FOLLOW OHIO MEN'S BASKETBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Thursday, March 11 vs. No. 4 Kent State | 30 minutes after game one | MAC Quarterfinals| Cleveland, Ohio | Rocket Mortgage Field House | ESPN+ | TuneIn | Live Stats | Ohio Game Notes | Kent State Game Notes | @OhioMBasketball
CLEVELAND -- The fifth-seeded Ohio men's basketball team opens play at the 2021 Mid-American Conference Tournament on Thursday, March 11 against No. 4 Kent State (15-7). Tip-off is set for 30 minutes after game one inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Thursday's game can be seen on ESPN+ where Michael Reghi (PxP) and Dave Bacon (Color) will have the call.
Thursday's game can be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield IMG College. Russ Eisenstein returns for his 13th season as the "Voice of the Bobcats," along with Ohio alum Rob Cornelius. 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
• The Bobcats are 42-32 (.569) all-time in the MAC Tournament and have captured six league tournament crowns.
• Ohio is making its 40th appearance in the MAC Tournament in 2021.
• This is the 149th all-time meeting between Ohio and Kent State.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 95-54.
• The Bobcats and Flashes last met on Jan. 15, 2021 in Athens, with the Bobcats falling, 89-79.
• Ohio is 7-11 against Kent State since 2011-12 season.
• Ohio last met Kent State in Cleveland in the 2017 MAC Semifinals, where Ohio fell, 68-66.
• Ohio and Kent State have met nine times in MAC Tournament action, with the Flashes leading that series 5-4.
• The Bobcats were on the court warming up in Cleveland last season when the 2020 tournament and season was canceled due to Covid-19.
• Dwight Wilson III is currently second in the Nation in field goal percentage.
• Wilson III is on pace to set to break Gary Trent's single season field goal percentage mark (65.1). Wilson III is currently shooting 68.0 percent from the field.
• Junior Jason Preston currently sits at 949 career points, while senior Dwight Wilson III is also close, with 947.
• Redshirt junior forward Ben Vander Plas hit the 1,000 point mark on Feb. 25 against Eastern Michigan.
• Ohio has registered an impressive 527-176 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
• On Feb. 25, the Bobcats set a program record in assists in a game when they dished out 30 against Eastern Michigan.
• On Jan. 23 against Ball State, Jason Preston recorded his second career triple double, scoring 11 points, grabbing 10 boards and dishing out 11 assists. It is the third triple double in program history.
• On Dec. 6 against Cleveland State, the NCAA record for scoring run against a Division I opponent with a 40-0 run to open the second half beginning at 43 seconds remaining in the first half and ending at 8:03 in the second half.
• Jason Preston was named the MAC Player of the week on Nov. 30, marking a week capped off by a 31-point performance on Nov. 27 against No. 8 Illinois.
• The Bobcats opened the 2020 season at the Illinois MTE Nov. 25-27, finishing with a 2-1 record and nearly knocking off No. 8 Illinois in a 77-75 battle.
SCOUTING No. 4 KENT STATE
The Flashes enter the matchup with Ohio with a 15 -7 mark and are coming off a loss at Buffalo on March 5 to close out the regular season.
As a team, Kent State is averaging 77.3 points a game, while shooting 44.6 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from three and 77.7 percent from the free throw line. They are averaging 39.7 rebounds a game, while dishing out 14.5 assists and grabbing 6.8 steals a game. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 70.5 points a game, while shooting 41.6 percent from the field, 34.0 percent from three and 70.8 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are averaging 33.8 rebounds and 12.7 assists per game.
Individually, Danny Pippen leads with 19.3 points per game, while Tervell Beck adds 11. 4 points a contest.
SCOUTING No. 5 OHIO
The Bobcats enter the matchup with Bowling Green with a 13-7 overall record and a 9-5 mark in MAC play after falling to Buffalo on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Bobcats game at Kent State on Tuesday was canceled
Overall, the Bobcats are averaging 80.2 points per game, while shooting 48.4 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from three-point range and 70.3 percent from the free throw line. The Bobcats also average 34.5 rebounds a game to go along with 18.1 assists, 6.7 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.
Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 73.7 points per game, while shooting 45.0 percent from the field, 35.2 percent from three-point range and 75.7 percent from the free throw line. Opponents also average 33.6 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 5.8 steals and 2.5 blocks per game.
Individually, Jason Preston leads Ohio with 15.4 points per game, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from three-point range and 62.9 percent from the free throw line. He also adds 7.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game.
