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ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (22-5, 13-3 MAC) are back in Athens this week start on Tuesday, Feb. 22 when the Bobcats host Central Michigan (6-18, 5-8 MAC). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. The Bobcats matchup will be seen on ESPN3 where Marty Bannister and Jake Hromada 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 four 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 CMU this season.
• Ohio is coming off of a 75-52 loss at Kent State Friday night.
• 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 83rd all-time meeting between Ohio and Central Michigan.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 49-32.
• The Bobcats and CMU last met on Feb. 10, 2022 in Mount Pleasant, with Ohio winning, 81-72.
• Ohio is 7-7 against CMU since the 2011-12 season.
• The Bobcats 22-5 record is the best record in program history through 27 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 97th in the latest NET rankings released on Feb. 21.
• Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 87th.
• Meanwhile, CMU is ranked 323rd.
• The Bobcats rank 10th in the country in turnover margin.
• Mark Sears ranks second in the MAC in scoring, second in free throw percentage, fourth in steals and second in minutes.
•  Mark Sears is 11th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for seventh in free throws made (142-of-157). He is also tied for 25th 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 CENTRAL MICHIGAN 
Central Michigan enters the matchup with the Bobcats with a 6-18 record and a 5-8 mark in MAC play, after falling to Toledo, 68-66 on Feb. 19. 

As a team, CMU averages 66.1 points a game, while shooting 40.8 percent from the field, 35.2 percent from three and 68.8 percent from the line. CMU average 32.4 rebounds, 11.5 assists and 6.4 steals a game. CMU also averages 3.1 blocks a game and turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times a game. 

Opponents average 78.6 points and are shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from three and 70.9 percent from the line. CMU's opponents also average 38.2 rebounds and 14.3 assists per game, while adding 6.4 steals and 3.6 blocks. Opponents also turn the ball over an average of 11.98 times a game. 

Individually, Kevin Miller averages 12.8 points a game and is shooting 41.7 percent from the field and  32.3 percent from three, Jermaine Jackson, Jr. adds 11.4 points a game and is shooting 37.3 percent from three, while Cameron Healy adds 11.3 points a contest. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Central Michigan with a 22-5 record overall and a 13-3 record in MAC play after falling to Kent State, 75-52 on Friday in Kent, Ohio. 

The Bobcats average 74.4 points a game, while shooting .435 from the field, .337 from three and .739 from the line. The Bobcats grab 34.0 rebounds a game, while dishing out an average of 12.7 assists and registering 7.8 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 10.6 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 67.0 points a game, while shooting .441 from the field, .320 from three and .769 from the line. Opponents are averaging 34.3 rebounds, 11.3 assists and 14.9 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 19.7 points a game, while shooting .459 from the field, .419 from three and .904 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 14.0 points and 6.4 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 13.7 points a game, 6.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. 

ALL TIME VS. CMU
This is the 83rd all-time meeting between Ohio and Central Michigan. 

Ohio leads the all-time series, 49-32.

The Bobcats and CMU last met on Feb. 10, 2022 in Mount Pleasant, with Ohio winning, 81-72. 

Ohio is 7-7 against CMU since the 2011-12 season. 

LAST TIME AGAINST CMU
The Bobcats defeated Central Michigan, 81--72 on Jan. 10 in Mount Pleasant. 

Individually, Ben Vander Plas led Ohio with 24 points, going 9-of-15 from the field, 2-of-5 from three and dished out six assists. Mark Sears added 22 points, going 5-of-11 from the field and 4-of-6 from three, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out four assists. Tommy Schmock scored 16 points, while Ben Roderick grabbed seven rebounds. 

Overall, Ohio shot 49.1 percent from the field, 48 percent from three and were 17-of-26 from the line. Meanwhile, CMU shot 41.4 percent from the field, 20.8 percent from three and were 19-of-2 from the line. CMU outrebounded Ohio 38-28, while the Bobcats dished out 14 assists and forced 19 turnovers.

For CMU, Kevin Miller led all scorers with 25 points, while Harrison Henderson added 16 points and Brian Taylor scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Bobcats are coming off of a 75-52 loss at Kent State on Friday. 

Individually, Jason Carter led the Bobcats with 12 points and five rebounds, while Ben Vander Plas added 10 points and eight rebounds. Mark Sears added 10 points, five rebounds and two steals.  

Overall, Ohio shot 21.1 percent from the field, 17.9 percent from three and were 23-of-33 from the line, while Kent State shot 52 percent from the field, 47.1 percent from three and were 15-of-19 from the line. Kent State outrebounded the Bobcats, 39-28 and dished out 15 assists to Ohio's seven. 

Kent State had four score in double figures and were led by Malique Jacobs with 14 points and nine rebounds and Giovanni Santiago with 14 points. 

PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 540-177 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

This season Ohio is 14-1 in the Convo. 

OHIO IN THE NET
Ohio is ranked 97th in the latest NET rankings released on Feb. 21. 

Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 87th.

Meanwhile, CMU is ranked 323rd. 

OHIO IN THE NCAA
The Bobcats rank 10th in the country in turnover margin. 

Mark Sears is 11th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for seventh in free throws made (142-of-157). He is also tied for 25th in the country in points per game. 

OHIO IN THE MAC 
Mark Sears ranks second in the MAC in scoring, second in free throw percentage, fourth 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 (34.8) and seventh in rebounding . 

Meanwhile, Ohio is first in turnover margin (+4.30), fifth in free throw percentage, third in assist/TO ratio (1.20) and first in steals (7.8). 

SEARS AT THE LINE
Mark Sears continues his solid season at the free throw line. The sophomore is shooting 90.4 percent (142-of-157), which ranks him second in the MAC and 10th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for seventh in free throws made.

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

In 25 games, Brown is averaging 6.8 points and is shooting .418 from the field, .361 from three and is .737 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 26 games, Carter is averaging 14.0 points and 6.4 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .464 from the field and .265 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 27 games, Sears is leading Ohio with 19.7 points per game. He is shooting .459 from the field, .419 from three and .904 from the line. 

He also averages 5.5 rebounds, 3.9 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 13.7 points per game. He also averages 6.8 rebounds, while dishing out 3.0 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .454 from the field and .331 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 26 games in the green and white, freshman AJ Clayton has made at least one three in 16 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 3.5 points a game and 10.6 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. 

EZUMA MAKES HIS DEBUT
Freshman IJ Ezuma made his collegiate debut on Monday, Nov. 22 against Mount St. Mary's. 

The forward out of Hargrave played six minutes in his debut. 

Ezuma recorded his first career field goal on Nov. 26 against Concordia. 

Ezuma returned to the court on Dec. 11 at Stetson, playing five minutes while scoring four points, grabbing one rebound and dishing out one assist. 

Ezuma has seen his minutes increase over the last few days. Ezuma now averages 6.7 minutes per game off the bench, while averaging 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds. 

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 6.2 points in 20.3 minutes off the bench. 

UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats close out the home schedule on Friday, Feb. 25 when the Bobcats host Akron on Senior Night. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and will be seen on CBS Sports Network. 

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