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ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (17-11, 8-6 MAC) returns to action on Saturday, Feb, 25 when they head to Oxford, Ohio to take on Miami (10-18, 4-11 MAC). Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. inside Millett Hall. The Bobcats matchup will be seen on ESPN3.
The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield. Russ Eisenstein returns for his 15th season as the "Voice of the Bobcats" and will be joined by Ohio alum Rob Cornlius, 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
• Ohio is coming off a 77-68 win against Northern Illinois on Tuesday in Athens, earning Ohio its sixth-straight win.
• With their win, the Bobcats have clinched a spot to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament for the fourth-straight year.
• This is the 212th all-time meeting between Ohio and Miami.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 117-94.
• Ohio and Miami met on Feb. 4 in Athens, with Ohio winning, 78-68.
• The Bobcats and Miami met twice last season, with Ohio winning both matchups.
• The Bobcats took the first game, 86-63 at Miami, before defeating them a month later, 91-78, inside the Convo.
• Ohio is 23-6 against Miami since 2009-10, while the Bobcats are 6-0 against the RedHawks under Jeff Boals.
• Ohio has registered an impressive 553-179 (.756) all-time record at the Co1vocation Center, which opened in 1968.
• Ohio is 13-1 in the Convo this season.
• Last season Ohio finished 15-2 in the Convo.
• Ben Roderick was named to the 2022-23 Academic All-District® Men's Basketball Team, selected by College Sports Communicators, the organization announced Feb. 21.
• Dwight Wilson III recorded his 1,000th career rebound on Feb, 21 against NIU, making him the fourth Bobcat in program history to record 1,000 career rebounds and the fourth to have at least 1,000 points and a 1,000 rebounds.
• Ohio is ranked 135th in the latest NET Rankings, with Miami ranked 309.
• In the NCAA, Ohio ranks 42nd in total rebounds per game, 94th in defensive rebounds per game and 51st in offensive rebounds per game.
• Ohio also ranks 26th in three point percentage, 48th in three pointers made and 33rd in scoring offense. The Bobcats also rank 44th in bench points per game.
• Dwight Wilson III is 12th in the NCAA in field goal percentage, 14th in offensive rebounds per game and 27th in rebounds per game. He also ranks 33rd in double doubles, 59th in field goals and 34th in total rebounds.
• Jaylin Hunter is 85th in the NCAA in assists and 90th in assist/TO ratio.
• Dwight Wilson III leads the MAC in field goal percentage and is third in rebounding, while Miles Brown ranks second in the league in three-point field goal percentage.
• Jaylin Hunter is third in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio.
SCOUTING MIAMI
Miami enters the matchup with Ohio with an 10-18 record and a 4-11 mark in MAC play and is coming off a 74-65 win over Bowling Green on Tuesday.
Overall, Miami averages 73.5 points a game, while shooting .452 from the field, .334 from three and .777 from the line. Miami also averages 32.1 rebounds a game, 14.0 assists and 6.2 steals a game. Miami also forces 13.7 turnovers a game.
Meanwhile, Opponents average 74.9 points and 34.1 rebounds a game. Opponents also shoot .466 from the field, .348 from three and .727 from the line. Opponents also dish out 13.1 assists and grab 7.7 steals a game, while also forcing 13.8 turnovers a game.
Individually, Mekhi Lairy averages 17.2 while shooting .462 from the field and .927 from the line, while dishing out four assists a game. Morgan Safford adds 15.1 points and 6.0 rebounds a game, while shooting .482 from the field, and Anderson Mirambeaaux adds 14.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and is shooting .540 from the field.
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Miami with a 17-11 record and a 9-6 mark in MAC play after defeating NIU, 77-68 Tuesday night in Athens.
As a team, Ohio is averaging 78.6 points and 37.7 rebounds a game, while opponents average 72.7 points and 34.7 rebounds a game. The Bobcats are also shooting .462 from the field, .375 from three and .724 from the line. Ohio also adds 13.0 assists, 6.4 steals and force 12.2 turnovers a game.
Opponents are shooting .440 from the field, .341 from three and .667 from the line, while dishing out 12.4 assists, 6.1 steals and 11.3 turnovers a game.