Dwight Wilson III is next with 15.2 points and 7.3 rebounds a contest, while shooting 69.2 percent from the field. Ben Vander Plas is next, averaging 12.5 points per game, while shooting 43.2 percent from the field, 79.6 percent from the free throw line and adds 5.8 rebounds a game.
OHIO IN THE MAC TOURNAMENT
The Bobcats are 42-32 (.569) all-time in the MAC Tournament and have captured six league tournament crowns.
Ohio and Akron last met in the MAC Tournament on Mach 13, 2014 in the MAC Semifinals, falling to the Zips, 83-77.
ROAD TO CLEVELAND
The 2021 MAC Basketball Tournament will once again be held at Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland. This year's tournament will take place in Cleveland (March 11-13). The quarterfinals will air on ESPN+, with the tournament semifinal games will air on CBS Sports Network, while the title game will be played on Saturday, March 13 on ESPN2.
Ohio will be looking to earn in its seventh MAC tournament crown in program history and first since 2012.
The winner of the 2021 MAC Basketball Tournament will earn the league's automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship field. Selection Sunday is March 15, 2020.
The winner of Thursday's matchup between Ohio and Kent State will square with either No. 1 Toledo or No. 8 Ball State on Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
OHIO vs. KENT STATE IN CLEVELAND
Ohio last met Kent State in Cleveland in the 2017 MAC Semifinals, where Ohio fell, 68-66.
Ohio and Kent State have met nine times in MAC Tournament action, with the Flashes leading that series 5-4.
ALL TIME VS.KENT STATE
This is the 149th all-time meeting between Ohio and Kent State.
Ohio leads the all-time series, 95-54.
The Bobcats and Flashes last met on Jan. 15, 2021 in Athens, with the Bobcats falling, 89-79.
Ohio is 7-11 against Kent State since 2011-12 season.
IN THE MAC
Dwight Wilson III is sixth in rebounding and second in field goal percentage.
Ben Roderick is seventh in three-point field goal percentage and fifth in three-point field goals made, while Mark Sears is sixth in assists and second in assist/turnover ratio. While Jason Preston is first in the MAC in assists.
As a team, Ohio is fourth in scoring margin (+7.3), third in total offense and seventh in total defense.
The Bobcats are also first in field goal percentage, and third in three-point field goal percentage.
Ohio is also first in assists, first in assist/turnover ratio and third in turnover margin.
ALL- MAC HONORS
Five Bobcats earned a MAC Post Season Award
Jason Preston was named First Team All-MAC
Ben Vander Plas and Dwight Wilson III were named Third Team All-MAC.
Mark Sears earned a spot on the All-Freshmen Team.
Lunden McDay earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team.
IN THE NCAA
Dwight Wilson III currently ranks second in the NCAA in field goal percentage.
Jason Preston Ranks third in assists per game.
As a team, Ohio is seventh in the nation in assists per game and eighth in assist/turnover ratio.
SHARING THE WEALTH
On Feb. 25 against Eastern Michigan, the Bobcats set a new program record in assists in a game when they dished out 30.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 527-176 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW
After his 31-point performance against No. 8 Illinois on Nov. 27, Jason Preston's star has exploded on the national level.
This season, the junior point guard is averaging 15.4points per game, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from three-point range and 62.9 percent from the free throw line. He also adds 7.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game.
In the Bobcats first game of the year against Chicago State, Preston scored 11 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out eight assists in Ohio's 84-61 victory. He went 5-of-9 from the field and 1-of-2 from three-point range and had no turnovers in 30 minutes on the court.
Preston was even better against North Carolina A&T, scoring 21 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out seven assists in the 84-72 victory. He went 8-of-13 from the field, 3-of-7 from three-point range and 2-of-3 from the free throw line.
Preston was named the MAC Player of the Week on Nov. 30 for his performance that week.
On Dec. 10 against Purdue Northwest, Preston scored 22 points and dished out a season-high 11 assists in the 92-72 victory.
After missing four games due to injury, Preston returned to the Bobcats' lineup on Jan. 12 against Miami, scoring 10 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out eight assists in the 78-61 victory.
Preston took over the game on Jan. 16 against Kent State, scoring 23 points and dishing out 10 assists.
Preston recorded his second career triple double on Jan. 23 against Ball State, scoring 11 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 11 assists.
1,000 POINT WATCH
Junior Jason Preston currently sits at 949 career points, while senior Dwight Wilson III is also close, with 947.
