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MORAGA, Calif. – The Ohio men's basketball team (1-2) returned to action Tuesday night (Nov. 11) for their first road game of the season. The Bobcats would be unable to overcome a short bench, falling to Saint Mary's (3-0), 90-60, inside the University Credit Union Pavilion.

Overall, Ohio shot 38 percent from the field, 26 percent from three and were 6-of-7 from the line, while Saint Mary's shot 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from three and 77 percent from the line. The Bobcats were outrebounded, 40-29, while Ohio dished out 12 assists compared to 22 from the Gaels. 

Individually, senior guard Jackson Paveletzke (Kimberly, Wis.) scored a team-high 19 points, going 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-3 from three and 2-of-3 from the line. Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons added 12 points, while senior forward Aidan Hadaway (Lafayette, Ga.) scored 10 points and grabbed three boards. Senior guard Ajay Sheldon (Dublin, Ohio) finished the game with six rebounds and six assists. Redshirt freshman Ayden Evans (Radcliff, Ky.) scored a career-high eight points, while freshman JJ Kelly (Chambersburg, Pa.) grabbed a career-high six rebounds in his first career start. 

The Bobcats opened the game off with back-to-back baskets before the Gaels responded with two of their own. Moments later, a jumper from Hadaway and a three from Simmons put Ohio up 9-4 entering the first media timeout. Out of the break, Saint Mary's went on an 11-0 run to take the lead, before a three from Paveletzke stopped the run to cut the Ohio deficit to three going int the under-12 break. Back-to-back threes from Sheldon and Paveletzke cut the Ohio deficit to two, however, an 8-2 run from the Gaels once again increased their lead to 30-22 going into the under-eight media timeout. The Bobcats continued to battle over the remaining minutes of the first half, but Saint Mary's would not let up, taking a 45-27 lead into the half. 

At the break, Ohio shot 37 percent from the field, 31 percent from three and were 1-of-2 from the line, while Saint Mary's shot 53 percent from the field, 42 percent from three and 86 percent from the line. Both teams grabbed 17 rebounds, while Saint Mary's scored 27 bench points and 22 points in the paint, while dishing out 12 assists. 

Saint Mary's opened the second half with the first seven points, forcing an Ohio timeout less than two minutes into the half. Out of the break, Simmons stopped the run with a second-chance three, while another three from Paveletzke cut the Saint Mary's lead to 53-32 with 15:37 remaining in the game. The Bobcats continued to battle, with points from Kelly and Evans and another three from Simmons, but Ohio would be unable to overcome the depth and size of Saint Mary's, falling 90-60. 

Up next, the Bobcats head to Louisville, Ky. to take on #11 Louisville on Saturday, Nov. 15. Tip-off is set for Noon ET inside the KFC Yum! Center and can be seen on The CW. 

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