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PAW PRINTS: The Week Ahead in Ohio Athletics
12/2/2024 9:00:00 AM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Women's Swimming and Diving, Wrestling
ATHENS, Ohio –It's the final week of classes and Ohio football plays for a MAC Championship in Detroit! Check out everything that's ahead for Ohio Athletics in this week's Paw Prints.
FOOTBALL
Dec. 7 / Mid-American Conference Championship / vs. Miami / Detroit, Mich. / Ford Field / 12 p.m. ET / ESPN / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Ohio Championship Central / MAC Championship Central / Tickets
The Ohio football team (9-3, 7-1 MAC) head to Detroit, Mich. Dec. 8 to battle it out for a MAC Championship against Miami (8-4, 7-1 MAC). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET at Ford Field and can be seen on ESPN.
The Bobcats return to Detroit for their second time in three years and the send times under four-year head coach Tim Albin, while Miami looks to repeat as champions after winning last year's matchup with Toledo. The 101st matchup between the Bobcats and the RedHawks will be the first time that the two teams have met in the championship game.
Ohio is coming off a 42-21 victory over Ball State in the regular season finale on Nov. 29 in Athens. Graduate student wide receiver Coleman Owen kick-started the Bobcats' win with touchdowns in back-to-back drives in the first quarter. His first six points came on a 50-yard reception from graduate student quarterback Parker Navarro. The latter of his six were collected on a 41-yard reception. It was during the second quarter in which Owen became the third Bobcat to tally 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He joined LaVon Brazil and Donte' Foster, who reached that benchmark in 2011 and 2013, respectively. Owen finished the afternoon with 142 yards on five receptions.
Miami is coming off a 28-12 victory over Bowling Green on nov. 29 in Bowling Green. Brett Gabbert threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns in the win.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 7 / vs. Morehead State / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 4 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Listen / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Roster Card / Tickets
The Ohio men's basketball team (3-5) is back in action for another matchup in Athens this week when the Bobcats host Morehead State (3-4) on Saturday, Dec. 7. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio is coming off a commanding 84-68 victory over Robert Morris on Saturday in Athens. In that game, senior forward AJ Clayton scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while graduate student Vic Searls scored 14 points, going 5-of-7 from the field, and grabbed seven rebounds.
Morehead State is currently 3-4 overall and is coming off a 71-69 victory over Cleveland State on Nov. 29. MSU will take on Marshall on Wednesday in Huntington before making their way to Athens Saturday afternoon.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Dec. 3 / vs. Ohio Christian / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 11 a.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Roster Card
Dec. 8 / vs. Butler / Athens, Ohio / Convocation Center / 1 p.m. ET / ESPN+ / Watch / Live Stats / Digital Guide / Roster Card / Tickets
Ohio women's basketball (1-4) is back in action for two games in Athens this week. Ohio's week begins on Tuesday, Dec. 3 when the Bobcats take on Ohio Christian (4-5) at 11 a.m. for an Education Game inside the Convo. Ohio is then back in action on Sunday, Dec. 8 when they host Butler (6-2) at 1 p.m. inside the Convo. Both matchups can be seen on ESPN+.
Ohio has not played since Nov. 24 at Wrigth State, where they fell 68-57 on the road. In that game, Kennedi Watkins recorded a double double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Monica Williams scored a career-high 18 points.
Ohio Christian is 4-5 overall, with their matchup set to be an exhibition. Butler is currently 6-2 overall and is coming off a game against Boise State in the Gulf Coast Showcase. The Bulldogs will play UT Martin in Indianapolis on Thursday before heading to Athens on Sunday.
SWIM AND DIVE
Dec. 4-7 / at Toyota US Open / Greensboro, N.C. / Greensboro Aquatic Center / 9 a.m./6 p.m. ET / Meet Information
Five members of the Ohio swim squad will head to Greensboro, N.C. Dec. 4-7 to compete in the 2024 Toyota US Open at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Sophomore Zita Szoke, junior Casadie DiBetta, senior Julia Strine, junior Emily Ellsworth and senior Edie Sawyer will head to Greensboro to compete.
Morning trials are scheduled to begin at 9 am. ET, while evening sessions are set for 6 p.m. ET.
Ohio last competed two weeks ago at the 2024 TYR '85 Invite in Lynchburg, Va., where the Bobcats finished the three-day event in second place.
WRESTLING
Dec. 6-7 / at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational / Las Vegas, Nev. / Las Vegas Convention Center / 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. ET / FloWrestling / Watch / Meet Central / Meet Schedule
The Ohio wrestling team is back in action this week when they head to Las Vega, Nev. for the 2024 Cliff Keen Collegiate Wrestling Invitational Dec. 6-7. The two-day event will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center and can be seen on FloWrestling. Matches on Dec. 6 are set to begin at 12 p.m. ET, while matches on Dec. 7 are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET.
Ohio last competed Nov. 23 at the 2024 Navy Classic, where the Bobcats placed eighth overall. Garrett Thompson led Ohio with a third-place finish in the 174-pound class. Thompson started the tournament with two strong decisions in his favor of 9-3 and 7-3, that was followed by a loss in the quarterfinal. However Thompson bounced back for the bronze, winning with a sudden victory against a Bucknell opponent.
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