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BUFFALO, N.Y. – Led by 20-point performances from both graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell and junior forward AJ Clayton, the Ohio men's basketball team (18-12, 11-5 MAC) held on to defeat Buffalo (4-25, 2-15), 78-66, Tuesday night (March 5) inside Alumni Arena. 
 
Overall, Ohio shot 47.4 percent from the field, 42.4 percent from three and were 10-of-15 from the line, while Buffalo shot 44 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from three and were 16-of-24 from the line. Buffalo out-rebounded Ohio 36-27, while the Bobcats dished out 19 assists and forced 18 Buffalo turnovers.
 
Individually, Clayton (Roseville, Ohio) scored 23 points, tying his career-high, while hitting a career-high seven three pointers. Mitchell (Omaha, Neb.) added 21 points five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Fifth year guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) added eight points and had four assists, while sophomore forward Aidan Hadaway (Lafayette, Ga.) added seven points. 
 
The Bobcats opened the game on a 9-0 run with a three from Hadaway and two from Clayton. After Buffalo cut the Ohio lead to five, another three from Mitchell put Ohio up 12-6 going into the first media timeout. After UB cut the Ohio lead to two, a three-point play and a three from redshirt sophomore forward Ike Cornish (Baltimore, Md.) put Ohio up eight with 11:24 left in the first half. 
 
Out of the timeout, a driving layup from James and another three from Clayton increased the Ohio lead to 28-16, forcing Buffalo to call a timeout with 8:59 to go in the first. After Buffalo cut the Ohio lead to seven, a three from sophomore guard Ajay Sheldon put Ohio back up 10 with 3:57 left in the half. After UB cut the Bobcats' lead to five, a three from Brown gave Ohio an eight-point lead once again. However, Buffalo matched it with a three of their own, but a driving layup from Mitchell increased the Ohio lead to 40-33 going into the half. 
 
At the half, Ohio shot 51.7 percent from the field, 50 percent from three and were 2-of-4 from the line, while Buffalo shot 44.4 percent from the field, 37.4 percent from three and were 6-of-6 from the line. UB out-rebounded Ohio, 17-13, while Ohio dished out nine assists and forced 10 Buffalo turnovers. 
 
Individually, Clayton led Ohio with nine points and three rebounds, while Mitchell added seven points and Brown with six points and three steals. 
 
Ohio opened the second half with threes from Clayton and Mitchell to put Ohio up 48-36. After a layup from senior guard Jaylin Hunter (Manchester, Conn.) and another three from Clayton increased the Ohio lead to 53-38, the Bulls went on a 10-3 run, cutting the Ohio lead to 55-48 and forcing Ohio to burn a timeout with 12:55 remaining in the game. 
 
Out of the timeout, eight-straight points from Clayton, including two threes, gave him a new career-high in made threes and put the Bobcats up 63-53 with 7:55 to go. Over the next four minutes, five points from Mitchell and a layup from Brown, pushed the Bobcats ahead by 11 entering the final media timeout of the game. 
 
Out of the timeout, a three from Buffalo cut the Ohio lead down to eight, another layup and three from Mitchell put Ohio back up 75-64 with 1:30 remaining in the game. Free throw from Mitchell down the stretch helped seal the 78-66 victory. 
 
For Buffalo, Sy Chatman led with a game-high 25 points and eight rebounds. 
 
Up next, the Bobcats wrap up the 2023-24 regular season on Friday, March 8 when Ohio heads to Oxford, Ohio to take on Miami for the second round of the 'Battle of the Bricks.' Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside Millett Hall and can be seen on ESPN+. 
 
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