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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio men's basketball team (14-3, 5-1 MAC) dropped its first conference game, 87-69, against Toledo (15-4, 7-1 MAC) after the team was unable to recover from a poor-shooting first half Friday night inside the Convocation Center.

"You know we got back into it in the second half, by doing the things we wanted to do in the first half," head coach Jeff Boals said. "Give them credit, coming in, they're a little unorthodox. They switched up a lot and kept us on the perimeter. During the second half, we started going inside more, made a run, got some stops, and were able to get out and transition, which is a big part of our offense. We expended so much energy to get back into it, we hit a wall and just could not get over the hump but give them credit as a good team."

Leading the Bobcats was 5th year forward Jason Carter (Johnstown, Ohio) who scored 19 points, went 7-of-16 from the field, 3-of-5 from the line, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out two assists. Sophomore guard Mark Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) added 14 points and four rebounds, while redshirt senior forward Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) scored 12 points with seven rebounds. 

Overall, Ohio shot 45 percent from the field, 27.6 percent from three and 50 percent from the line. Meanwhile, Toledo shot 59 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from three and made 8-of-8 from the line. Toledo outrebounded the Bobcats 33-28, while both teams recorded six steals. The Bobcats forced 12 turnovers, while only turning the ball over four times themselves. 

Toledo won the tip and scored the game's first three to take an early 3-0 lead. Ohio answered after an offensive rebound by Carter set up a jumper from junior guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) with 18:28 left. 

After a missed three by the Rockets, the Bobcats took a 5-3 lead after Carter drained a three off an assist from Sears. However, Toledo would answer with a layup and a jumper on its next two possessions to extend the lead to 10-5. 

Both teams went on to exchange baskets before Toledo went on a 7-0 run that would extend their lead by 10 with 13:23 left in the first half. Before the first timeout, a layup by freshman forward IJ Ezuma (Raleigh, North Carolina) cut the Bobcats deficit to nine with 11:26 to play. 

Toledo offense continued to stay one step ahead and eventually took a 17-point lead with 5:06 left, the Rockets largest lead during the half. 

"They came out more aggressive than us," Vander Plas said. "Usually, we do a good job of ball pressure, making it difficult for the big guys to get post touches and having better gaps. We weren't together defensively and they came out was more aggressive than us."

At half, Ohio shot 42.9 percent from the field, 20 percent from three and 66.7 percent from the line, while Toledo shot 58.1 percent from the field, 50 percent from three, 100 percent from the line and outrebounded the Bobcats, 17-13 in the first half.

Carter led Ohio at the half with nine points and four rebounds, followed by Vander Plas with seven points and four rebounds.

Ohio opened the second half free throw from Carter and a layup from junior forward Ben Roderick (Powell, Ohio). After a three-point jumper by junior guard Miles Brown (Rochester, New York), the Bobcats Offense found a spark that allowed them to cut Toledo's lead to ten points with 15:44 to play. 

"You could feel the energy in the second half, and we feed off it," Vander Plas said. "Coach Boals feeds off it and playing in an environment like that is something you dream of. Just seeing that many people standing up and cheering for us, that was awesome." 

However, the Bobcats were unable to catch the Rockets after a layup, two free throws and a jumper gave Toledo a 14-point with 2:26 left. In the second half, the Bobcats shot 46.9 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from three. 

"Obviously, we can learn a lot of things from this. When we got back into it, we just expended so much energy doing that and it's tough to sustain that level.  We'll definitely learn from this and move on to get better for Tuesday," said Boals. 
 
Up next, the Bobcats remain in Athens on Tuesday, Jan. 25 when they host Northern Illinois. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. 

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