ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio men's basketball (9-2, 0-0 MAC) opens Mid-American Conference play and 2022 on Saturday, Jan. 1 when the Bobcats head to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on Western Michigan (4-8, 0-1 MAC). Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. inside University Arena. The Bobcats matchup will be show on ESPN3 where Evan Stockton, Wayne Hinton and Lexi Ayala will be on the call. 

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
• Ohio last played on Dec. 21 against USC Upstate after their matchup against EMU originally scheduled for Dec. 28 was postponed. 
• This is the 137th all-time meeting between Ohio and Western Michigan.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 70-66.
• The Bobcats and Broncos met one time last season, with Ohio defeating WMU, 81-58 on Jan. 26, 2021  inside the Convo. 
• The team's second matchup that was scheduled for Feb. 13, 2012 was canceled due to Covid-19. 
• The Bobcats are 8-7 against the Broncos since the 2011-12 season.
• The Bobcats 9-2 record through 11 games is the best start for the Bobcats since the 2011-12 season when Ohio went 10-1 over the same span. 
• Mark Sears has been named the MAC Player of the Week three times this season, including the last two weeks. 
• Ohio has had at least four score in double figures six times in 11 games, including having five score in two games. 
• The Bobcats are currently first in the MAC in turnover margin at +4.7. 
• Ohio is ranked 86th in the latest NET rankings released on Dec. 30. 
• Ohio is the second-highest ranked MAC school, with Toledo at 74.  
• Meanwhile. WMU is ranked 335 . 
• Mark Sears ranks first in the MAC in free throw percentage, third in scoring, third in steals, fourth in minutes and fifth in 3pt FG% and assists.
• The Bobcats are currently 7-0 this season in the Convo. 
• Ohio has registered an impressive 533-176 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
• Third-year head coach Jeff Boals currently sits with 98 career wins. 
• Last time out, sophomore guard Mark Sears scored a career-high 33 points against USC Upstate on Dec. 12. 

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN 
Western Michigan enters the matchup with Ohio with a 4-8 record after falling to Toledo, 83-56 on Dec. 29. 

As a team, WMU averages 65.5 points a game, while shooting 42.0 percent from the field, 31.1 percent from three and 68.6 percent from the line. The Broncos average 34.6 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 5.4 steals a game. WMU also averages 2.3 blocks a game and turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times a game. 

Opponents average 79.5 points and are shooting 46.0 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from three and 75.9 percent from the line. WMU's opponents also average 36.2 rebounds and 14.8 assists per game, while adding 8.7 steals and 4.2 blocks. Opponents also turn the ball over an average of 10.4 times a game. 

Individually, Lamar Norman, Jr. averages 17.4 points a game, while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three. Mack Smith adds 10.5 points and 4.8 boards a game, while shooting 44.2 percent from the field, while Markeese Hastings adds 8.8 points and 7.9 rebounds a game, while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Eastern Michigan with a 9-2 record after defeating USC Upstate, 85-70 on Dec. 21 inside the Convocation Center. 

The Bobcats average 73.5 points a game, while shooting .423 from the field, .338 from three and .788 from the line. The Bobcats grab 33.4 rebounds a game, while dishing out an average of 13.8 assists and registering 7.9 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 11.2 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 66.5 points a game, while shooting .451 from the field, .313 from three and .806 from the line. Opponents are averaging 33.9 rebounds, 12.4 assists and 16.0 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 18.5 points a game, while shooting .469 from the field, .469 from three and .909 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 13.6 points and 7.4 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 12.4 points a game and 6.6 rebounds. 

ALL TIME VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN 
This is the 137th all-time meeting between Ohio and Western Michigan.

Ohio leads the all-time series, 70-66.

The Bobcats and Broncos met one time last season, with Ohio defeating WMU, 81-58 on Jan. 26, 2021  inside the Convo. 

The team's second matchup that was scheduled for Feb. 13, 2012 was canceled due to Covid-19. 

The Bobcats are 8-7 against the Broncos since the 2011-12 season.

LAST TIME AGAINST WMU
Ohio and WMU last met on Jan. 26, 2021, with the Bobcats defeating the Broncos, 81-58.

In that game, Mark Sears had a then, career-high 21 points. 

Four Bobcats reached double figures in points. Sears finished the day with 21 points, six assists and two boards. Dwight Wilson III added 19 points and eight rebounds. Ben Vander Plas  and Lunden McDay each tallied 11 points. 

The Bobcats were dominant in the paint, outscoring the Broncos 44-14.

The Broncos were led by senior forward Greg Lee, who tallied 17 points.

