ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio men's basketball team (12-11, 4-6 MAC) returned to Athens Saturday afternoon (Feb. 4), defeating Miami (7-16, 1-9 MAC), 78-68, in the 'Battle of the Bricks' inside the Convocation Center. 
 
Ohio was led by junior guard Jaylin Hunter (Manchester, Conn.) 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. Graduate Student forward Dwight Wilson III (Tallahassee, Fla.) added 21 points, going 7-of-10 from the field and 7-of-7 from the line, while also grabbing nine boards. Freshman guard Elmore James (Cleveland, Ohio) added nine points and two steals, while senior guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) 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. 
 
Miami won the tip, but the Bobcats got on the board first with back-to-back layups from James and Wilson III. After Miami tied the game at 4-4, a three from Hunter, two free throws from Wilson III and a jumper from Brown put Ohio up 11-6 going into the first media timeout. Out of the timeout, a free throw from Brown and a dunk from sophomore forward AJ Clayton (Roseville, Ohio) helped give Ohio a 14-9 lead with 11:32 left in the half. After Miami cut the Ohio lead to two, a layup from senior forward Ben Roderick (Powell, Ohio) put the Bobcats up four, however a three from Miami cut the lead to one. Moments later, Hunter responded with a jumper, putting Ohio up 18-15 at the under-eight media timeout. 
 
Out of the timeout, free throws from Brown and back-to-back layups from Wilson III, increased the Ohio lead to 24-20 going into the final media timeout. Over the final three minutes, Miami was able to capitalize on a few free throws and a jump shot, before a deep three from Hunter gave the Bobcats a 33-29 lead going into the half. 
 
At the half, Ohio shot 39 percent from the field, 17 percent from three and were 7-of-8 from the line, while Miami shot 36 percent from the field, 25 percent from three and were 6-of-9 from the line. Ohio out-rebounded Ohio, 21-18, while Miami dished out five assists to Ohio's three. 
 
Individually, Wilson III led with 10 points and five rebounds, followed by Hunter with eight points, four rebounds and two assists. Brown finished the first half with seven points, and junior center Gabe Wiznitzer (Walhalla, S.C.) added five rebounds. 
 
Miami cut the Ohio lead to two early in the second half, before a jumper from Hunter brought the lead back to four. The two teams traded baskets before driving layups from James and Hunter put Ohio up seven going into the first media timeout. Out of the timeout, both teams again traded baskets, with Hunter and Roderick hitting layups before another three from Hunter put the Bobcats up seven. However, moments later, Miami cut the lead to 53-48 on a layup with 11:09 remaining in the game 
 
Out of the timeout, the Bobcats offense started rolling, with Ohio going on a 9-3 ren that included a Clayton three, free throws from Wiznitzer and Hunter and a driving layup from Hunter that forced Miami to burn a timeout and put Ohio up 62-51 with 7:44 remaining in the game. After Ohio took a 12-ppint lead, Miami cut the Bobcats' lead to nine before free throws from Wilson III put the Bobcats back up 11. After Miami went on to capitalize on free throws to cut the lead to nine once again, a layup from Wilson III gave the Bobcats a 69-58 lead with 3:28 remaining in the game. 
 
Out of the timeout, Miami was able to hit a three to cut the Ohio lead to seven with 2:44 to play. However, Moments later, a thundering dunk from Wilson III and a jumper from Brown put Ohio back up 10 with 1:31 to go. Over the remaining minute, Ohio was able to capitalize on their free throws, with the RedHawks never getting closer than eight points out of the lead, helping that Bobcats seal the 78-68 victory. 
 
For Miami, Mekhi Lairy led with 24 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Morgan Safford added 18 points and five rebounds. 
 
Up next, the Bobcats on back on the road on Tuesday, Feb. 7 when Ohio heads to DeKalb, Ill. to take on Northern Illinois. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET inside the NIU Convocation Center. 
 
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