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CLEVELAND -- For the second-straight year, the third-seeded Ohio men's basketball team (24-8) will participate in the Mid-American Conference semifinals when they take on No. 2 Kent State (22-9) Friday, March 11. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. 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
• This game is the third matchup between the Bobcats and Flashes this season.
• The Bobcats are 45-32 (.569) all-time in the MAC Tournament  and have captured seven league tournament crowns (1983, 1985, 1994, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2021). 
• Ohio is making its 41st appearance in the MAC Tournament in 2022.
• This is the 153rd all-time meeting between the Bobcats and Flashes. 
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 97-55. 
• The Bobcats and Kent State last met Feb. 18 in Kent, where the Flashes won, 75-52. 
• In the first meeting this season, Ohio defeated Kent State, 80-72 on Jan. 7 in Athens. 
• The Bobcats are 12-15 against the Flashes since the 2009-10 season.
• Ohio last met Kent State in Cleveland in the 2021 MAC Quarterfinals exactly one year ago, with Ohio winning, 85-63.
• Ohio and Kent Stats last met in the MAC Semifinals in 2017, where Ohio fell, 68-66. 
• Ohio and Kent State have met 10 times in MAC Tournament action, with the series even at 5-5.
• Last season, the Bobcats entered the MAC Tournament as the 5th seed and won three games in three days en route to their seventh league title. 
• Ohio's 24 wins is the fifth-most in program history. 
• Mark Sears and Ban Vander Plas were named First Team All-MAC, while Jason Carter was named Third Team All-MAC. 
• 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 lead the MAC in turnover margin at +3.94. 
• Ohio is ranked 11th in the latest NET rankings released on March 10.
•  Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 65.
• Meanwhile, Kent State is ranked 130th. 
• The Bobcats rank 13th in the country in turnover margin. 
• Mark Sears finished the regular season ranked second in the MAC in scoring, first in free throw percentage, fifth in steals and second in minutes. 
•  Mark Sears is ninth in the country in free throw percentage and fifth in free throws made (165-of-181). He is also tied for 33rd in the country in points per game. 

SCOUTING No. 2 KENT STATE
No. 2 Kent State enters the matchup with the Bobcats with a 22-9 record and has won 13-in a row after defeating No. 7 Miami, 85-75 in the MAC Quarterfinals Thursday evening. 

As a team, Kent State averages 71.7 points a game, while shooting 44.0 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from three and 74.8 percent from the line. The Flashes average 36.1 rebounds, 12.5 assists and 7.4 steals a game. Kent State also averages 3.5 blocks a game and turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times a game. 

Opponents average 64.5 points and are shooting 40.5 percent from the field, 30.2 percent from three and 70.4 percent from the line. Kent State's opponents also average 32.1 rebounds and 11.6 assists per game, while adding 6.3 steals and 2.5 blocks. Opponents also turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times a game. 

Individually, MAC Player of the Year, Sincere Carry, averages 18.6 points a game while shooting 44.3 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from three and averages 4.5 rebounds a game. Malique Jacobs adds 12.3 points and is shooting 39.2 percent from the field and averages 7.7 boards. Giovanni Santiago adds 8.8 points a game and is shooting 38.5 percent from the field. 

SCOUTING No. 3 OHIO
No. 3 Ohio enters the matchup with No. 2 Kent State with a 24-8 record overall after defeating No. 6 Ball State, 77-67 in the MAC Quarterfinals. 

The Bobcats average 74.3 points a game, while shooting .431 from the field, .340 from three and .737 from the line. The Bobcats grab 34.4 rebounds a game, while dishing out an average of 13.1 assists and registering 7.6 steals a game. Ohio is averaging 10.5 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 67.4 points a game, while shooting .440 from the field, .312 from three and .757 from the line. Opponents are averaging 34.8 rebounds, 11.0 assists and 14.5 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Ohio is led by guard Mark Sears who is averaging 19.5 points a game, while shooting .448 from the field, .420 from three and .905 from the line. Forward Jason Carter is adding 13.8 points and 6.7 rebounds a game, while forward Ben Vander Plas is averaging 13.9 points a game, 6.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists. 

ALL-TIME IN THE MAC TOURNAMENT
The Bobcats are 45-32 (.569) all-time in the MAC Tournament  and have captured seven league tournament crowns (1983, 1985, 1994, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2021). 

Ohio is making its 41st appearance in the MAC Tournament in 2022.

ALL TIME VS. KENT STATE
This is the 153rd all-time meeting between the Bobcats and Flashes. 

Ohio leads the all-time series, 97-55. 

The Bobcats and Kent State last met Feb. 18 in Kent, where the Flashes won, 75-52. 

In the first meeting this season, Ohio defeated Kent State, 80-72 on Jan. 7 in Athens.

The Bobcats are 12-15 against the Flashes since the 2009-10 season.

ALL TIME VS. KENT STATE IN MAC TOURNAMENT
Ohio last met Kent State in Cleveland in the 2021 MAC Quarterfinals exactly one year ago, with Ohio winning, 85-63.