LAST TIME OUT
The Bobcats last played on Dec. 21, with their contest on Dec. 28 against EMU being post postponed. 

Led by a career-high 33 points from sophomore guard Mark Sears, the Ohio men's basketball team (9-2) wrapped up nonconference play Tuesday afternoon (Dec. 21), defeating USC Upstate (3-9), 85-70 inside the Convocation Center. 

Sears finished the game with 33 points, going 11-of-16 from the field, 1-of-3 from three and for the second-straight game was 10-of-10 from the line. Sears also finished with eight rebounds and three assists. Redshirt senior forward Ben Vander Plas added 12 points, seven rebounds and four assist, while fifth-year senior forward Jason Carter also added 12 points and six boards. Junior forward Ben Roderick scored 11 points, going 3-of-6 from three. Freshman forward AJ Clayton scored a career-high seven points and grabbed three boards. 

Overall, Ohio shot 48.1 percent from the field, 29.2 percent from three and were 26-of-33 from the line. Meanwhile, USC Upstate shot 46.4 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from three and were 6-of-6 from the line. Ohio outrebounded the Spartans, 39-23, while Upstate dished out 16 assists to Ohio's 15. Ohio also forced 14 turnovers, scoring 19 points off them. 

PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 533-176 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

OHIO IN THE NET
Ohio is ranked 86th in the latest NET rankings released on Dec. 30. 

Ohio is the second-highest ranked MAC school, with Toledo at 74.  

Meanwhile. WMU is ranked 335 . 

OHIO IN THE NCAA
The Bobcats rank 23rd in the country in turnover margin and 88th in steals per game. 

Mark Sears is 15th in the country in free throw percentage. 

OHIO IN THE MAC 
Mark Sears ranks first in the MAC in free throw percentage, third in scoring, third in steals, fourth in minutes and fifth in 3pt FG% and assists.

Jason Carter is fourth in blocked shots (14) and fifth in rebounding. 

AJ Clayton is fourth in 3pt FG%. 

Ben Vander Plas is first in the league in minutes played (35.2).

Meanwhile, Ohio is first in turnover margin (+4.7), second in free throw percentage, third in assist/TO ratio (1.2) and second in steals (7.9). 

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

In 11 games, Brown is averaging 7.8 points and is shooting .439 from the field, .341 from three and is .824 from the line. 

Brown scored a career-high 19 points on Nov. 26 against Concordia.

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 11 games, Carter is averaging 13.6 points and 7.4 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .429 from the field, .212 from three and is 23-of-34 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 11 game, Sears is leading Ohio with 18.5 points per game. He is shooting .469 from the field, .469 from three and .909 from the line. 

He also averages 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals a game. 

After opening the season with a 27-point performance against Belmont, Sears also added a 24-point game against St. Francis on Dec. 4, where he grabbed a career-high eight rebounds. 

Sears had another 20-point performance on Dec. 15 against Marshall, scoring 24 points in the 75-65 victory. 

He has been named the MAC Player of the Week twice this season. 

CAREER DAY FOR MARK
On Dec. 21 against USC Upstate, Mark Sears set a career-high with 33 points in the 85-70 victory. He went 11-of-16 from the field, a perfect 10-of-10 from the line and grabbed a career-tying eight boards. 

BOALS MARCH TO 100
Third-year head coach Jeff Boals currently sits with 98 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 added another 19-point performance against Kentucky. 

BVP is currently third on the team in scoring with 12.4 points per game. He also averages 6.6 rebounds, while dishing out 3.0 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .445 from the field and .362 from three. 

BVP also made a splash on Dec. 1 at LSU. With the Bobcats trailing entering the second, Vander Plas hit three-straight threes for Ohio, helping tie the game early in the second half. He finished the game with 12 points. 

CLAYTON FOR THREE
In his first 11 games in the green and white, freshman AJ Clayton has made at least one three in nine of those games. 

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

Clayton has scored six points in three games this season - two against SEC opponents and one at Stetson on Dec. 11.

Clayton set a career-high with seven points on Dec. 21 vs. USC Upstate.  

The 17-year old is averaging 4.2 points a game and 10.9 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. 

Ezuma returned to the court on Dec. 11 at Stetson, playing five minutes while scoring four points, grabbing one rebound and dishing out one assist. 

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. 

Against LSU, Schmock snagged a career-high three steals.  

This season. Schmock is averaging 3.7 points in 14.0 minutes off the bench. 

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 2.5 points and 9.6 minutes. 

UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats remain on the road when they head to Akron, Ohio on Tuesday, Jan. 4 to take on Akron. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and can be seen on CBS Sports Network. 

#OUohyeah