ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (14-2, 5-0 MAC) returns to Athens on Friday, Jan. 21 when Ohio hosts Toledo (14-4, 6-1 MAC) for a nationally televised matchup. TIp-off is set for 6 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. The Bobcats matchup will be seen on CBS Sports Network where Dave Ryan and Mike O'Donnell will have the call. 

The Bobcats' matchup can be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield IMG College. Russ Eisenstein returns for his 14th 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.  

STORYLINES
• Ohio is coming off of a dominating 86-63 victory at Miami in Jan. 18. 
• Mark Sears has been named to the 2021-22 Lou Henson National Player of the Year Mid-Season Watch List on Jan. 12. 
• Third-year head coach Jeff Boals recorded his 100th career win on Jan 4 at Akron. 
• This is the 133rd all-time meeting between Ohio and Toledo.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 70-62.
• The Bobcats and Rockets met twice last season, falling to Toledo in the regular season before defeating the Rockets, 87-80 in the MAC Semifinals
• Ohio and Toledo will meet for the eight time in MAC Tournament, with the Bobcats holding a 7-1 record over the Rockets in the Tournament. 
•  Ohio has not defeated Toledo in the regular season since Jan. 26 2016 in Toledo (0-5). However, the Bobcats are 2-0 against the Rockets in the MAC Tournament since then. 
• Ohio is 6-8 against Toledo since 2011-12. However, three of those wins came in the MAC Tournament, so in the regular season the Bobcats are 3-8 against Toledo in that same time span. 
• The Bobcats 14-2 record through 16 games is the best start for the Bobcats since the 2011-12 season when Ohio started 14-2 over the same span of games.  
• Ohio's nine-game winning streak is the fifth-longest in program history (more on page 3). 
• Mark Sears has been named the MAC Player of the Week four times this season, with the most recent coming on Jan. 10. 
• The Bobcats are currently first in the MAC in turnover margin at +3.69. 
• Ohio is ranked 68th in the latest NET rankings released on Jan. 20.
• Ohio is the highest-ranked MAC school, in front of Toledo at 77. 
• The Bobcats rank 22nd in the country in free throw percentage and 31st in the country in turnover margin. 
• Mark Sears ranks first in the MAC in scoring, second in free throw percentage, third in steals and in minutes. 
•  Mark Sears is 10th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for 6th in free throws made (87-of-95). 
• The Bobcats are currently 9-0 this season in the Convo. 
• Ohio has registered an impressive 535-176 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

SCOUTING TOLEDO
Toledo enters the matchup with the Bobcats with a 14-4 record and a 6-1 mark in MAC play, after defeating Ball State, 83-70 on Jan. 18. 

As a team, Toledo averages 79.4 points a game, while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from three and 78.3 percent from the line. The Rockets average 40.8 rebounds, 14.6 assists and 5.9 steals a game. Toledo also averages 2.4 blocks a game and turn the ball over an average of 11.3 times a game. 

Opponents average 67.4 points and are shooting 39.5 percent from the field, 29.0 percent from three and 66.2 percent from the line. Toledo's opponents also average 35.6 rebounds and 12.7 assists per game, while adding 5.6 steals and 4.9 blocks. Opponents also turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times a game. 

Individually, Ryan Rollins averages 19.3 points a game and is shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 82.1 percent from the line. JT Shumate adds 15.4 points a game and is shooting 56.3 percent from the field. He adds 6.8 boards and is shooting 84.6 percent from the line. Setric Millner Jr. adds 14.1 points a game and 6.0 rebounds a game. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Toledo with a 14-2 overall record  and a 5-0 mark in MAC play after defeating Miami, 86-63 on Jan 18 in Oxford. 

The Bobcats average 74.2 points a game, while shooting .434 from the field, .337 from three and .776 from the line. The Bobcats grab 34.4 rebounds a game, while dishing out an average of 13.3 assists and registering 7.7 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 11.0 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 65.9 points a game, while shooting .430 from the field, .315 from three and .773 from the line. Opponents are averaging 34.1 rebounds, 11.2 assists and 14.7 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 19.5 points a game, while shooting .479 from the field, .429 from three and .916 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 12.8 points a game and 6.5 rebounds. 

ALL TIME VS. TOLEDO
This is the 133rd all-time meeting between Ohio and Toledo.

Ohio leads the all-time series, 70-62.

The Bobcats and Rockets met twice last season, falling to Toledo in the regular season before defeating the Rockets, 87-80 in the MAC Semifinals

Ohio and Toledo meet for the eight time in MAC Tournament last season, with the Bobcats now holding a 7-1 record over the Rockets in the Tournament. 

Ohio has not defeated Toledo in the regular season since Jan. 26 2016 in Toledo (0-5). However, the Bobcats are 2-0 against the Rockets in the MAC Tournament since then. 

Ohio is 6-8 against Toledo since 2011-12. However, three of those wins came in the MAC Tournament, so in the regular season the Bobcats are 3-8 against Toledo in that same time span. 

LAST TIME AGAINST TOLEDO
The Bobcats and Toledo last met on March 12, 2021 when Ohio took down top-seeded Toledo, 87-80, in the 2021 MAC Tournament Semifinals.

Jason Preston led the Bobcats with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists while shooting 11-of-19 from the field and 5-of-9 from three. Preston is now five points away from 1,000 for his career. Ben Vander Plas was dominant, scoring 26 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out seven assists. Dwight Wilson III scored 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Ben Roderick added 10 points. 

