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Final Scorebook (PDF)
MUNCIE, Ind. – Led by a 20-point performance from sophomore forward Ben Roderick and a breakout performance from freshman guard Mark Sears, the Ohio men's basketball team (5-4, 1-2 MAC) picked up its first Mid-American Conference win of the season, defeating Ball State (4-4, 2-1 MAC), 78-68, Saturday afternoon inside Worthern Arena.
"Just really proud of our guys," second year head coach Jeff Boals said. "Same situation as the other night. We got off to a great start, had a great 20 minutes and were plus five at the half. The letdown that we had towards the end of the game against BG was not there. They made a couple runs at us. We always say bend but don't break. Really proud of our guys and it was a great team win."
All five starters for the Bobcats scored in double figures. Roderick (Powell, Ohio) finished the game with 20 points, going 7-of-12 from the field and 6-of-9 from three-point range, Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.), in his second start in place of an injured Jason Preston, scored a career-high 18 points, going 7-of-12 from the field, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out eight assists and snagging three steams. Senior forward Dwight Wilson III (Tallahassee, Fla.) added 14 points and eight rebounds, redshirt junior Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) added 14 points, while sophomore guard Lunden McDay (Akron, Ohio) added 10 points three rebounds and three assists.
Overall, Ohio shot 55.4 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from the field and 69.2 percent from the free throw line, while Ball State shot 46.4 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from three and 77.8 percent from the line. Ohio out-rebounded the Cardinals, 32-26, while Ball State dished out 18 assists to Ohio's 13. Both teams recorded 11 turnovers, however the Bobcats registered eight steals and three blocks.
Ohio won the tip to open the game and got the first points of the game before Ball State tied it up. The Bobcats retook the lead moments later with a three from Roderick. After Ohio went on an 8-1 run to take a 10-3 lead, a three from Sears put Ohio up eight with 15:32 remaining. The Bobcats continued to score down low, taking a 21-11 lead after Roderick hit a three and a layup with 12:30 to go.
After another Sears jumper put Ohio up 15, Ball State started to head up, cutting the lead to nine at the eight minute mark. Two-straight threes from Ball State late in the half cut into the Bobcats lead once again, but a Sears layup with 3:34 left make it a 38-27 game. The Cardinals would not back down, and after two threes and a few free throws from Ball State, the Bobcats would take a 42-37 lead into the locker room at the half.
At the half, Ohio shot 55.2 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from three-point range and were 7-of-10 from the free throw line, while Ball State shot 42.9 percent from the field, 53.3 percent from three-point range and were 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Ohio out-rebounded the Cardinals, 18-13, while the Bobcats dished out 14 assists to Ball State's 11.
At the half, Wilson III led we 12 point and four rebounds, while Roderick added 11 points and Sears with 11 points and five assists.
Ball State opened the second half on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 46-46 going into the first media timeout. After trading baskets, Vander Plas hit a three and a jumper to give Ohio a two-point lead with 11:40 left in the game. A Roderick three put Ohio up by five, however, the Cardinals battled back to tie the game at 60-60 with 7:31 left.
After Sears put Ohio back up on top with a layup and a free throw, Roderick drained his sixth three of the night, giving the Bobcats a 66-62 lead with 6:39 left. The Bobcats would not trail again, getting clutch points from Vander Plas and Sears, including Sears with the final layup with 25 seconds left to give Ohio the 78-68 victory.
Up next, the Bobcats are back in Athens on Tuesday, Jan. 5 when they host Northern Illinois. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.
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