co-Player of the Week for the second time this season on Dec 9. 

Preston was named the MAC East Player of the Week for the third time this season on Dec 30. 

Preston tied his career high on Jan. 14 at Buffalo, scoring 27 points, going 11-of-21 from the field, 2-of-3 from three-point range, while dishing out six assists and grabbing 10 rebounds. 

Preston tied his career high again on Jan. 21 against Toledo, where he scored 27 points, going 11-of-21 from the field, while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out eight assists. 

Preston recorded the second triple-double in Bobcats history on Feb. 8, second only to D.J. Cooper who registered one on Dec. 10, 2011 at Portland. 

Preston was named the MAC East POW for the fourth time this season on Feb, 10.

The week of Feb. 10. Preston was sensational, averaging 20.5, 9.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists in two games. 

OHIO IN THE NCAA
Jason Preston is currently third in the nation in total assists and third in assists per game. Preston is also ranked ninth in minutes per game. 

Jordan Dartis enters the week ranked 33rd in the nation in three-point field goals per game and 58th in total 3-point field goals made. 

As a team, Ohio ranks 56th in assists per games and is 78th in three-pointers made per game. 

IN THE MAC
The Bobcats are third in field goal percentage, first in rebounding defense and second in total assists. 

Jason Preston in first in the conference in assists and in minutes played. He is also seventh in the conference in scoring and eighth in steals. 

Jordan Dartis is fourth in the conference in three-pointers made. 

BVP BACK FOR ROUND TWO
This season and redshirt sophomore forwards Ben Vander Plas is picking up where he left off last season. 

Vander Plas is averaging 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Vander Plas is also shooting 51.4 percent from the field. 

On Nov. 16 at No. 10 Villanova, Vander Plas led Ohio with his first double double of the season, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 boards. 

On Dec. 8 against Tennessee Tech, Vander Plas led the way with 21 points, going 8-of-16 from the field and 3-of-7 from three-point range, while grabbing 11 rebounds, dishing out four assists and grabbing four steals. 

Vander Plas was named the MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week on Dec. 12. 

On Dec. 21 against Morehead State, Vander Plas was clutch, tying his career-high with 24 points while also recording 11 rebounds in the victory. 

In Jan. 11, Vander Plas scored a career-high 25 points against Bowling Green. Vander Plas finished the day, 10-of-15 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range. 

Vander Plas was even better on Jan. 14 at Buffalo, setting a new career-high, scoring 28 points, going 11-of-20 from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range and grabbed five rebounds. 

The week of Jan. 13, Vander Plas averaged 25.0 points per game, 8.0 rebounds and shot 55.9 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three-point range.

Since the start of conference play, Ben Vander Plas is averaging 17.6 points per game and 7.2 rebounds, while shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from three-point range. 

JORDY'S BACK, TELL A FRIEND
Jordan Dartis made his return to the court on Nov. 5 against St. Bonaventure. The game marked his first game on the court since March 5, 2018. 

In the game, Dartis scored 19 points, hitting three threes and going 7-of-15 from the field. 

On Nov. 13 at Iona, Dartis scored 13 points and went 3-of-9 from the field. 

On Nov. 24 against Middle Tennessee State, Dartis went off, finishing the game with a season-high 32 points, going 9-of-18 from the field, 8-of-13 from three-point range and 6-of-8 from the free throw line, while grabbing two rebounds and dishing out four assists. 

Dartis continued his hot streak on Nov. 30 against Detroit Mercy when he scored 26 points, 18 of while came in the first four minute of the game. 

Dartis was named the MAC East Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 2. 

This season, Dartis is averaging 12.8 points per game, while shooting 37.7 percent from the field and 31.2 percent from three-point range. 

On Dec. 21 against Morehead State, Dartis was on fire, leading the Bobcats with 25 points while hitting five threes in the Bobcats' victory. 

On Jan. 7 against EMU, Dartis caught fire once again, leading the Bobcats to victory with 26 points and eight made threes. 

Jordan Dartis became the all-time leader in three-pointers made on Feb. 8 against Miami. He now currently sites with 293. 

TRIPLE DOUBLE ALERT
Preston recorded the second triple-double in Bobcats history on Feb. 8, second only to D.J. Cooper who registered one on Dec. 10, 2011 at Portland.

It was the second triple-double in the MAC this season and the 18th in NCAA DI basketball 

THREES FOR DAYS
Jordan Dartis became the all-time leader in three-pointers made on Feb. 8 against Miami. He now currently sites with 296. 

Dartis is currently 19 made three-pointers away from setting the new MAC record for three made. Current Central Michigan forward David Dielo just set the new record on Feb. 7 with 317 made threes. 

UP NEXT
The Bobcats are back on the road on Saturday, Feb. 22 when Ohio heads to Bowling Green, Ohio for a matchup with Bowling Green. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. inside the Stroh Center. 

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