FOLLOW OHIO MEN'S BASKETBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

ATHENS, OHIO -- The Ohio men's basketball team (22-4, 13-2 MAC) are back on the road Friday, Feb. 18 when they head to Kent, Ohio to take on Kent State (16-9, 11-4 MAC). TIp-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the M.A.C Center. The Bobcats matchup will be seen on CBS Sports Network where Dave Ryan and Steve Wolf will be 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
• With five games to go, the Bobcats have already clinched a spot to Cleveland for the 2022 MAC Tournament. 
• This game is the second matchup between the Bobcats and Flashes this season.
• Ohio is coming off of a 91-78 victory over Miami on Tuesday inside the Convo.  
• 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 152nd all-time meeting between the Bobcats and Flashes. 
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 97-54. 
• The Bobcats and Kent State met earlier this season, with Ohio defeating the Flashes, 80-72 inside the Convo. 
• The Bobcats are 12-14 against the Flashes since the 2009-10 season.
• The Bobcats 22-4 record is the best record in program history through 26 games. 
• Mark Sears has been named the MAC Player of the Week five times this season, with the most recent coming on Jan. 31. 
• The Bobcats are currently first in the MAC in turnover margin at +4.23. 
• Ohio is ranked 87th in the latest NET rankings released on Feb. 17. 
• Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 79th.
• Meanwhile, Kent State is ranked 140th. 
• The Bobcats rank 15th in the country in turnover margin. 
• Mark Sears ranks first in the MAC in scoring, second in free throw percentage, third in steals and second in minutes. 
•  Mark Sears is 12th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for third in free throws made (137-of-151). He is also tied for 18th in the country in points per game. 
• The Bobcats are currently 14-1 this season in the Convo. 
• Ohio has registered an impressive 540-177 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State enters the matchup with the Bobcats with a 16-9 record and an 11-4 mark in MAC play, after defeating Toledo on Feb. 15. The Flashes have now won seven in a row entering the matchup. 

As a team, Kent State averages 70.5 points a game, while shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from three and 75.1 percent from the line. The Flashes average 35.8 rebounds, 12.2 assists and 7.0 steals a game. Kent State also averages 3.7 blocks a game and turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times a game. 

Opponents average 63.9 points and are shooting 40.3 percent from the field, 30.4 percent from three and 69.8 percent from the line. Kent State's opponents also average 32.2 rebounds and 11.6 assists per game, while adding 6.4 steals and 2.4 blocks. Opponents also turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times a game. 

Individually, Sincere Carry averages 17.8 points a game while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 35.2 percent from three and averages 4.6 rebounds a game. Malique Jacobs adds 11.7 points and is shooting 37.6 percent from the field and averages 7.3 boards. Giovanni Santiago adds 8.9 points a game and is shooting 40.0 percent from the field. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Kent State with a 22-4 record overall and a 13-2 record in MAC play after defeating Miami, 91-78, on Tuesday in Athens. 

The Bobcats average 75.3 points a game, while shooting .442 from the field, .343 from three and .742 from the line. The Bobcats grab 34.2 rebounds a game, while dishing out an average of 12.9 assists and registering 8.0 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 10.6 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 66.7 points a game, while shooting .439 from the field, .316 from three and .768 from the line. Opponents are averaging 34.2 rebounds, 11.1 assists and 14.8 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 20.1 points a game, while shooting .467 from the field, .422 from three and .907 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 13.8 points a game, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists. 

ALL TIME VS. KENT STATE
This is the 152nd all-time meeting between the Bobcats and Flashes. 

Ohio leads the all-time series, 97-54. 

The Bobcats and Kent State met earlier this season, with Ohio defeating the Flashes, 80-72 inside the Convo. 

The Bobcats are 12-14 against the Flashes since the 2009-10 season.

LAST TIME AGAINST KENT STATE
The Bobcats defeated Kent State, 80-72 on Jan. 7 in Athens. 

Leading the Bobcats was Mark Sears who scored 28 points, went 9-of-15 from the field, 9-of-10 from the line, grabbed six rebounds and dished out three assists. It was Sears' fifth-straight game of 20-plus points. Ben Vander Plas added 20, hitting a career-high six made threes, grabbing six boards, and dishing out a team-high five assists. Ben Roderick added 13 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Jason Carter added 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals. 

Overall, Ohio shot 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from three and were 20-of-23 from the line, while Kent State shot 38.5 percent from the field, 23.5 percent from three and were 18-of-23 from the line, Kent State outrebounded the Bobcats, 34-33, while Ohio dished out 11 assists to their nine. 

For Kent State, Sincere Carry scored 26 points and grabbed six rebounds, while Malique Jacobs added 16 points and eight boards. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Bobcats are coming off of a 91-78 victory over Miami on Tuesday in Athens. 

The win is the sixth-straight over Miami and with a Toledo loss, the Bobcats have moved into sole possession of first place in the MAC. 

