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ATHENS, Ohio –  The Ohio men's basketball team (8-9, 2-3 MAC) returned to action on Tuesday evening (Jan. 16) defeating Central Michigan (8-9, 3-2 MAC), 73-61 inside the Convocation Center. 

Overall, Ohio shot 46.6 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from three and were 11-of-14 from the line, while Central Michigan shot 40.4 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from three and were 5-of-9 from the line. The Bobcats outrebounded the Chippewas 38-31 and snagged six steals. The Bobcats also forced 12 turnovers against the Chippewas and scored 15 points off them. 

Individually, senior guard Jaylin Hunter (Manchester, Conn.) led with 19 points, five rebounds and eight assists, followed by fifth year guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) with 17 points and one steal. Graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell (Omaha, Neb.) added 13 points, three rebounds and a steal. Sophomore forward Aidan Hadaway (Lafayette, Ga.) added 11 points, five rebounds and one block. 

Central Michigan started hot, winning the tip and finding the bottom of the net first with a three-point jumper. Ohio quickly responded with a layup by Hadaway to cut the score deficit by one point. With 15:58 left in the period, a driving layup from Mitchell and a jumper from Brown, both assisted by Hunter, gave Ohio its first lead of the game 6-3 entering the first media timeout. Ohio continued to grow its offensive lead against Central Michigan with back-to-back layups from Brown and a three-point jumper from Hunter. 

Out of the second media timeout, senior center Gabe Wiznitzer (Walhalla, S.C.) added two points from the line. Ohio's defense kept Central Michigan off the board with an exciting block by sophomore guard Ajay Sheldon (Dublin, Ohio). Strong defense by the Bobcats and a layup by Hadaway assisted by junior forward AJ Clayton (Roseville, Ohio) put the Bobcats ahead of the Chippewas 29-14 entering the final media timeout of the half. Going into the locker room, the Bobcats led against the Chippewas 40-28.

At the half, Ohio shot 53.3 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from three and were 4-of-6 from the line, while Central Michigan shot 37.9 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three and were 1-of-4 from the line. Ohio outrebounded Central Michigan 19-16. 

Individually, Brown led Ohio with 13 points Hadaway, Hunter and Layton all added seven points for the Bobcats. Hadaway and Clayton both added four rebounds. Hunter added five assists. 

Mitchell opened the second half with a three-point jumper followed by a driving layup from Hunter. The Bobcats continued its offensive lead against Chippewas with another three-point jumper by Mitchell and a dunk by Hadaway assisted from Clayton. The Bobcats and Chippewas traded baskets for the next four minutes of play before entering the first media timeout of the half. 

With 9:48 remaining in the half, Sheldon snagged a steal and a layup by Hunter off the turnover. The Bobcats continued to press on defense with another steal by Hadaway and a second-chance layup by Clayton. The Chippewas were able to cut Ohio's lead to 10 with 6:00 remaining in the half. However, both teams kept each other off the scoreboard forcing a score drought until Hunter scored a layup at the 2:29 mark. Ohio secured the win against Central Michigan 73-61.

Up next, Ohio remains in action in Athens on Saturday, Jan. 20, when the Bobcats host the Eastern Michigan Eagles for its Turn it Gold game. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and can be streamed on ESPN+. 

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