Individually, Dwight Wilson III leads Ohio with 15.9 points a game, while shooting .628 from the field, while also averaging 9.3 rebounds a game. Jaylin Hunter adds 12.6 points and 4.4 assists a game, while Miles Brown adds 10.8 points a game.
ALL TIME VS. MIAMI
This is the 212th all-time meeting between Ohio and Miami.
Ohio leads the all-time series, 117-94.
Ohio and Miami met on Feb. 4 in Athens, with Ohio winning, 78-68.
The Bobcats and Miami met twice last season, with Ohio winning both matchups.
The Bobcats took the first game, 86-63 at Miami, before defeating them a month later, 91-78, inside the Convo.
Ohio is 23-6 against Miami since 2009-10, while the Bobcats are 6-0 against the RedHawks under Jeff Boals.
LAST TIME AGAINST MIAMI
Ohio and Miami met on Feb. 4, 2023 in Athens, with Ohio winning, 78-68.
Ohio was led by Jaylin Hunter who tied his career-high with 23 points, going 8-of-12 from the field, 3-of-5 from three and 4-of-4 from the line, while also grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out four assists. Dwight Wilson III added 21 points, going 7-of-10 from the field and 7-of-7 from the line, while also grabbing nine boards. Elmore James added nine points and two steals, while Miles Brown also added nine points.
Overall, Ohio shot 44.8 percent from the field, 22.2 percent from three and were 22-of-25 from the line, while Miami shot 40 percent from the field, 26.1 percent from three and were 18-of-25 from the line. Ohio out-rebounded Miami, 36-33, while Miami dished out nine assists to Ohio's eight. The Bobcats also forced 11 turnovers and recorded five steals in the win.
For Miami, Mekhi Lairy led with 24 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Morgan Safford added 18 points and five rebounds.
DJ IS MR. 1,000
Dwight Wilson III recorded his 1,000th career rebound on Feb, 21 against NIU, making him the fourth Bobcat in program history to record 1,000 career rebounds and the fourth to have at least 1,000 points and a 1,000 rebounds.
OHIO IN NET
Ohio is ranked 135th in the latest NET Rankings, with Miami ranked 309.
OHIO IN NCAA
In the NCAA, Ohio ranks 42nd in total rebounds per game, 94th in defensive rebounds per game and 51st in offensive rebounds per game.
Ohio also ranks 26th in three point percentage, 48th in three pointers made and 33rd in scoring offense. The Bobcats also rank 44th in bench points per game.
Dwight Wilson III is 12th in the NCAA in field goal percentage, 14th in offensive rebounds per game and 27th in rebounds per game. He also ranks 33rd in double doubles, 59th in field goals and 34th in total rebounds.
Jaylin Hunter is 85th in the NCAA in assists and 90th in assist/TO ratio.
MAC RANKINGS
Dwight Wilson III leads the MAC in field goal percentage and is third in rebounding, while Miles Brown ranks second in the league in three-point field goal percentage.
Jaylin Hunter is third in the MAC in assist/turnover ratio.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE
Ohio has registered an impressive 553-179 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
Ohio is 13-1 in the Convo this season.
Last season Ohio finished 15-2 in the Convo.
DJ ALL-TIME MARKS
As Dwight Wilson III's career begins to wind down, he is looking at cementing his mark in a number of spots in the Ohio record book.
Currently, Wilson III has an Ohio career .640 field goal percentage, which will cement his as Ohio's all-time leader in field goal percentage.
He recorded his 1,000th career rebound on Feb, 21 against NIU, making him the fourth Bobcat in program history to record 1,000 career rebounds and the fourth to have at least 1,000 points and a 1,000 rebounds.
AJ BROWN MAKES A STATEMENT
Freshman guard AJ Brown showed the type of talent Ohio could see over the next four years against UC Clermont, where he scored a game-high 18 points, went 7-of-11 from the field and dished out four assists in the victory.
As AJ Brown continues to see more minutes, he continues to get more comfortable, with a stellar game on Dec. 11 at Youngstown State where he scored 16 points, while going 6-of-8 from the field.
