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ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (9-10, 3-4 MAC) is back in action on Friday, Jan. 26 when Ohio head to Kent, Ohio to take on Kent State (10-9, 3-4 MAC). Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. inside the M.A.C. Center. The game can be seen on CBS Sports Network where Fran Charles and Jordan Cornette will have the call. 

The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield. Russ Eisenstein returns for his 16th 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
• This is the 156th all-time meeting between Ohio and Kent State.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 97-58.
• Ohio is 12-19 against Kent State since 2009-10, while the Bobcats are 3-6 against the Flashes under Jeff Boals.  
• The Bobcats and Kent State met twice last season, with the Flashes winning both games. 
• Ohio has not won at Kent State since Jan. 8, 2014. 
• Ohio is ranked 192nd in the latest NET Ranking as of Jan. 22.
• Ohio is ranked 29th in the nation in turnover margin and are 71st in assist/turnover ratio and 75th in turnovers forced per game. 
• The Bobcats are also 91st in the country in scoring offense.
• Individually, AJ Clayton is 59th in the NCAA in blocks per game and 56th in blocks. 
• Jaylin Hunter ranks 70th in assists per game and 66th in total assists. 
• The MAC and Sun Belt announced the second matchups for the MAC-SBC Challenge on Jan. 22, with Ohio heading to Jonesboro, Ark. on Saturday, Feb. 10 to take on Arkansas State. 
• Sophomore Aidan Hadaway scored a career-high 20 points on Jan. 20 against EMU. 
• Fifth year guard Miles Brown has a season-high 17 points against CMU on Jan. 16. 
• AJ Clayton tied his career-high in points on Jan. 6 against NIU, scoring 23, 19 of which came in the second half. 
• Sophomore guard Ajay Sheldon scored a career-high 13 points and hit a career-high four three-pointers on Jan. 2 against Toledo. 
• Sophomore guard Elmore James tied his career high with 21 points Delaware on Dec. 2. He then recorded a career-high 10 rebounds on Dec. 6 and recorded his first career double double. 
• Graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell recorded a career-high in points twice while in The Bahamas, scoring 23 points against GW on Nov. 24, before setting the new mark of 24 points on Nov. 26 against Brown. 

SCOUTING KENT STATE
Kent State is 10-9 and 3-4 in MAC play after defeating Bowling Green in overtime Tuesday night. 

Overall, Kent State averages 78.5 points a game, while shooting .455 from the field, .369 from three and .760 from the line. Kent State also averages 34.4 rebounds a game, 13.2 assists and 7.3 steals a game. Kent State also forces 14.4 turnovers a game. 

Meanwhile, Opponents average 74.6 points and 33.9 rebounds a game. Opponents also shoot .459 from the field, .349 from three and .697 from the line. Opponents also dish out 13.8 assists and grab 6.8 steals a game, while also forcing 12.5 turnovers a game. 

Individually, Jalen Sullinger averages 15.2mpoints and 2.4 rebounds a game, while shooting .447 from the field, .404 from three and .871 from the line. Chris Payton, Jr. adds 13.9 points and 7.8 boards a game, while shooting /514 from the field. VonCameron Davis averages 12.6 points and is shooting .497 from the field, while grabbing 4.7 rebounds a contest. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the matchup with Kent State with a 9-10 overall record and a 3-4 mark in MAC play after falling to Akron on the road on Tuesday night.

Overall, Ohio is averaging 77.9 points per game, while shooting .457 from the field, .345 from three and 70.4 percent from the line. The Bobcats also add 36.1 rebounds, 13.7 assists and 6.4 steals per game, while forcing opponents to turn the ball over 13.7 times a game. 

Meanwhile, Opponents are averaging 71.3 points a game, while shooting .429 from the field, .334 from three and .702 from the line. They also average 35.6 rebounds, 10.7 assists, 5.1 steals and force the Bobcats to turn the ball over an average of 10.0 times a game. 

Individually, Jaylin Hunter leads Ohio with 13.4 points and 4.7 assists a game, while shooting .402 from the field, .250 from three and .759 from the line. Shereef Mitchell adds 13.4 points a game, while shooting .495 from the field, while Elmore James adds 11.7 points and 5.8 boards a game and AJ Clayton contributes 11.5 points while shooting .542 from the field. 

ALL TIME VS. KENT STATE
This is the 156th all-time meeting between Ohio and Kent State.

Ohio leads the all-time series, 97-58.

Ohio is 12-19 against Kent State since 2009-10, while the Bobcats are 3-6 against the Flashes under Jeff Boals.  

The Bobcats and Kent State met twice last season, with the Flashes winning both games. 

Ohio has not won at Kent State since Jan. 8, 2014. 

