ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (18-3, 9-1 MAC) returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 5 for its third of six games in 12 days when they host Western Michigan (4-18, 0-11 MAC) in a Sibs Weekend matchup. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. inside the Convocation Center. The Bobcats matchup will be seen on ESPN3 where Marty Bannister and Jim Scoby 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
• 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 81-68 victory over Eastern Michigan on Thursday 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 138th all-time meeting between Ohio and Western Michigan.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 71-66.
• The Bobcats and Broncos last met on Jan. 1, 2022 in Kalamazoo, with the Bobcats getting the 58-47 victory.  
• The Bobcats are 9-7 against the Broncos since the 2011-12 season.
• The Bobcats 18-3 record through 21 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 +3.62. 
• Ohio is ranked 77th in the latest NET rankings released on Feb. 4. 
• Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 62.
• Meanwhile, WMU is ranked 342.  
• The Bobcats ranked 45th 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 third in minutes. 
•  Mark Sears is 14th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for 7th in free throws made (114-of-126). He is also 29th in the country in points per game. 
• The Bobcats are currently 12-1 this season in the Convo. 
• Ohio has registered an impressive 538-177 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

SCOUTING WESTERN MICHIGAN
Western Michigan enters the matchup with Ohio with a 4-18 record and an 0-11 mark in MAC play after falling to Central Michigan, 65-55 on Feb. 3. 

As a team, WMU averages 65.1 points a game, while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 31.9 percent from three and 68.8 percent from the line. The Broncos average 32.5 rebounds, 10.1 assists and 5.5 steals a game. WMU also averages 2.1 blocks a game and turn the ball over an average of 10.7 times a game. 

Opponents average 77.3 points and are shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from three and 72.3 percent from the line. WMU's opponents also average 35.1 rebounds and 13.7 assists per game, while adding 7.9 steals and 3.8 blocks. Opponents also turn the ball over an average of 10.7 times a game. 

Individually, Lamar Norman, Jr. averages 19.8 points a game, while shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three. Mack Smith adds 7.4points and 3.7 boards a game, while shooting 39.0 percent from the field, while Markeese Hastings adds 9.0 points and 8.8 rebounds a game, while shooting 49.7 percent from the field. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Western Michigan with an 18-3 record overall and an 9-1 record in MAC play after defeating Eastern Michigan, 81-68, on Thursday in Athens. 

The Bobcats average 74.9 points a game, while shooting .441 from the field, .339 from three and .755 from the line. The Bobcats grab 34.5 rebounds a game, while dishing out an average of 12.9 assists and registering 7.8 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 11.1 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 66.1 points a game, while shooting .434 from the field, .309 from three and .778 from the line. Opponents are averaging 33.7 rebounds, 11.0 assists and 14.7 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 19.6 points a game, while shooting .479 from the field, .411 from three and .905 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 14.7 points and 7.0 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 13.2 points a game and 6.6 rebounds. 

ALL TIME VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN
This is the 138th all-time meeting between Ohio and Western Michigan.

Ohio leads the all-time series, 71-66.

The Bobcats and Broncos last met on Jan. 1, 2022 in Kalamazoo, with the Bobcats getting the 58-47 victory.  

The Bobcats are 9-7 against the Broncos since the 2011-12 season.

LAST TIME AGAINST WMU
The Bobcats defeated WMU, 59-47 on Jan. 1 in Kalamazoo. 

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. 

LAST TIME OUT
A balanced scoring attack by the Bobcats' offense helped Ohio (18-3, 9-1) tie the program record for the best start to a season on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 3). The Bobcats defeated Eastern Michigan (8-13, 3-7) by a score of 81-68 inside the Convocation Center, moving to 12-1 at home and giving Ohio their fourth win in a row.

The Bobcats had four players score in double figures, led by Mark Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.), who finished with 20 points. Ben Roderick (Powell, Ohio) returned to the lineup and scored 19 points, Jason Carter (Johnstown, Ohio) poured in 17, and Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) contributed 15. On the glass, the Bobcats were paced by Sears, who had a team-high six rebounds while also dishing out a team-leading five assists.  

Eastern Michigan was led by Nate Scott who finished with 16 points on 7 for 11 shooting from the field, and Bryce McBride who contributed 14 points and played 31 minutes off of the bench. The Eagles' leading rebounders were Mo Njie and Scott, who both grabbed six boards apiece.

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 538-177 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

OHIO IN THE NET
Ohio is ranked 77th in the latest NET rankings released on Feb. 4. 

Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 62.

Meanwhile, WMU is ranked 342.  

OHIO IN THE NCAA
The Bobcats ranked 45th in the country in free throw percentage and 30th in the country in turnover margin. 

Mark Sears is 14th in the country in free throw percentage and tied for 7th in free throws made (114-of-126). He is also 29th 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 third in minutes. 

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

Ben Vander Plas is fourth in the league in minutes played (34.2).

Meanwhile, Ohio is first in turnover margin (+3.62), fifth in free throw percentage, third in assist/TO ratio (1.17) 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 90.5 percent (114-of-126), which ranks him second in the MAC and  124h in the country in free throw percentage and tied for 7th in free throws made.

Meanwhile, in the last 11 games, Sears is 84-of-91 from the line, including going 10-of-10 against USC Upstate, Marshall and Bowling Green and 11-of-12 against NIU. 

DOMINATING DEFENSE
Since the Bobcats' loss to Toledo on Jan. 21, the Bobcats defense has been suffocating. 

The Bobcats are holding opponents to 61.5 point a game and are holding them to .264 from three. 

Meanwhile, Ohio is averaging 79.0 points a game and are shooting 46.7 percent from the field, while averaging 36.5 rebounds a game. 

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

In 19 games, Brown is averaging 7.0 points and is shooting .438 from the field, .391 from three and is .696 from the line. 

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

BROD BACK
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 21 games, Carter is averaging 14.7 points and 7.0 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .463 from the field and .254 from three.

He also had 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 21 game, Sears is leading Ohio with 19.6 points per game. He is shooting .479 from the field, .411 from three and .905 from the line. 

He also averages 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 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. 

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 13.2 points per game. He also averages 6.6 rebounds, while dishing out 2.9 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .455 from the field and .361 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 20 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 3.9 points a game and 11.0 minutes. 

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

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

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. 

This season. Schmock is averaging 5.0 points in 18.7 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 2.7 points and 12.1 minutes.

Towns grabbed a career-high nine rebounds on Jan. 18 at Miami. 

Towns earned his first career start on Jan. 28 at Buffalo. He had his second career start on Feb. 1 against Ball State. 

UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats hit the road for three-straight games, starting Tuesday, Feb. 8 when they take on Toledo. Tip-off is set to 7 p.m. inside Savage Arena. 

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