ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (17-3, 8-1 MAC) returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 3 for its second of six games in 12 days when they host Eastern Michigan (8-12, 3-6 MAC). Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. The Bobcats matchup will be seen on ESPN3 where Marty Bannister and Rob Cornelius will be on 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.". WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station network's flagship.  

STORYLINES
• This game, which was a rescheduled date from Dec. 28, was originally scheduled to tip at 7 p.m., however, due to inclement weather, game time was pushed to 2 p.m. 
• Ohio is coming off of a commanding 87-63 victory over Ball State 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 79th all-time meeting between Ohio and EMU.  
• The Bobcats lead the all-time series, 52-26. 
• The is the first of two meetings between the Bobcats and Eagles this season. 
• The Bobcats downs EMU, 86-67 last season inside the Convocation Center. 
• Ohio is 7-3 against EMU in the last 10 matchups, with the Bobcats last falling to EMU during the 2018-19 season. 
• Ohio has fallen to EMU only six times when taking on the Eagles inside the Convo. 
• The Bobcats 17-3 record through 19 games is the best start for the Bobcats since the 1940-41 season. That team started 18-3 before falling in their final game of the season to finish 18-4. 
• The 1936-37 squad finished the season 18-3, while the 1921-22 team started 18-3, before finishing 19-4. 
• No Bobcats team has been 19-3 through 22 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 +3.60. 
• Ohio is ranked 74th in the latest NET rankings released on Feb. 2. 
• Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 61.
• Meanwhile, EMU is ranked 264th.  
• The Bobcats ranked 36th in the country in free throw percentage and 30th in the country in turnover margin. 
• Mark Sears ranks third in the MAC in scoring, second in free throw percentage, fourth in steals and second in minutes. 
•  Mark Sears is 12th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for 8th in free throws made (110-of-122). He is also 32nd in the country in points per game. 
• The Bobcats are currently 11-1 this season in the Convo. 
• Ohio has registered an impressive 537-177 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
Eastern Michigan enters the matchup with Ohio with an 8-12 record and a 3-6 mark in MAC play after falling to Toledo, 86-66 on Feb. 1. 

As a team, EMU averages 71.6 points a game, while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from three and 72.1 percent from the line. The Eagles average 35.1 rebounds, 10.2 assists and 6.7 steals a game. EMU also averages 3.5 blocks a game and turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times a game. 

Opponents average 74.8 points and are shooting 43.2 percent from the field, 33.0 percent from three and 69.7 percent from the line. EMU's opponents also average 39.3 rebounds and 12.0 assists per game, while adding 7.1 steals and 3.9 blocks. Opponents also turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times a game. 

Individually, Noah Farrakhan averages 17.0 points per game, while shooting .403 from the field and 43.5 percent from three. He also adds 4.0 rebounds a contest. Monty Scott adds 12.9 points and 3.3 boards a game, while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from three, while Bryce McBride adds 12.1 points, 2.6 boards and shooting 42.3 percent from the field. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Eastern Michigan with a 17-3 record overall and an 8-1 record in MAC play after defeating Ball State, 87-63, on Tuesday in Athens. 

The Bobcats average 74.6 points a game, while shooting .438 from the field, .333 from three and .750 from the line. The Bobcats grab 34.8 rebounds a game, while dishing out an average of 12.9 assists and registering 7.9 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 10.9 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 66.0 points a game, while shooting .434 from the field, .310 from three and .773 from the line. Opponents are averaging 33.8 rebounds, 11.1 assists and 14.4 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 19.6 points a game, while shooting .481 from the field, .418 from three and .902 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 14.6 points and 7.0 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 13.1 points a game and 6.7 rebounds. 

ALL TIME VS. EASTERN MICHIGAN
This is the 79th all-time meeting between Ohio and EMU.  

The Bobcats lead the all-time series, 52-26. 

The is the first of two meetings between the Bobcats and Eagles this season. 

The Bobcats downs EMU, 86-67 last season inside the Convocation Center. 

Ohio is 7-3 against EMU in the last 10 matchups, with the Bobcats last falling to EMU during the 2018-19 season. 

Ohio has fallen to EMU only six times when taking on the Eagles inside the Convo. 

LAST TIME AGAINST EMU
The Bobcats downs EMU, 86-67 last season inside the Convocation Center. 

In that victory on Feb. 25, 2021, Ben Vander Plas recorded his 1.000 career point and the Bobcats clinched a spot in the 2021 MAC Tournament. 

As a team, Ohio won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Eastern Michigan 37-24. Assists also proved to be a big factor as the Bobcats dished out 30 to the Eagles' 12.  

Four Bobcats scored in double figures. Vander Plas finished the day with 13 points, grabbed seven boards and dished out eight assists. Ben Roderick scored a team-high 17 points while Lunden McDay tallied 14. Off the bench, Dwight Wilson III put up 16 points, including 10 in the first half. He went a perfect 7-of-7 from the field.

LAST TIME OUT
The Ohio men's basketball team dominated Ball State, 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. 

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 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 537-177 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

OHIO IN THE NET
Ohio is ranked 74th in the latest NET rankings released on Feb. 2. 

Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 61.

Meanwhile, EMU is ranked 264th.  

OHIO IN THE NCAA
The Bobcats ranked 54th in the country in free throw percentage and 31st in the country in turnover margin. 

Mark Sears is 12th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for 8th in free throws made (110-of-122). He is also 32nd in the country in points per game.  

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

Jason Carter is eighth in blocked shots (20) and in rebounding. 

Ben Vander Plas is fourth in the league in minutes played (34.8).

Meanwhile, Ohio is first in turnover margin (+3.60), fifth in free throw percentage, third in assist/TO ratio (1.18) and first in steals (7.9). 

SEARS AT THE LINE
Mark Sears continues his solid season at the free throw line. The sophomore is shooting 90.2 percent (110-of-122), which ranks him second in the MAC and  12th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for 8th in free throws made.

Meanwhile, in the last 10 games, Sears is 80-of-87 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 18 games, Brown is averaging 7.1 points and is shooting .444 from the field, .377 from three and is .696 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 20 games, Carter is averaging 14.6 points and 7.0 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .456 from the field and .226 from three.

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 20 game, Sears is leading Ohio with 19.6 points per game. He is shooting .481 from the field, .418 from three and .902 from the line. 

He also averages 5.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 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. 

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 13.1 points per game. He also averages 6.7 rebounds, while dishing out 2.8 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .451 from the field and .356 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. 

CLAYTON FOR THREE
In 19 games in the green and white, freshman AJ Clayton has made at least one three in 13 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 10.9 minutes. 

FIRST POINTS
On Feb. 1 against Ball State, Olumide Adelodun, Luke Frazier and Josh McDaniel all scored their first career points. 

Adelodun hit his first career three, while Frazier recorded two layups. McDaniel added one made free throw. 

UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats remain in Athens on Saturday, Feb. 5 when they host Western Michigan in a Sibs Weekend matchup. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. 

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