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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio men's basketball team (17-3, 8-1 MAC) dominated Ball State (10-11, 5-5 MAC), 87-63, in their return to the Convocation Center Tuesday night (Feb. 1). THe Bobcats improved to 17-3 through 20 games for the first time since the 1940-41 season. 
 
"I thought great win for our program and our team today," head coach Jeff Boals said." "I thought we came out and with great energy and effort. And give Ball State credit, that was their fourth game in eight days. And I mean they had the bus six hours to Northern Illinois the other day and their bus broke down and they got back to like four in the morning. That's a good team. They're playing a lot better right now. Their chemistry is better, and they're gonna win some games moving forward. But I thought we played the game the right way on the offensive and defensive end. It was great to get some guys some minutes and some guys some rest and fun game to coach."
 
Leading the Bobcats was 5th year forward Jason Carter (Johnstown, Ohio) who scored 18 points, went 8-of-12 from the field, 1-of-2 from the line, grabbed three rebounds and dished out two assists. Redshirt senior forward Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) followed behind adding 18 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Mark Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) added 14 points and four rebounds. 
 
Overall, Ohio shot 50.8 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from three and 63 percent from the line. Meanwhile, Ball State shot 38.5 percent from the field, 31 percent from three and made 14-of-20 from the line. The Bobcats outrebounded the Cardinals 40-26 and forced 15 turnovers, while forcing 10 steals. 
 
Ohio won the tip and scored the game's first points to take an early 2-0 lead. Ball State answered with a three-point jumper to give them their only lead of the game, 3-2, with 19:09 left. 
 
"I just think we locked in," Carter said. "We're taking away the big man and they obviously missed a couple open threes that helped as well.  Our ball pressure and everything just was really good during that time and we were getting out in transition and you know, just making sure they're playing in the half court."
 
Both teams would then go on to exchange baskets, with Ball State tying it up 23 all with 8:38 left. The Bobcats continued to stay one step ahead, holding off Ball State for 13:41 without a field goal. 
 
At half, Ohio shot 59.2 percent from the field, 55.5 percent from three and 58.3 percent from the line, while Ball State shot 29.1 percent from the field, 23 percent from three, 75 percent from the line. 
 
Ohio opened the second half with a layup by Carter, continuing its offensive strides. The Bobcats would then go on a 30-3 run that lasted from 8:38 in the first half to 14:55 in the second. Ball State cut the lead to 56-28 before Sears broke their six-point run with a pair of baskets from the free throw line. The Bobcats then tacked on 31 points to solidify their 17th victory of the season.
 
"But like Coach says, our goal wasn't coming in to be 17-3," Carter said. "We appreciate it but also, at the end of the day, we just keep taking it one game at a time and you know, you can't get focused on all this other stuff. Like we've been saying, one game one possession at a time and, you know, we're taking that and rolling with it."
 
Up next, the Bobcats return to action on Thursday, Feb. 3rd, when they host Eastern Michigan. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center.  
  
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