Ohio and Kent Stats last met in the MAC Semifinals in 2017, where Ohio fell, 68-66. 

Ohio and Kent State have met 10 times in MAC Tournament action, with the series even at 5-5.

A MARCH TO REMEMBER
Last season, the Bobcats entered the MAC Tournament as the 5th seed and won three games in three days en route to their seventh league title. 

The Bobcats defeated Kent State in the quarterfinals, Toledo in the semis and Buffalo in the finals. 

Jason Preston was named the MAC Tournament MVP.

Ohio then entered the NCAA Tournament as the 13th seed and defeated No. 4 Virginia before falling to No. 5 Creighton. 

ALL-MAC HONORS
Three members of the Ohio men's basketball team were named to the 2022 All-MAC Teams. 

Mark Sears and Ben Vander Plas earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team, while Jason Carter was named to the All-MAC Third Team. 

LAST TIME AGAINST KENT STATE
The Bobcats and Kent State last met Feb. 18 in Kent, where the Flashes won, 75-52. 

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. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Bobcats are coming off of a 77-67 victory over No. 6 Ball State in the MAC Quarterfinals Thursday (March 10) night. 

Overall, Ohio shot 43.5% from the field, 39.3% from beyond the arc, and went 12 of 16 from the charity stripe. The Bobcats' defense was able to limit Ball State's offense to just 35.3% shooting  overall and 33.3% from three. Ohio outrebounded the Cardinals 48-38. 

Carter finished the game with a double-double, scoring 20 points to go along with his 18 boards. Sophomore Mark Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) led the Bobcats in scoring with 24 points on 7 of 15 shooting from the field, and recorded Ohio's second double-double of the game, finishing with 10 rebounds. Ben Vander Plas (Ripon, Wis.) and Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) joined the double-digit scoring party, finishing with 14 and 13 points respectively. 

Ball State was led by Payton Sparks, who finished with a double-double of his own, scoring 20 points and securing 14 rebounds. Tyler Cochran also scored in double figures, contributing 16 points. 

OHIO IN THE NET
Ohio is ranked 11th in the latest NET rankings released on March 10.

Ohio is the second-highest-ranked MAC school, behind Toledo at 65.

Meanwhile, Kent State is ranked 130th. 

OHIO IN THE NCAA
The Bobcats rank 13th in the country in turnover margin. 

Mark Sears is ninth in the country in free throw percentage and fifth in free throws made (165-of-181). He is also tied for 33rd in the country in points per game. 

CARTER REBOUNDS TO CAREER HIGH
Jason Carter continued to create new career highs late in his career. 

On March 10 against No. 6 Ball State in the MAC Quarterfinals, Carter grabbed a career0high 18 rebounds in the 77-67 victory. 

BVP TRIPLE DOUBLE
On Feb. 22 against CMU, Ben Vander Plas recorded his first career triple double, scoring 10 point, grabbed 10 boards and dished out 10 assists. 

It is the fourth triple double in men's basketball history (DJ Cooper(1), Jason Preston (2)).

It is overall the sixth triple double in Ohio basketball history with women's basketball players CeCe Hooks and Erica Johnson who each have one. 

ACADEMIC ALL DISTRICT
Ben Vander Plas has been named 2020-21 Academic All-District® Men's Basketball Team, selected by CoSIDA, the organization announced (Feb. 17). It is the third-straight year that Vander Plas has been named to the District 5 list.

Vander Plas  who was selected as one of six honorees in District 5, is working on his MS in Management and currently sports 3.96 GPA.

First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team (if applicable) Academic All-America® honorees will be announced March 15. 

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

In 30 games, Brown is averaging 7.1 points and is shooting .420 from the field, .387 from three and is .732 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. 

On March 10 in the MAC Quarters, Brown hit three made threes in the first half of the 77-67 victory. 

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 31 games, Carter is averaging 13.8 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. He is also shooting .468 from the field and .247 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. 

Named All-MAC Third Team. 

On March 10 against No. 6 Ball State in the MAC Quarterfinals, Carter grabbed a career0high 18 rebounds in the 77-67 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 32 games, Sears is leading Ohio with 19.5 points per game. He is shooting .448 from the field, .420 from three and .905 from the line. 

He also averages 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.6 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.

On March 10 against No. 6 Ball State in the MAC Quarterfinals,Sears scored 224 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the double double. 

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 second on the team in scoring with 13.9 points per game. He also averages 6.7 rebounds, while dishing out 3.0 assists a game. Vander Plas is shooting .457 from the field and .346 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. 

BVP recorded his first career triple double on Feb. 22 against CMU, scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out 10 assists. 

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 remainder of the season. Ezuma now averages 7.0 minutes per game off the bench, while averaging 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds. 

SIXTH MAN SCHMOCK
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 6.8 points in 21.4 minutes off the bench. 

Schmock continues to see is production increase over the last few weeks, with the best game of his DI career coming on Feb. 22. In the game, Schmock scored 23 points and bagged seven threes in the victory. 

UP NEXT
With a win, the Bobcats will take on the winner of No. 1 Toledo and No. 4 Akron in the MAC Championship game on Saturday, March 12. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2. 

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