LAST TIME VS. KENT STATE
The Bobcats and Kent State last met on Feb. 28 in Kent State, with the Flashes winning, 82-75. 

Overall, Ohio shot 44.1 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from three and 73.3 percent from the line, while Kent State shot 54.4 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three and 75.0 percent from the line, Kent State outrebounded Ohio 32-30, while the Flashes dished out 13 assists to Ohio's eight. 
 
Individually, Jaylin Hunter led Ohio with 14 points, followed by Miles Brown with 11 points and six rebounds. AJ Clayton scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds, while DeVon Baker scored nine points, as did Ben Roderick. Dwight Wilson III scored seven points and grabbed eight boards. 

For Kent State, Sincere Carry led with 23 points and five rebounds, while Chris Payton added 15 points and nine rebounds. Malique Jacobs added 15 points and five assists. 

OHIO IN NET
Ohio is ranked 192nd in the latest NET Ranking as of Jan. 24.

OHIO IN NCAA
Ohio is ranked 29th in the nation in turnover margin and are 71st in assist/turnover ratio and 75th in turnovers forced per game. 

The Bobcats are also 91st in the country in scoring offense.

Individually, AJ Clayton is 59th in the NCAA in blocks per game and 56th in blocks. 

Jaylin Hunter ranks 70th in assists per game and 66th in total assists.

OHIO IN THE MAC
Jaylin Hunter is tied for second in the MAC in assists, second in assist/TO ratio and eighth in steals. 

AJ Clayton is first in the MAC in blocks and second in blocks per game. He is also fifth in field goal percentage. 

Ajay Sheldon is second in the MAC in three-point shooting percentage. 

MAC-SBC CHALLENGE ROUND TWO
The MAC and Sun Belt announced the second matchups for the MAC-SBC Challenge on Jan. 22, with Ohio heading to Jonesboro, Ark. on Saturday, Feb. 10 to take on Arkansas State.

CAREER DAY FOR HADAWAY
Hadaway had a career night on Jan. 20 in Ohio's win over EMU. Hadaway scored a career-high 20 points, while going 3-for-3 from three and 8-of-10 from the field. 

JAYLIN ON THE HUNT
Senior guard Jaylin Hunter is looking to make the most out of his final season. 

In the season opener, Hunter was effective with the ball, dishing out four assists and going a perfect 8-for-8 from the line. 

He then had a 13-point performance at Cleveland State on Nov. 11. 

Hunter recorded his 1,000th career point on Nov. 18 against Detroit Mercy. 

Hunter also recorded his first career double double in the Detroit Mercy game with the help of a career-high 10 rebounds and 14 points. 

Hunter had a stellar Nassau Championship Nov. 24-26. On Against GW, Hunter scored a season-high 25 points, going 9-of-22 from the field , while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out five assists. 

He added a 19 point performance on Nov. 25 against MTSU, before closing out the tournament with 21 points and eight rebounds against Brown. 

Hunter added a solid game against Delaware on Dec. 2, scoring 15 points, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists in the win. 

He followed that up with a 19-point and five-assist night on Dec. 9 against Marshall. 
On Jan. 6 against NIU, Hunter scored 20 points, going 5-of-8 from the field, 2-of-2 from three and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the line. He also led Ohio with eight rebounds and six assists in the win. 

Hunter rebounded from a rough couple games on Jan. 16 when he led the Bobcats with 19 points in their win over CMU. Hunter also dished out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds in the win. 

Hunter followed by that performance with a 14-point performance in Ohio's win over EMU, where he also added five rebounds and dished out five assists. 

Overall, this season Hunter is averaging 13.4 points a game and 4.7 assists per game.

REEF MAKES MOST OF NEW HOME
Graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell's offensive power showed up at the Nassau Championship Nov. 24-26. 

On Nov. 24 in a double OT loss to George Washington, Mitchell scored a career-high 23 points, going 8-of-15 form the field, 3-of7 from three and grabbed seven rebounds. 

He then followed up that performance on Nov. 26 with a new career high against Brown, scoring 24 points, while going 7-of-9 from the field and 8-of-11 from the line in the victory.

Mitchell led Ohio on Dec. 6 against Youngstown State, scoring a team-high 17 points and dishing out a season-high four assists. 

Mitchell had a solid game on Jan. 9 at Bowling Green, scoring 17 points, recording two blocks and grabbing four rebounds. 

On Jan. 16 against CMU, Mitchell scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds in the win. 

He followed that up on Jan. 20 with a 14-point performance, going 6-of-9 from the field and grabbed five rebounds in Ohio's win over EMU. 

On Jan. 24 against Akron, Mitchell recorded a career-high seven rebounds. 

