ATHENS, Ohio --  Ohio men's basketball (5-1) returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 1 when they head to Baton Rouge, La. to take on its second SEC opponent of the season when they face off with LSU (7-0). Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. inside the Maravich Center. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network +. 

The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield. Russ Eisenstein returns for his 14th season as the "Voice of the Bobcats" and will be joined by Ohio alum Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades. WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station network's flagship.  

STORYLINES
• This is the first meeting between Ohio and LSU.  
• LSU is the second SEC team the Bobcats will face this season. Ohio took on Kentucky earlier this season. 
• LSU welcomes the Bobcats with a 7-0 record after defeating Wake Forest on Nov. 27.  
• LSU is one of 20 remaining unbeaten teams. 
• Ohio has had at least four score in double figures four times in the first five games, including have five score in two games. 
• The Bobcats are currently first in the MAC in turnover margin at +7. 
• The Bobcats are 5-1 to start the season for the first time since the 2016-17 when Ohio opened the season, 5-0. 
• Miles Brown set a career-high with 19 points on Nov. 26 against Concordia. 
• 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 94 career 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. 

SCOUTING LSU
LSU enters the matchup with Ohio with a 7-0 overall record after defeating Wake Forest, 75-61 on Nov. 27. 

LSU averages 81.4 points per game, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 33.8 percent from three and 79.4 percent from the line. The Tigers average 40.1 rebounds, 14.9 assists, 12.7 steals, 5.4 blocks and 12.9 turnovers per game. 

Opponents average 54.1 points a game, while shooting 34.3 percent from the field, 25.9 percent from three and 64.8 percent from the line. They also average 33.1 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 6.0 steals and 20.4 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Darius Days leads the Tigers with 16.6 points and 7.0 rebounds a game. He is shooting .477 from the field and .833 from the line. Tari Eason adds 13.9 points and 8.3 rebounds a game. She is shooting 48 percent from the field and has nine blocks. Efton Reid adds 10.4 points and is shooting 62.5 percent from the field for the Tigers. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with LSU with a 5-1 record after defeating Concordia, 88-68 on Nov. 26 inside the Convocation Center. 

The Bobcats average 77.3 points a game, while shooting .437 from the field, .352 from three and .774 from the line. The Bobcats grab 31.7 rebounds a game, while dishing out an average of 15.0 assists and registering 8.3 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 8.83 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 68.5 points a game, while shooting .475 from the field, .327 from three and .762 from the line. Opponents are averaging 34.3 rebounds, 12.8 assists and 15.8 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 16.3 points a game, while shooting .461 from the field, .500 from three and .875 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 15.0 points a game and 7.0 rebounds. Sears is second in the MAC in steals (12), followed by Carter in third with 11. 

ALL TIME VS. LSU
This is the first all-time meeting between the two teams. 

LAST TIME AGAINST LSU
This is the first meeting between Ohio and LSU. 

LAST TIME OUT
Led by a career-high 19 points from junior guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.), the Ohio men's basketball team (5-1) defeated Concordia (4-5), 88-68, Friday evening inside the Convocation Center. 

Six Bobcats recorded double figures. Brown finished with 19 points, going 7-of-12 from the field and grabbed six rebounds. Redshirt senior forward Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) and 5th year forward Jason Carter (Johnstown, Ohio) both finished with 16 points, with Carter grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Mark Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, while senior guard Tommy Schmock (Cleveland, Ohio) finished with 11 points and was 3-of-7 from three. 

Overall, Ohio shot 45 percent from the field, 30 percent from three and 74 percent from the line, while Concordia shot 51 percent from the field, 41 percent from three and 71 percent from the line. Ohio outrebounded the Cardinals, 36-31, while dishing out 16 assists to their 12. The Bobcats also forced 19 Concordia turnovers, while scoring 28 points off them. 

For Concordia, Thomas Hronis led the way with 23 points and was 7-of-13 from three, while Bernard Kasanda added 14 points and four rebounds. 

CAREER DAY FOR MILES
Junior Miles Brown recorded a career day against Concordia on Nov. 26. The guard scored a career-high 19 points, while grabbing a career-high six rebounds and hitting three made three pointers. 

MILES STEPPING UP
Junior guard Miles Brown is stepping up in his new starting role. 

In six games, Brown is averaging 9.0 points and is shooting .488 from the field, .346 from three and is .750 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 six games, Carter is averaging 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .463 from the field, .278 from three and is 8-of-12 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 six game, Sears is leading Ohio with 16.3 points per game. He is shooting .461 from the field, .500 from three and .875 from the line. 

He also averages 3.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals a game. 

BOALS MARCH TO 100
Third-year head coach Jeff Boals currently sits with 94 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 15.0 points per game. He also averages 7.0 rebounds, while dishing out 3.1 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .540 from the field and .429 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. 

Clayton recorded his first two-point basket on Nov. 26 against Concordia. 

The 17-year old is averaging 3.7 points a game and 10.2 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. 

Ezuma recorded his first career field goal on Nov. 26 against Concordia. 

SCHMOCK SHOWS OUT
Senior transfer guard Tommy Schmock has a career day on Nov. 26 against Concordia, scoring 11 points and going from 3-of-7 from three. 

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. 

So far off the bench, Towns is averaging 1.8 points and 6.7 minutes. 

UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats return to Athens on Saturday, Dec. 4 against St. Francis. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN3/+. It will also be game two of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader. . 

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