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ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (1-3) is back in Athens this week for the campus game of the 2025 Sunshine Slam on Wednesday, Nov. 19 against Bethune-Cookman (1-3). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+ where Marty Bannister, Rob Cornelius and Gabe Genovesi will have the call.
The Bobcats' matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Jason Toy begins his second season on the mic for the Bobcats and will be joined by veteran Dave Cecutti. WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station net- work's flagship and can be heard on the Varsity Network App.
OPENING TIP
- Wednesday is Lung Cancer Awareness night, where the Ohio men's basketball have partnered with Bobcat alumni Jason and Micaylah Preston and the American Lung Association to help honor Jason's mom, Judith, who passed away from Lung Cancer when he was in high school. The Bobcats will be wearing special D.O.N. Issue 7's gifted to them from Preston to show their support during Lung Cancer Awareness Night/Month.
- This matchup with the Wildcats is the on-campus matchup of the 2025 Sunshine Slam. The Bobcats and Bethune-Cookman will head to Daytona Beach, Fla. Nov. 24-25 for the bracketed games of the MTE.
- This is the first all-time meeting between the Bobcats and Bethune-Cookman.
- Ohio two new Bobcats during the early signing period, adding Jordie Bowens and Xavier McKinney, both from Reynoldsburg High School. They will join the Bobcats for the 2026-27 season.
- Ohio has registered an impressive 579-186 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
- Last season the Bobcats were 12-3 in the Convo.
- Ohio is 74-18 in the Convo under Boals in the last seven seasons.
- Senior guard Jackson Paveletzke continues his hot start to the season. After back-to-back 19-point performances, Paveletzke tied his career high with 28 points Saturday afternoon at #12 Louisville.
- In his second career start against #12 Louisville, freshman guard JJ Kelly scored a career-high 11 points and hit his first two career three-pointers in the process.
- After missing one game, senior guard Dior Conners returned to the lineup on No. 15 against #12 Louisville, scoring 10 point.
SCOUTING BETHUNE-COOKMAN
Bethune-Cookman comes to Ohio with a 1-3 overall record after falling to Dayton, 91-82 Saturday night in Dayton.
Overall, Bethune-Cookman averages 83.5 points per game, while shooting 48.3 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three and 62.5 percent from the line. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 86.8 points per game, while shooting 47.6 percent from the field, 37.6 percent from three and 72.9 percent from the line.
The Wildcats are averaging 36.3 rebounds, 16.3 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.0 blocks a game, while forcing opponents to turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times a game, scoring 18.3 points off them. Louisville opponents are averaging 38.3 rebounds, 16.8 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.8 blocks a game, while forcing 12.5 turnovers a contest, scoring 14.3 points off them.
Currently, Arterio Morris leads the Wildcats with 16.0 points a game, while shooting 41.0 percent from the field, 26.7 percent from three, while grabbing 6.3 rebounds a game. Jakobi Heady adds 15.0 points a game, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 53.8 percent from three and 75.0 percent from the line, while Daniel Rouzan adds 12.5 points a game, while shooting 53.5 percent from the field and registering 6.0 rebounds a game.
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio is 1-3 overall after falling to #12 Louisville on Saturday in Louisville.
After four games, Ohio is averaging 74.5 points a game, while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from three and 68.3 percent from the line. The Bobcats also add 30.8 rebounds a game, while dishing out 12.0 assists and recording 4.8 steals a contest. Ohio is also forcing opponents to turn the ball over 12.3 times a game, scoring on average 14.8 points off them.
Meanwhile, Ohio opponents are averaging 88.3 points a game, while shooting 48.0 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from three and 76.9 percent from the line. Opponents are averaging 39.5 rebounds, 17.3 assists and 6.8 steals a game, while forcing Ohio to turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times a game, while scoring on average 12.8 points off them.
Individually, Ohio is led by senior guard Jackson Paveletzke with 20.5 points and 4.0 assists a game, while shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from three, while adding 1.5 steals a game. Senior forward Aidan Hadaway adds 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds a game, while shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 87.5 percent from the line, while redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons adds 12.0 points and 4.8 rebounds a game, while shooting 36.6 percent form the field. Senior guard Ajay Sheldon is averaging 3.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds a game.
ALL-TIME AGAINST BETHUNE-COOKMAN
This is the first all-time meeting between the Bobcats and Wildcats.
CONVO MAGIC
Ohio has registered an impressive 579-186 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
Last season the Bobcats were 12-3 in the Convo.
Ohio is 74-18 in the Convo under Boals in the last seven seasons.
LUNG CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT
Wednesday is Lung Cancer Awareness night, where the Bobcats have partnered with Bobcat alumni Jason and Micaylah Preston and the American Lung Cancer Association to help honor Jason's mom, Judith, who passed away from Lung Cancer when he was in high school. The Bobcats will be wearing special D.O.N. Issue 7's gifted to them from Preston to show their support during Lung Cancer Awareness Night/Month.
PAV LEADS THE WAY
Senior point guard Jackson Paveletzke continues the hot start to his season.
So far this season, Paveletzke is averaging 20.5 points a game, while shooting 51.9 percent from the field, 54.5 percent from three and 78.6 percent from the line, while adding 4.0 assists per game.
After scoring 16 points in the home opener on Nov. 3, Paveletzke was the leader once again on Nov. 6 in Ohio's win against Illinois State. Paveletzke scored a game-high 19 points and dished out six assists in the win. Paveletzke went 7-of-12 from the field and 5-of-8 from the line as well.
Paveletzke added another 19-point performance on Nov. 11 at Saint Mary's, going 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-3 from three and 2-of-3 from the line, while grabbing three rebounds and dishing out four assists.
Paveletzke was even better on Nov. 15 at #12 Louisville where he tied his career-high with 28 points, going 8-of-14 from the field, 3-of-4 from three and 9-of-10 from the line, while dishing out four assists.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats head to Daytona Beach, Fla. for the 2025 Sunshine Slam. The Bobcats get started on Monday, Nov. 24 against George Mason. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET inside the Ocean Center and can be seen on CBS Sports Network.
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