Ben Vander Plas led Ohio with 30 points, going 9-of-12 from the field, 3-of-6 from three and 9-of-10 from the line. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out six assists and had three steals. Mark Sears added 23 points and 11 rebounds, while shooting 8-of-20 from the field and 6-of-6 from the line. He also dished out six assists and had two steals. Tommy Schmock added a DI career-high 18 points, going 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-7 from three. 

Overall, Ohio shot 50.9 percent from the field, 39.3 percent from three and were 22-of-24 from the line, while Miami shot 47.7 percent from the field, 48.1 percent from three and were 3-of-6 from the line. Ohio outrebounded Miami, 35-30, and dished out 14 assists, while the RedHawks dished out 16. Ohio also forced 11 Miami turnovers and had eight steals. 

For Miami, Dae Dae Grant led with 22 points, while Mekhi Lairy added 18 points and six assists. Myja White finished the game with 11 points. 

OHIO IN THE NET
Ohio is ranked 87th in the latest NET rankings released on Feb. 17. 

Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 79th.

Meanwhile, Kent State is ranked 140th. 

OHIO IN THE NCAA
The Bobcats rank 15th in the country in turnover margin. 

Mark Sears is 12th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for third in free throws made (137-of-151). He is also tied for 18th in the country in points per game. 

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

Jason Carter is ninth in blocked shots (26) and ninth in rebounding. 

Ben Vander Plas is fourth in the league in minutes played (34.5) and seventh in rebounding . 

Meanwhile, Ohio is first in turnover margin (+4.23), fifth in free throw percentage, third in assist/TO ratio (1.22) and first in steals (8.0). 

SEARS AT THE LINE
Mark Sears continues his solid season at the free throw line. The sophomore is shooting 90.7 percent (137-of-151), which ranks him second in the MAC and 12th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for third in free throws made.

Meanwhile, in the last 16 games, Sears is 105-of-116 from the line, including going 10-of-10 against USC Upstate, Marshall and Bowling Green and 11-of-12 against NIU. 

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

In 14 games, Brown is averaging 6.9 points and is shooting .426 from the field, .375 from three and is .722 from the line. 

Brown scored a career-high 19 points on Nov. 26 against Concordia. 

Brown had the best game of his career on Feb. 12 at Eastern Michigan, recording his first career double double, scoring 15 points and grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds. 

BROD MAKES A JUMP
After missing two games due to a foot injury, junior Ben Roderick returned to the starting lineup, registering his best game of the season. 

Roderick scored a season-high 19 points, going 8-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from three. He also grabbed five rebounds, dished out one assist and had two steals.

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 25 games, Carter is averaging 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .468 from the field and .260 from three.

He also has three double doubles this season.

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

Carter scored a career-high 27 points against Western Michigan on Feb. 5. 

He was named the MAC Player of the Week on Feb. 7 and the MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week on Feb. 8. 

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

Over 26 games, Sears is leading Ohio with 20.1 points per game. He is shooting .467 from the field, .422 from three and .907 from the line. 

He also averages 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 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 five times this season, the most recent coming on Jan. 31. 

Sears had another noteworthy performance on Feb. 12 against EMU, scoring 27 points and grabbing eight rebounds, while dishing out five assists in Ohio's 74-56 victory.

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 13.8 points per game. He also averages 6.7 rebounds, while dishing out 3.1 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .461 from the field and .338 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. 

BVP recorded his second double double of the season at Buffalo on Jan. 28, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. 

BVP's third double double came Feb. 5 against WMU, scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 boards. 

BVP once again own CMU, scoring a season-high 24 points on Feb. 10 in Mount Pleasant. 

BVP set another career-high on Feb. 15 against Miami, Scoring 30 points in the 91-78 victory. 

ANOTHER CAREER DAY FOR BVP
On Feb. 15 against Miami, Vander Plas scored a career-high 30 points, going 9-of-12 from the field while grabbing 10 rebounds for a double double. He also dished out six assists and went 9-of-10 from the line in the victory. 

CLAYTON FOR THREE
In 25 games in the green and white, freshman AJ Clayton has made at least one three in 15 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 newly minted 18-year old (as of Feb. 12), is averaging 3.4 points a game and 10.7 minutes. 

OLUMIDE MAKES MOST OF HIS MINUTES
On Feb. 10 at CMU, Olumide Adelodun made the most of his five minutes on the court, draining a important three and followed that up with a block on the opposite end of the court, helping Ohio to the 81-72 victory. 

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. 

Schmock had another stellar game on Feb. 8 at Toledo, scoring 17 points, going 6-of-12 from the field and 5-of-10 from three. 

Schmock helped lead the Bobcats in the next game, scoring 16 points and hitting four threes in the Bobcats' win at CMU. 

On Feb. 15 against Miami, Schmock scored a DI career-high 18 points in the victory. 

This season. Schmock is averaging 6.3 points in 20.1 minutes off the bench. 

UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats are back at home for their final games in Athens starting Tuesday, Feb. 22 against CMU. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. 

#OUohyeah