He was also stellar off the bench against Florida, scoring a team-high 14 points in 24 minutes.
Brown made his first career start on Dec. 17 against Stetson, scoring 13 points, grabbed four rebounds and drained three 3-pointers.
On Dec. 21 at Delaware, Brown was efficient, scoring 14 points, going 5-of-9 from the field, 2-of-2 from three and grabbed a career-high five boards.
AJ Brown had a bounce back game on Jan. 24 against WMU, scoring 16 points, going 6-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 from the line, while also grabbing four rebounds.
Brown built on that at Akron the following game, scoring 15 points.
So far this season, Brown is averaging 9.6 points a game and is shooting .418 from the field.
HUNTER FINDING A GROOVE
Junior guard Jaylin Hunter started to find his groove in the Green and White.
On Dec. 11 at Youngstown State, Hunter led the Bobcats with 17 points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals in the victory.
Hunter led Ohio against Cleveland State, scoring 17 points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out seven assists in the victory.
Hunter is had a career-high 23-point performance against Ball State on Jan. 10. Hunter finished the game, 7-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from three, while also going 5-of-6 from the line.
Hunter put together a solid game at Akron on Jan. 28, scoring a team-leading 16 points, while going 4-of-10 from three and dishing out five assists.
Hunter was solid at EMU on Jan. 31, scoring 22 points, going 8-of-16 from the field and hitting a new career-high of five threes.
Hunter tied his career-high on Feb. 4 against Miami, scoring 23 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists in the win.
Hunter was stellar on Feb. 7 at NIU, scoring 19 points, while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists
Hunter registered a new career-high on Feb. 10 against Akron with 25 points.
Hunter set a new season high with six assists in Ohio's win at CMU on Feb. 18.
On Feb 21 against NIU, Hunter dished out a season-tying seven assists to go along with 16 points in the win.
As of Feb. 20, Hunter averages 12.6 points and 4.4 assists a game, while shooting .438 from the field.
BROWN SETTING UP FOR CAREER YEAR
Senior guard Miles Brown is already on pace to set new marks in his fourth season in the Green and White.
After a solid game at Belmont, Brown was clutch against Cleveland State, scoring 14 points and going a perfect 6-of-6 from the line in the victory.
Brown was also solid against No. 20 Michigan, scoring 11 points and grabbing a season-hight nine rebounds.
He was back in action during the Bobcat battle where he averaged 16.0 points and set and matched a career-high four made threes before being named the tournament MVP.
Brown set another career-high on Jan. 3 at Buffalo, scoring a personal best 24 points. Brown went 7-of-16 from the field, 4-of-7 from three and was 6-of-6 from the line.
Brown reset his career high on Jan. 21, scoring 27 points and hitting six made threes.
Brown helped the Bobcats to victory Feb. 7 at NIU, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds in 32 minutes on the court.
Brown went 4-for-5 from three on Feb. 18 at CMU in the Bobcats' victory.
Brown averages 10.8 points and 3.3 rebounds a game, while shooting .463 from three, .460 from the field and .724 from the line.
WELCOME BACK DJ
In his return to the court after missing all of last season due to a knee injury, Dwight Wilson III put on a show.
Wilson III finished the game with a game-high 20 points, going 8-of-10 from the field and 4of-4 from the line. He also grabbed eight rebounds in 24 minutes of action.
He then put on a show at No. 20 Michigan, scoring 21 points and grabbing nine boards.
Wilson III was the hero on Dec. 11 at YSU, hitting the buzzer beater to give Ohio the victory. In that game, he scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Wilson III recorded another 20-point performance on Dec. 17 against Stetson, scoring 20 points, while going 8-of-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from the line.
Wilson III was clutch in Ohio's win at Delaware on Dec. 21, scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Wilson III added another double double on Dec. 30, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against Chicago State.
Dwight Wilson III is coming off a stellar game at Bowling Green on Jan. 7, scoring 17 points and grabbing 17 rebounds - just one off his career high. He followed that up with a 22 point and 10 rebound performance against Ball State on Jan. 10.
