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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio men's basketball team (12-10, 6-4 MAC) returned to action on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 3) for the Battle of the Bricks, defeating the Miami RedHawks (11-11, 5-5 MAC), 78-69 inside the Convocation Center. 

Overall, Ohio shot 52.9 percent from the field, 51.7 percent from three and were 9-of-14 from the line, while Miami shot 39.0 percent from the field, 35.0 percent from three and went 9-of-14 from the line. Miami outrebounded Ohio 34-31 and both teams snagged seven steals. The Bobcats also forced 10 turnovers against the RedHawks and scored 15 points off them. Entering the matchup, Miami was first in the MAC in defensive three-point percentage at 29.6 percent. Despite Miami holding the MAC lead in three-point field goal percentage defense, the Bobcats drained fifteen three pointers on the day, their second most this season.

Individually, Ohio was led by senior guard Jaylin Hunter (Manchester, Conn.) with 22 points, three rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell (Omaha, Neb.) with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. Junior forward AJ Clayton (Roseville, Ohio) with 15 points and four rebounds. Fifth year guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) also added 12 points, eight rebounds and one assist. 

Miami won the tip, but Ohio came in hot with an exciting block from Clayton to stop the RedHawks from scoring. Sophomore forward Aidan Hadaway (Lafayette, Ga.) scored the first basket of the game for both teams. Miami gained a short lead, but back-to-back three-point jumpers from Brown put Ohio back ahead. Ohio began to slip on defense, allowing Miami to gain a nine-point lead. The RedHawks also challenged the Bobcats' offense, not allowing anyone to score within the arc. Two three-point baskets from Clayton cut the deficit for Ohio to five.

Clayton scored another set of back-to-back three-point jumpers out of the media timeout, forcing Miami to call another timeout. Ohio and Miami would trade baskets to stay within one point of each other. Senior center Gabe Wiznitzer (Walhalla, S.C.) scored a layup under the rim with an assist from Mitchell to put Ohio ahead by three. Hunter scored a driving layup and a three-point jumper off an opponent turnover, giving the Bobcats an eight-point lead with 3:48 remaining at the half. Hadaway closed the half going 1-for-2 at the stripe. Ohio led 39-32 going into the locker room. 

At the half, Ohio shot 53.8 percent from the field, 60.0 percent from three and were 2-of-3 from the line, while Miami shot 35.5 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three and were 6-of-8 from the line. Miami outrebounded Ohio 19-15. 

Individually, Clayton led Ohio with 12 points and two blocks. Brown added nine points and snagged four rebounds. Hunter added eight points, three assists and recorded one steal. Mitchell also recorded five points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal. 

Miami opened the second half with a basket, but Hunter responded with a turnaround jump shot in the paint. Mitchell put up points for Ohio with a three-point basket assisted by Hunter and a field goal. Ohio led by seven going into the first media timeout of the half. Wiznitzer had a hot offensive streak in the period with two back-to-back dunks. Sophomore guard Ajay Sheldon (Dublin, Ohio) went 2-of-3 from the stripe after drawing a foul at the arc. Ohio led by 10 with 11 minutes left in the half. 

The RedHawks began to pick back up on offense and defense, keeping Ohio off the board for almost three minutes of play. Miami also cut the deficit to five points. Hunter broke the scoreless streak for Ohio with back-to-back layups off opponent turnovers, forcing Miami to call a timeout. 

Out of the timeout, Clayton banked an exciting three-point jumper assisted by Brown. Foul trouble for the Bobcats gave Miami the bonus advantage, allowing Miami to go 2-for-2 at the stripe with seven minutes left of play. The RedHawks also have a 7-0 run for over a minute of play, forcing the Bobcats to call a timeout. Miami cut its deficit to three with less than five minutes in the half. 

Brown went 3-for-3 at the stripe to put Ohio back ahead by six after drawing a shooting foul from beyond the arc. A three-point jumper from Mitchell off a turnover by Miami gave Ohio a nine-point lead and Miami called another full timeout with three and half minutes left of play. The Bobcats continued its offensive streak with back-to-back three-point jumpers from Hunter, helping seal Ohio's Battle of the Bricks victory, 78-69.

For Miami, Anderson Mirambeaux led with 16 points, while Eian Elmer scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.

Up next, Ohio will travel to Muncie, Ind. to take on the Ball State Cardinals on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+. 

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