So far this season, Mitchell is second on the Bobcats in scoring with 13.4 points and 4.1 rebounds a game, while shooting .495 from the field. 

SOPHOMORE YEAR (ELMORE'S VERSION)
Sophomore guard Elmore James is looking to make a name for himself this season. 

That plan started out on the right track on Nov. 8 against Troy, with James scoring 20 points, going 7-of-13 from the field, grabbing six rebounds, snagging two steals and going perfect from the line in Ohio's 88-70 victory over Troy. 

James was solid at the Nassau Championship Nov. 24-26. On Nov. 24 in a double OT loss to GW, James gabbed a career-high nine rebounds. The on Nov. 26 against Brown, James scored 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists in the win. 

James tied his career-high in points on Dec. 2 against Delaware, scoring 21 points and grabbing five rebounds in the victory. 

James was named the MAC Co-Player of the Week on Dec. 4. 

James recorded his first career double double on Dec. 6 against Youngstown State, scoring 13 points and grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds. 

James put together a solid performance on Jan. 6 against NIU, scoring 11 points and grabbing seven boards in the victory. 

James continued his hot start to MAC play, scoring a team-high 19 points on Jan. 9 at BGSU. 

So far this season, James is averaging 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and is shooting 48.4 percent from the field. 

HADAWAY SEEING MORE TIME
Sophomore forward Aidan Hadaway has been seeing his minutes increase as the season has gone on. 

On Nov. 25 against MTSU, Hadaway grabbed a season-high four rebounds in the win. 

On Dec. 2 against Delaware, Hadaway put together 22 solid minutes on the court, scoring a season-high seven points, while grabbing a career-high seven rebounds in the win. 

Hadaway continued his strong play on Dec. 6 against Delaware, scoring a career-high 14 points in 24 minutes. 

Hadaway made his first career start on Dec. 18 against Defiance, scoring 11 points and going 5-for-5 from the field. 

In his second career start against Austin Peay on Dec. 22, Hadaway grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds and dished out a career-high five assists. 

Hadaway added another solid performance on his resume on Jan. 16 in Ohio's win over CMU, scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebounds. 

Hadaway had a career night on Jan. 20 in Ohio's win over EMU. Hadaway scored a career-high 20 points, while going 3-for-3 from three and 8-of-10 from the field. 

As Hadaway continues to see more minutes on the floor, he currently averages 6.8 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.

CLAYTON TAKES THE NEXT STEP
Junior forward AJ Clayton has moved back into his starting roll with ease. 

He has recorded double figure scoring numbers in three-straight games to open the season. 

On Nov. 18 against Detroit Mercy, Clayton led Ohio with 18 points, while also grabbing six rebounds and tying his career-high with four made threes. 

On Nov. 24 against George Washington, Clayton recorded a double double, scoring 13 points and grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds, while also recording a career-high five blocks. 

On Nov. 25 against Middle Tennessee State, Clayton scored 15 points, while going 5-of-6 from three, setting a new career mark in three-pointers made in a game. 

Clayton tied his career mark in blocks in a game on Dec. 2 against Delaware, recording five once again in the win. He added another five-block night against Marshall on Dec. 9.

Against Defiance, Clayton scored 17 points, going 7-for-7 from the field, 3-for-3 from three and grabbed five rebounds. 

Clayton tied his career-high with 23 points in Ohio's win against NIU on Jan 6. Clayton went 9-of-13 from the field, 3-of-6 from three and 2-of-2 from the line. 19 of his 23 points came in the second half. 

Clayton had a near double double on Jan. 16 against CMU, scoring seven points and grabbing 10 rebounds. 

So far this season, Clayton averages 11.5 and 4.5 boards a game, while registering 1.7 blocks per game. He is also shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 43.0 percent from three.

ONE LAST TRIP FOR MILES
Fifth year guard Miles Brown is looking to make the most of his final season in the Green and White. 

Brown was steady in his season debut, adding nine points, a steal and a block in Ohio's win over Troy. 

After missing a month, Brown made is return to the lineup on Dec. 18 against Defiance, scoring 12 points in 12 minutes on the court. 

On Dec. 30 against Davidson, Brown nearly recorded a double double, with nine points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench. 

Brown had his best game of the season on Jan. 16 against CMU, scoring 17 points in the win. 

Brown was back in action on Jan. 20, scoring seven points, while grabbing nine rebounds and dishes out five assists. 

As Brown sees his minutes increase in MAC play, he currently averages 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds a game. 

UP NEXT
Up next, the Bobcats are back in Athens on Tuesday, Jan. 30 when Ohio hosts Buffalo. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+.

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