FOLLOW OHIO MEN'S BASKETBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

DeKALB, Ill. – Behind 17-point performances from both Aidan Hadaway and Miles Brown, the Ohio men's basketball team (15-12-9-5 MAC) returned to action Saturday afternoon (Feb. 24), defeating Northern Illinois (9-18, 3-11 MAC), 80-59, inside the NIU Convocation Center. The victory secured a spot for the Bobcats in this year's Mid-American Conference Tournament. 
 
Overall, Ohio shot 52.7 percent from the field, 37.5 percent form three and were 13-of-22 from the line, while NIU shot 41.5 percent from the field, 14.3 percent from three and were 12-of-17 from the line. Ohio outrebounded NIU, 34-26, dished out 18 assists and forced 17 turnovers, scoring 24 points off them. 
 
Individually, sophomore forward Aidan Hadaway (Layfaette, Ga.) scored 17 points, going 6-of-6 from the field, 1-of-1 from three and 4-for-4 from the line, he also grabbed three rebounds. Fifth year guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) scored 17 points, while graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell (Omaha, Neb.) added 14 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out six assists. Junior forward AJ Clayton (Roseville, Ohio) added 10 points and five rebounds. 
 
NIU opened the game with the first points, however a 7-0 run from the Bobcats with five points from Brown, put the Bobcats up five, before NIU cut the Ohio lead to 9-7 entering the first media timeout. After NIU tied the game at 14-14 and took a one-point, lead, a three from Clayton put the Bobcats back on top. However, the Huskies would go on to take a 19-17 lead, before a dunk from Hadaway tied the game at 19-19. Moments later, a three from Mitchell increased the Ohio lead to 22-19 with 6:58 remaining in the half. 
 
Out of the media timeout, an 8-2 run from the Bobcats increased the Ohio lead to 30-21 entering the final media timeout of the half. After free throw from NIU cut the Ohio lead to 30-23, back-to-back layups from Mitchell and Brown put Ohio up 11, before the Huskies closed out the half with three-straight points, cutting the Ohio lead to 34-26 entering the half. 
 
At the half, Ohio shot 41.4 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from three and were 7-of-9 from the line, while NIU shot 40 percent from the field, were 1-of-10 from three and 5-of-8 from the line. Ohio outrebounded the Huskies, 17-16, while the Bobcats dished out five assists and had seven steals. 
 
Individually, Brown led the Bobcats with nine points, followed by Hadaway with eight and Mitchell with seven points and three rebounds. 
 
Ohio opened the second half with back-to-back dunks, taking a 38-26 lead, forcing NIU to call a timeout with 18:38 left in the game. Out of the timeout, a layup and a three from Hadaway and a jumper from Brown, increased the Ohio lead to 45-28 with 16:21 to go. Out of the break, a layup and a three from Clayton increased the Bobcats' lead to 50-29. After a three from redshirt sophomore forward Ike Cornish (Baltimore, Md.) put the Bobcats up 20, NIU went on a 6-2 run to cut the Ohio lead to 55-39 with 11:27 to go in the game. 
 
The two teams traded layups over the next couple of minutes, before a three and free throws from Mitchell helped keep the Bobcats ahead, 65-47, entering the under-eight media timeout. Ohio responded out of the timeout, with a layup from senior guard Jaylin Hunter (Manchester, Conn.) and back-to-back threes from Brown put Ohio up 73-47. NIU would capitalize on a couple of layups, however free throws from Hadaway and a layup from senior center Gabe Wiznitzer (Walhalla, S.C.) put the Bobcats up 77-51 with 2:42 left in the game.
 
Over the remaining two minutes, NIU would go on an 8-3 run, however it would not cut into the Ohio lead, securing the 80-59 victory. 
 
Up next, the Bobcats return to Athens for the final two home games of the 2023-23 season starting on Tuesday, Feb. 27 when MAC-leading Akron comes to tow. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+. 
 
#OUohyeah