Wilson III added to his career achievement on Jan. 13, scoring a career-high 27 points against Kent State. Wilson III went 9-of-11 from the field and was 9-of-10 from the line.
Wilson III continued to build on his career year on Tuesday, setting anew career-high with 31 points, while grabbing 11 rebounds. Wilson III went 13-of-16 from the field and 5-of-7 from the line in the victory.
Wilson III added another double double to his career total at EMU on Jan. 31, scoring 23 points, while going 10-of-12 from the field and grabbing 12 rebounds.
Wilson III was another force on Feb. 4 against Miami, scoring 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
On Feb. 21 against NIU, not only did Wilson III record his 1,000 career rebound, he also led the Bobcats with 24 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
Wilson III has continued to dominate, averaging 15.9 points and 9.3 rebounds a game, while shooting .629 from the field.
BROD'S NEW ROLE
After starting every game last season, senior Ben Roderick is fitting in with his new role off the bench.
Roderick returned to the starting lineup during the second week of MAC play.
Roderick was named CSC Academic All-District on Feb. 21.
This season, Roderick averages 5.1 points, while shooting .369 from the field and .400 from three, while also recording a .667 shooting percentage from the line in 18.8 minutes a game.
QUIET YET MIGHTY
Freshman guard Elmore James responded well in the Bobcats' game against Cleveland State.
James scored eight points, while going 3-of-4 from the field and hitting both of his free throws. James also added one steal and drew a foul in his nine minutes of action.
James was stellar on Nov. 30 against UC Clermont, scoring 16 points and going 8-of-12 from the field and grabbed three rebounds in the win.
James put together a career-high 21 point performance in Jan. 17 at Toledo, going 8-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from three and 3-of-4 from the line.
James made his first career start on Jan. 21 against CMU and has stayed in the starting lineup since.
James was solid on Feb. 7 at NIU, scoring 13 points, while going 5-of-6 from the line.
James was stellar on Feb. 14 against Buffalo, leading the Bobcats with 15 points.
So far this season, James is averaging 6.4 points and is shooting .517 in 14.3 minutes off the bench.
SLASH FITTING RIGHT IN
Sophomore AJ Clayton is taking advantage of his new roll.
After grabbing a career-high nine rebounds at Belmont to open the season, Clayton added on, scoring a career-high 15 points at Detroit Mercy on Wednesday.
Clayton was consistent again on Dec. 11 at YSU, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
Clayton scored a career-high 23 points on Dec. 21 at Delaware, and went 9-for-9 from the line in the victory. Clayton led Ohio against on Dec. 30, scoring 13 points and grabbing six rebounds against Chicago State.
In his first game on the bench, Clayton recorded a career-high four made threes against Ball State on Jan. 10.
Clayton led the Bobcats at CMU on Feb, 18, scoring 18 points and hitting four threes in Ohio's victory.
This season, Clayton averages 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds a game.
BAKER STARTING TO COOK
Senior guard DeVon Baker has continued to get into the flow of the Green and White.
After opening the season with a 16-point performance at Belmont, Baker seemed to get on track again at YSU on Dec. 11, scoring 15 points.
Despite dropping out of the starting lineup, Baker was a playmaker against Stetson on Dec. 17, scoring 12 points, going 5-of-8 from the field, 1-of-1 from three in 18 minutes.
Baker was stellar on Feb. 14 against Buffalo, scoring 11 points in 18 minutes on the floor.
Baker was important to Ohio's win at CMU on Feb, 18, scoring 11 points, going 4-of-5 from the field, 1-of-1 from three and 2-of-2 from the line, while grabbing three rebounds.
Baker has continued to make the most of his minutes this season, averaging 6.5 points, while shooting .366 from the field.
RODERICK NAMED CSC ACADEMIC ALL DISTRICT
Ohio men's basketball senior forward Ben Roderick was named to the 2022-23 Academic All-District® Men's Basketball Team, selected by College Sports Communicators, the organization announced Feb. 21.
Roderick, a sport management major sports a 3.578 GPA and it is his first time earning the honor.
UP NEXT
Up next, Ohio is back on the road on Tuesday, Feb. 28 when they head to Kent, Ohio to take on Kent State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the M.A.C. Center.
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