Redshirt junior forward Ben Vander Plas hit the 1,000 point mark on Feb. 25 against Eastern Michigan.
MAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jason Preston was named the MAC Player of the week on Nov. 30 for her performance the week on Nov. 24.
ALL TIME ASSISTS MARK
Junior Jason Preston currently sits fifth all-time on Ohio's all-time assist list with 464.
1. D.J. Cooper (2010-1.......................934
2. Dennis Whitaker (1990)...............651
3. Paul Baron (1983-86) ...................579
4. Jaaron Simmons (2016-17.)..........475
5. Jason Preston (2019-Present)...464
6. Roger Smith (1984-87)..................401
7. Sonny Troutman (2004-07)........384
STEADY BVP
Redshirt junior Ben Vander Plas continues to be a steady force for the Bobcats. Vander Plas adds 12.5 points and is shooting 34.2 percent from the field, 79.6 percent from the free throw line and is averaging 5.8 rebounds per game.
BVP recorded his first double double of the season on Dec. 30 against Bowling Green, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 boards.
Vander Plas's best game of the season came on Jan. 16 against Kent State where he scored a season-high 24 points, while hitting a career-high five threes in the game.
Vander Plas hit the 1,000 point mark on Feb. 25 against Eastern Michigan.
WELCOME TO OHIO DJ
Since senior transfer Dwight Wilson III's transfer waiver was approved three days before the Bobcats first game of the season, he has fit right in to the starting five.
Wilson III is averaging 15.2 points per game and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 69.2 percent from the field.
Wilson II has recorded double doubles in back-to-back games for the first time this season, recording on against Cleveland State in the first half of the game, and one against Purdue Northwest on Dec. 10. He then made it three-straight games on Dec. 13 at Marshall, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 boards.
The Week of Dec. 7, Wilson III was on fire. In two games, Wilson III averaged 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and shot 60 percent from the field.
Wilson III added another 20-point performance on Dec. 30 against Bowling Green. Scoring 20 points and recording six boards.
Wilson III registered his best game on the season on Jan. 5 against NIU, where he scored a season-high 25 points, went 12-of-14 from the field and grabbed eight boards in the 76-73 victory.
On Jan. 29 at Buffalo, Wilson III was vital, scoring a game-high 21 points, including the game-wining put back basket to give Ohio a one-point lead with 25 seconds to go.
Over the last six games, Wilson III has been unstoppable, averaging 17.6 points and is shooting 88.4 percent from the field, while making 38 out of his last 43 field goal attempts.
BREAKOUT YEAR FOR BROD?
After a freshman year that was hampered by injuries, sophomore Ben Roderick is looking for a breakout year.
Roderick is averaging 12.3 points per game and is 46-of-115 from three-point range.
Roderick had a career day against North Carolina A&T where he scored a career-hight 22 points and tied his career-high six made threes in the victory.
Coming off of injury, Roderick was on fire the week of Dec. 30 for the Bobcats. Over two games, Roderick averaged 18.0 points, shot 54.6 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from three.
Roderick recorded another 20-point performance on Jan. 12 against Miami, scoring 20 points while going 6-of-10 from three and 7-of-11 from the field in the victory.
Roderick was vital against Buffalo on Jan. 29, scoring 17 points - 15 in the first half - helping Ohio to the 76-75 victory.
SEARS MAKES A MARK
Freshman guard Mark Sears earned his first career start on Dec. 30 against Bowling Green, and made the most of it. Sears scored nine points, grabbed six boards and dished out nine assists, while only committing two turnovers in 32 minutes.
Sears was even better in his second start on Jan. 2 at Ball State, scoring a career-high 18 points, while grabbing six boards and dishing out eight assists in the Bobcats 78-68 victory.
Sears was calm once again on Jan. 5 against NIU, scoring 10 points and dishing out seven assists and hit a clutch three in the 76-73 victory.
Start four for Sears was even better. On Jan. 8 at Toledo, Sears scored 20 points, going 6-of-9 from the field, dished out eight assists and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line.
After Preston returned to the starting lineup on Jan. 12, Sears was clutch off the bench, scoring nine points, grabbing seven boards and dishing out four assists in 19 minutes.
On Jan. 23 Sears led the Bobcats with 19 points off the bench in the 85-77 victory.
On Jan. 26, Sears again set a career mark, scoring 21 points in a victory against Western Michigan.
UP NEXT
If the Bobcats defeat Kent State, Ohio is back in action on Friday, Match 12 to take on No. 1 Toledo or No. 8 Ball State.
#OUohyeah