The Bobcats shot 48.6 percent from the field and 36 percent from three, while Toledo shot 47.7 percent from the field and 20.7 percent from three.  

Ohio out-rebounded Toledo, 42-33, while Ohio scored 50 points in the paint.

LAST TIME OUT
Led by 23 points from redshirt senior froward Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.), the Ohio men's basketball team (14-2, 5-0 MAC) returned to action Tuesday evening (Jan. 18), dominating Miami (8-8, 2-3 MAC), 86-63, in the first round of the 'Battle of the Bricks' inside Millett Hall. 

It is Ohio's ninth-straight win and their fifth-straight over Miami. Ohio is now 18-3 against Miami since the 2011-12 season. 

Ohio was led by Vander Plas with 23 points, going 9-of-13 from the field, 4-of-8 from three and grabbed six boards, dished out three assists and had four steals. Sophomore guard Mark Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) added 17 points and dished out nine assists, while fifth year froward Jason Carter (Johnstown, Ohio) added 13 points. Sophomore forward Sam Towns (Columbus, Ohio) added a career-high nine rebounds in 20 minutes on the floor, while senior guard Tommy Schmock (Cleveland, Ohio) had nine points and junior guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) added eight points. 

 Overall, Ohio shot 50.9 percent from the field, 39.4 percent from three and were 15-of-24 from the line, while Miami shot 36.5 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from three and were 17-of-21 from the line. Ohio outrebounded the RedHawks, 36-31, while Ohio dished out 20 assists to Miami's eight. Ohio also forced 15 turnovers and scored 14 points off them, while also registering 24 fastbreak points 

OHIO WIN STREAKS
1921-22 - 13 games
1993-94 - 13 games
1959-1960 - 12 games
1940-41 - 11 games
1984-85 - 11 games
1985-86 - 11 games
1920-21 - 10 games
2011-12 - 9 games
2021-22 - 9 games

PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 535-176 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

OHIO IN THE NET
Ohio is ranked 68th in the latest NET rankings released on Jan. 20. 

Ohio is the highest-ranked MAC school, in front of Toledo at 77. 

OHIO IN THE NCAA
The Bobcats rank 22nd in the country in free throw percentage and 31st in the country in turnover margin. 

Mark Sears is 10th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for 6th in free throws made (87-of-95). 

OHIO IN THE MAC 
Mark Sears ranks first in the MAC in scoring, second in free throw percentage, third in steals and in minutes. 

Jason Carter is fifth in blocked shots (19) and seventh in rebounding. 

Ben Vander Plas is fourth in the league in minutes played (34.4).

Meanwhile, Ohio is first in turnover margin (+3.69), fourth in free throw percentage, third in assist/TO ratio (1.21) and second in steals (7.7). 

SEARS AT THE LINE
Mark Sears continues his solid season at the free throw line. The sophomore is shooting 91.6 percent (87-of-95), which ranks him first in the MAC and 10th in the NCAA in free throw percentage. He also ranks 6th in free throws made. 

Meanwhile, in the last six games, Sears is 57-of-60 from the line, including going 10-of-10 against USC Upstate, Marshall and Bowling Green. 

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

In 14 games, Brown is averaging 7.2 points and is shooting .438 from the field, .354 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 16 games, Carter is averaging 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .460 from the field, .234 from three and is 34-of-50 from the line. 

He also has two double-doubles early on this season. 

On Jan. 11 against BGSU, Carter scored a season-high 22 points in the victory. 

SEARS LEADING THE WAY
Since taking over point guard duties at the start of the season, Sears has quickly proven that he belongs. 

Over 16 game, Sears is leading Ohio with 19.5 points per game. He is shooting .479 from the field, .429 from three and .916 from the line. 

He also averages 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 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. 

Sears set another career-high on Dec. 21 when he scored 33 points against USC Upstate inside the Convo. 

He has been named the MAC Player of the Week four times 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 recorded his 100th career win on Jan 4 at Akron.

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 12.8 points per game. He also averages 6.5 rebounds, while dishing out 3.06 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .445 from the field and .359 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. 

BVP hit a career-high six made three pointers on Jan. 7 against Kent State, while also scoring season-high 20 points in the victory. 

On Jan. 18 at Miami, Vander Plas scored a season-high 23 points in 29 minutes. 20 of those points came in the first half. 

CLAYTON FOR THREE
In 16 games in the green and white, freshman AJ Clayton has made at least one three in 10 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.  

Clayton set a career-high on Jan. 11 against BGSU, scoring 12 points and going 2-of-6 from three. 

The 17-year old is averaging 4.1 points a game and 11.0 minutes. 

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.  

Schmock got his first start in the Green and White on Jan. 7 against Kent State. 

In his second start of the season on Jan. 11 against BGSU, Schmock was sensational, scoring 17 points, going 5-of-10 from the field, 4-of-7 from three and grabbed seven boards in the victory. 

This season. Schmock is averaging 5.1 points in 17.4 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 2.4 points and 11.0 minutes.

Towns grabbed a career-high nine rebounds on Jan. 18 at Miami. 

TWO NEW FACES
The Bobcats have added two new faces to the roster for the start of the Spring semester, 

Ohio has added sophomore guard Luke Frazier, a transfer from Dayton. 

The Bobcats have also added senior guard Josh McDaniel. McDaniel is a walk-on and former manager for the Bobcats. 

MAC MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE
Jason Carter was named the MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week on Jan. 19. 

UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats stay in Athens when they host Northern Illinois on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. 

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