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ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio men's basketball (4-1) returns to action on Friday Nov. 26 when they host Concordia. Tip0off is set for 4 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield where Jake Hromada will be on the call. WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station network's flagship.
STORYLINES
• This is the first meeting between Ohio and Concordia.
• Concordia is a member of the NAIA so this game will serve as an exhibition for the Cardinals.
• Concordia comes to Ohio with a 4-5 record.
• Ohio assistant coach Kyle Barlow played for Concordia from 2006-2010.
• Ohio has had at least four score in double figures three times in the first five games, including have five score in two games.
• The Bobcats ate currently first in the MAC in turnover margin at +6.
• Ohio has opened the season with victories over Belmont and Cleveland State, two teams that were selected to win their respective conferences.
• Mark Sears was named the MAC Player of the Week after he opened the first week of the season averaging 21.0 points per game.
• Third-year head coach Jeff Boals currently sits with 923career wins.
• Ohio was selected to finish 2nd in this year's MAC Coaches Preseason Poll. The Bobcats did not earn any first place votes.
• Ben Vander Plas earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC First Team
• Jason Carter earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC Second Team.
• Ohio has registered an impressive 529-176 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
SCOUTING CONCORDIA
Concordia enters the matchup with Ohio with a 4-5 overall record after falling to Capstone, 85-66, on Nov. 24.
Concordia averages 74.0 points per game, while shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 31.7 percent from three and 68 percent from the line. The Cardinals average 33.8 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 7.8 steals, 1.7 blocks and 11.0 turnovers per game.
Opponents average 76.9 points a game, while shooting 44.9 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from three and 74 percent from the line. They also average 36.6 rebounds, 12.8 assists, 6.9 steals and 23.9 turnovers a game.
Individually, Thomas Hronis averages 12.2 points a game, while shooting 37.4 percent from the field, 30.9 percent from three and 81.8 percent from the line. Devyn Jones adds 10 points and 8.1 rebounds a game, while shooting 53.6 percent from the field. Matt Lockhard adds 9.4 points a game and is averaging 61 percent from the field.
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Concordia with a 4-1 record after defeating Mount St. Mary's, 73-59, Monday night in the final game of the Kentucky Classic inside the Convocation Center.
The Bobcats average 75.2 points a game, while shooting .435 from the field, .364 from three and .787 from the line. The Bobcats grab 30.8 rebounds a game while dishing out an average of 14.8 assists and registering 7.4 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 9.2 turnovers a game.
Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 68.6 points a game, while shooting .469 from the field, .309 from three and .766 from the line. Opponents are averaging 35.0 rebounds, 13 assists and 15.2 turnovers a game.
Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 16.6 points a game, while shooting .476 from the field, .545 from three and .850 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 14.8 points a game and 7.6 rebounds. Carter also leads the MAC in steals with 10.
ALL TIME VS. CONCORDIA
This is the first all-time meeting between the two teams.
LAST TIME AGAINST CONCORDIA
This is the first meeting between Ohio and Concordia.
LAST TIME OUT
With five Bobcats scoring in double figures, the Ohio men's basketball team (4-1) rebounded from last Friday's defeat, downing Mount St. Mary's (2-4), 73-59, Monday night inside the Convocation Center.
Sophomore guard Mark Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) led Ohio with 15 points, going 6-of-18 from the field, while dishing out seven assists. Junior forward Ben Roderick (Powell, Ohio) added 12 points, as did 5th year forward Jason Carter (Johnstown, Ohio) who also grabbed a team-leading seven boards and four steals. Junior guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) added 11 points, while redshirt senior forward Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) scored 10 points with six rebounds and three steals.
Overall, Ohio shot 46.8 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three and 73.3 percent from the line, while The Mount shot 53.5 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from three and 70.0 percent from the line. Ohio outrebounded The Mount, 30-26, while the Bobcats registered 12 assists and forced 20 turnovers. The Bobcats also had 10 steals and 14 offensive rebounds.
For Mount St. Mary's, Jalen Benjamin led with 23 points and was 5-of-6 from three. Mezie Offurum added 12 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
A FAMILIAR FACE
Ohio assistant coach Kyle Barlow played for Concordia from 2006-10 where he earned four letterwinners and was two-time captain, He was named the Cardinals' Defensive Player of the Year and given the Team Player Award as a senior. He also received Wolverine/Hoosier Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference on two occasions and was the recipient of the Champion of Character award in 2010.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 529-176 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore guard Mark Sears was named the MAC Player of the Week on Nov. 16.
Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) was stellar for the Bobcats during the opening week of the season. Overall, Sears averaged 21.0 points per game. He went 15-of-22 (.682) from the field, 5-of-6 (.833) from three and 7-of-8 (.875) from the free throw line. He added 4.0 assists per game, 4.5 rebounds a game and one steal per game.
Sears opened up the season is spectacular fashion against Belmont on opening night. Sears scored 27 points, going 10-of-11 from the field, 4-of-4 from three and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. He grabbed six boards, dished out four assists and had two steals in 31 minutes on the court in Ohio's 90-82 victory.
A NEW WAY TO WIN
Ohio only made five threes in their victory against Mount St. Mary's on Monday. That was the first time under Jeff Boals that the Bobcats have won a game when making less than six threes.
MILES STEPPING UP
Junior guard Miles Brown is stepping up in his new starting role.
In five games, Brown is averaging 8.6 points and is shooting .452 from the field, .333 from three and is .667 from the line.
IT'S LIKE HE NEVER LEFT
In his first game back in Athens, Jason Carter was back to his old self.
Carter registered his first double double of the season, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the victory over Belmont.
After five games, Carter is averaging 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .444 from the field, .294 from three and is 4-of-5 from the line.
He also has two double-doubles early on this season.
SEARS LEADING THE WAY
Since taking over point guard duties at the start of the season, Sears has quickly proven that he belongs.
Over five game, Sears is leading Ohio with 16.6 points per game. He is shooting .476 from the field, .545 from three and .850 from the line.
He also averages 3.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.4 steals a game.
BOALS MARCH TO 100
Third-year head coach Jeff Boals currently sits with 93 career victories.
BVP STILL STEADY
Ben Vander Plas picked up right where he left on in 2021-22 on Nov. 9.
The forward scored 19 points and grabbed six boards in Ohio's win against Belmont. He also tied a career-high, dishing out seven assists.
BVP is currently second on the team in scoring with 14.8 points per game. He also averages 7.6 rebounds, while dishing out 3.0 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .527 from the field and .419 from three.
CLAYTON FOR THREE
In his first five games in the green and white, freshman AJ Clayton has made at least one three in each of those five games.
The 17-year old is averaging 3.6 points a game and 9.5 minutes.
EZUMA MAKES HIS DEBUT
Freshman IJ Ezuma made his collegiate debut on Monday, Nov. 22 against Mount St. Mary's.
The forward out of Hargrave played six minutes in his debut.
TOWNS OFF THE BENCH
Sophomore forward Sam Towns made a mark on Nov. 13 at Cleveland State.
Off the bench, Towns scored five points, hit a three, while also grabbed a career-high six rebounds and dished out five assists.
BVP AND JC MASTERFUL AT UK
Ben Vander Plas and Jason Carter used their experience to excel at Kentucky on Nov. 19.
Vander Plas led the Bobcats with 19 points, while grabbing six boards. He was 8-of-15 from the field and 3-of-7 from three, while dishing out three assists.
Meanwhile, Carter added 15 points and five rebounds, while going 7-of-16 from the field and registering one block.
BROD CHANGED HIS SHOES
After starting the season slowly, Ben Roderick stepped up in the second half against Robert Morris on Nov. 15.
At the end of the game, Roderick scored 14 points and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line, a new career record for the junior forward.
OHIO ADDS FOUR DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
The Ohio Men's Basketball program has added four new student-athletes during the early signing period, third-year head coach Jeff Boals announced today (Nov. 10). AJ Brown, Aidan Hadaway, Elmore James IV and Ajay Sheldon are all set to join the Bobcats for the 2022-23 season.
AJ Brown, a 6'4 4 Star wing from Orlando, Fla. signs with the Bobcats as a freshman for the 2022-2023 Season. Brown is ranked as the #19 SG in the country according to ESPN and is the Bobcats highest ever signed recruit since D.J. Cooper in 2009. Brown also had offers from Texas A&M, Penn State, and Clemson.
Aidan Hadaway, a 6'8 forward from Lafayette, Ga. signs with the Bobcats as a freshman for the 2022-2023. Hadaway is ranked as the #30 Small Forward in the country according to Rivals. Hadaway also had offers from Georgia and Belmont.
Elmore James IV, a 6'3 guard from Cleveland, Ohio signs with the Bobcats as a freshman for the 2022-2023 Season. James also had offers from North Texas, Tulane, Toledo, and Kent State.
Ajay Sheldon, a 6'1 point guard from Dublin, Ohio signs with the Bobcats as a freshman for the 2022-2023. Sheldon also had offers from Elon and Furman.
UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats head back out on the road to face their second SEC team of non-conference when Ohio faces LSU on Wednesday, Dec. 1 in Baton Rouge. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and can be seen on SET Network+.
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