ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (10-2, 1-0 MAC) return to action this week when it heads to Akron, Ohio on Tuesday, Jan. 4 to take on Akron. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. inside James A. Rhodes Arena. The Bobcats matchup will be seen nationally on CBS Sports Network where Mike O'Donnell and John Sadak 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 is coming off of a 59-47 victory in their MAC opener at Western Michigan on Jan. 1. 
• This is the 87th all-time meeting between the Bobcats and Zips. 
• Akron leads the all-time series, 45-41. 
• The Bobcats and Zips met twice last season, with the two teams splitting the series. 
• In their most recent matchup on Feb. 23, 2021, Ohio came away with the commanding 90-73 victory. 
• The Bobcats are 11-17 against the Zips since the 2009-10 season.
• Ohio last won in Akron on March 2, 2019, when the Bobcats won 73-49. 
• The Bobcats 10-2 record through 12 games is the best start for the Bobcats since the 2011-12 season when Ohio started 11-1 over the same span of games.  
• Mark Sears has been named the MAC Player of the Week three times this season.
• Ohio has had at least four score in double figures six times in 12 games, including having five score in two games. 
• The Bobcats are currently first in the MAC in turnover margin at +4.25. 
• Ohio is ranked 84th in the latest NET rankings released on Jan. 3. 
• Ohio is the highest-ranked MAC school, two spots ahead of Toledo, who sit at 86. 
• Meanwhile. Akron is ranked  147, and is the fourth-highest ranked MAC school. 
• The Bobcats rank 17th in the country in turnover margin
• Mark Sears ranks second in the MAC in free throw percentage, second in scoring, third in steals and fourth in minutes. 
•  Mark Sears is 18th in the country in free throw percentage. 
• 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 99 career wins. 

SCOUTING AKRON
Akron enters the matchup with the Bobcats with an 8-3 record and a 1-0 mark in MAC play, after defeating Buffalo on Jan. 1. 

As a team, Akron averages 64.4 points a game, while shooting 45.9 percent from the field, 35.5 percent from three and 65.5 percent from the line. The Zips average 38.3 rebounds, 12.6 assists and 6.3 steals a game. Akron also averages 3.2 blocks a game and turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times a game. 

Opponents average 60.8 points and are shooting 40.2 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from three and 67.7 percent from the line. Akron's opponents also average 30.5 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game, while adding 5.9 steals and 1.9 blocks. Opponents also turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times a game. 

Individually, Ali Ali averages a team-leading 14.5 points a game and is shooting 49.0 percent from the field, 45.7 percent from three and 73.8 percent from the line. Enrique Freeman adds 12.7 points and 11.2 rebounds a game, while shooting 65.5 percent from the field. Xavier Castaneda averages 11.1 points a game, while Bryan Trimble, Jr. adds 10.8 points a contest. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Akron with a 10-2 record after defeating Western Michigan, 59-47 on Jan. 1 in their MAC opener. 

The Bobcats average 72.3 points a game, while shooting .418 from the field, .324 from three and .778 from the line. The Bobcats grab 33.8 rebounds a game, while dishing out an average of 13.2 assists and registering 8.2 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 11.0 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 64.9 points a game, while shooting .442 from the field, .309 from three and .796 from the line. Opponents are averaging 34.5 rebounds, 11.8 assists and 16.3 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 18.7 points a game, while shooting .472 from the field, .441 from three and .905 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 12.1 points a game and 6.7 rebounds. 

ALL TIME VS. AKRON
This is the 87th all-time meeting between the Bobcats and Zips. 

Akron leads the all-time series, 45-41. 

The Bobcats and Zips met twice last season, with the two teams splitting the series. 

In their most recent matchup on Feb. 23, 2021, Ohio came away with the commanding 90-73 victory. 

The Bobcats are 11-17 against the Zips since the 2009-10 season.

Ohio last won in Akron on March 2, 2019, when the Bobcats won 73-49. 

LAST TIME AGAINST AKRON
Ohio and Akron last met on Feb. 23, 2021, where Ohio came away with the commanding 90-73 victory. 

In that game, Ohio didn't miss a beat in its return to action for the first time since February 2. The victory extended a season-high win streak to five games. The game also marked the 700th game in the Convocation Center.

Ohio scored 40 of their 90 points in the paint and held Akron to shooting 38.8 percent from the field, including just 25 percent (8-of-32) from three-point range. The Bobcats also forced 12 turnovers.

Ben Roderick was one of four Bobcats to score in double-digits, scoring 17 points, with 13 coming from the first half. Ben Vander Plas also added 17 points, nine rebounds and a pair of steals. Mark Sears put up 12 points, dished out nine assists and grabbed seven boards while. Off the bench, sophomore guard Miles Brown scored 12 points.

LAST TIME OUT
The Bobcats were able to overcome a poor shooting day to open Mid-American Conference play with a 59-47 victory on the road at Western Michigan on Jan. 1 inside University Arena. 

Overall, Ohio shot 36.5 percent from the field, 13.6 percent from three and were 10-of-15 from the line, while WMU shot 32.7 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from three and were 9-of-13 from the line. The Bobcats were outrebounded, 41-38, however, the Bobcats dished out seven assists and forced 20 Bronco turnovers, scoring 21 points off of them. 

Individually, sophomore guard Mark Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) led with 21 points, going 7-of-14 from the field, 7-of-8 from the line, while grabbing four boards, dishing out two assists and recording three steals. Fifth-year forward Jason Carter (Johnstown, Ohio) added 17 points, going 8-of-15 from the field, while grabbing a team-high eight boards. Redshirt senior Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) added nine points and seven boards, while junior Ben Roderick (Powell, Ohio) grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.

For Western Michigan, Lamar Norman, Jr. led with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Markeese Hastings added nine points and 14 boards. 

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 84th in the latest NET rankings released on Jan. 3. 

Ohio is the highest-ranked MAC school, two spots ahead of Toledo, who sit at 86

Meanwhile. Akron is ranked 147, and is the fourth-highest ranked MAC school. 

OHIO IN THE NCAA
The Bobcats rank 17th in the country in turnover margin and 84th in steals per game. 

Mark Sears is 18th in the country in free throw percentage. 

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

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

AJ Clayton is sixth in 3pt FG%. 

Ben Vander Plas is second in the league in minutes played (35.0).

Meanwhile, Ohio is first in turnover margin (+5.2), second in free throw percentage, second 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 12 games, Brown is averaging 7.5 points and is shooting .437 from the field, .333 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 12 games, Carter is averaging 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .439 from the field, .229 from three and is 23-of-35 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 12 game, Sears is leading Ohio with 18.7 points per game. He is shooting .472 from the field, .441 from three and .905 from the line. 

He also averages 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 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 three times this season. 

BOALS MARCH TO 100
Third-year head coach Jeff Boals currently sits with 99 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 12.1 points per game. He also averages 6.7 rebounds, while dishing out 2.7 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .421 from the field and .328 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 12 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 3.8 points a game and 10.8 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.  

This season. Schmock is averaging 3.8 points in 14.4 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 2.3 points and 9.6 minutes. 

UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats return to Athens for the first time in 2022 when Ohio hosts Kent State on Friday, Jan. 7. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and can be seen on CBS Sports Network. 

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