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ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (0-0) opens the 2025-26 season on Monday, Nov. 3 when the Bobcats host Arkansas State (0-0) for the MAC-SBC Challenge. 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 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
- This the third-straight year that the Bobcats have opened the season with a Sun Belt opponent as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge.
- Ohio has registered an impressive 578-185 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
- Last season the Bobcats were 12-3 in the Convo.
-  Ohio is 73-17 in the Convo under Boals in the last seven seasons.
- Ohio is 4-2 in season openers under Boals.
- Since 2000, the Bobcats are 21-4 in season openers.
- Ohio is 1-1 all-time against Arkansas State.
- The Bobcats and Red Wolves last met Feb. 10, 2024 in Jonesboro as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge, where Arkansas State won. 100-87.
- Ohio is 1-3 all-time in the MAC-SBC Challenge.
- Ohio returns four main contributors from last year's team including seniors Ajay Sheldon, Aidan Hadaway and Jackson Paveletzke and sophomore Elijah Elliott.
- Ohio added four transfers; forward Javan Simmons from Toledo, forward Jalen Breath from UNCG, guard Dior Conners from App State and guard Carter Reese from Ohio Northern.
- Ohio adds three freshman to the roster in guard JJ Kelly and forwards Jordan Fisher and Zay Mosley.
- Ohio was selected to finished fourth in this year's MAC Preseason Poll.
- Paveletzke was named to the Preseason All-MAC First Team, while Simmons was named to the preseason All-MAC Second Team.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS STATE
The Red Wolves are under first-year head coach Ryan Pannone. Pannone comes to Jonesboro with 23 years of experience, has built a reputation as one of the nation's top offensive minds and player-development coaches. He most recently spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Alabama.  The Crimson Tide boasted the nation's highest scoring average both years as Pannone helped lead the program to Final Four and Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively.  However, his path to Jonesboro also went through six different countries, including the United States, China, Germany, Israel, Korea and Slovakia.

Arkansas State finished last season, 25-11 overall and 1305 in the Sun Belt, falling to Troy in the SBC Championship game and advancing to the second round of the 2025 NIT. 

The Red Wolves were selected to finish second in the 2025 Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll, while junior guard Chandler Jackson earned a spot on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team. 

Arkansas State enters the season with a rebuilt roster, with 15 additions to the roster including Jalen Hampton (Missouri State), Chandler Jackson (Florida State), Matt Hayman (Stephen F. Austin), TJ Caldwell (Ole Miss), Chudi Dioramma (Sacramento State), Christian Harmon (Gulf Coast State College), Jaxon Ellingsworth (UT Arlington), Royal Smith (Gillion Academy), Aly Tounkara (Lindenwood), Fredy-Salam Sylla (Eastern Florida State College), CJ Geathers (Chapel Hill HS), Joey Chammaa (San Diego), Weston Honeycutt (Westside HS), Tim Matthews (Hamilton HS) and Grayson Bennett (La Lumiere HS).

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio enters the 2025-26 season under seventh-year head coach Jeff Boals. 

Ohio was selected to finish fourth in this year's Mid-American Conference Preseason Poll, while senior guard Jackson Paveletzke and redshirt junior Javan Simmons earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC Teams. 

Ohio finished last season 16-16 overall and 10-8 in MAC play, before falling to Toledo in an overtime thriller in the MAC Quarterfinals. 

The 2025-26 Bobcats return four major contributors from last year's team, including seniors Ajay Sheldon, Aidan Hadaway and Paveletzke and sophomore Elijah Elliott, while adding seven newcomers in transfers Simmons, Dior Conners, Jalen Breath and Carter Reese and freshman JJ Kelly, Jordan Fisher and Zay Mosley. 

Paveletzke started all 32 games for the Bobcats last year, averaging 13.8 points a game, while shooting .514 from the field and earning a spot on the All-MAC Third Team. He also earned a spot on the MAC Blue Ribbon Forecast Preseason All-MAC Team. Hadaway returns to the starting lineup after missing the last half of last season due to injury. Elliott looks to build on a stellar freshman season in which he worked his way into the starting lineup and averaging 5.1 points a game. 

Simmons comes to Ohio after spending three seasons at Toledo and was the 2023-24 MAC Freshman of the Year, an All-MAC Honorable Mention in 2024-25 and is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection. Breath played three seasons at UNC Greensboro. The Oklahoma City native played in 87 games, while making 61 starts as a Spartan and Conners played last season at App State where he saw action in 31 games, while making 26 starts. 

Kelly comes to Athens from Chambersburg, Pa. and played at Chambersburg Area. Kelly also averaged 21.8 point, 7.1 rebounds and  2.6 assists during his senior season. Fisher, a Pickerington, Ohio native played at Reynoldsburg. Fisher became the all-time leader in career points in Reynoldsburg history with 1,306 points during his senior season. 

ALL-TIME AGAINST ARKANSAS STATE
This is the third-all-time meeting between Ohio and Arkansas State , with the series tied at 1-1. 

The Bobcats and Red Wolves met on Nov. 20, 2011 in Athens, with the Bobcats winnings, 69-54 and then met on Feb. 10, 2024 in Jonesboro with the Red Wolves winning, 100-87. 

LAST TIME AGAINST A-STATE
Ohio and Arkansas State last met on Feb. 10, 2024 in Jonesboro as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge, with A-State winning, 100-87. 

Guard Ajay Sheldon (Dublin, Ohio) recorded a then-career-high 17 points, going 5-of-8 from three and 2-of-2 from the line, while forward Aidan Hadaway (Lafayette, Ga.) scored 10 points and three rebounds.

OHIO IN SEASON OPENERS
Ohio is 4-2 in season openers under Boals. 

Since 2000, the Bobcats are 21-4 in season openers.

CONVO MAGIC
Ohio has registered an impressive 578-185 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

Last season the Bobcats were 12-3 in the Convo.

Ohio is 73-17 in the Convo under Boals in the last seven seasons.

YEAR THREE OF THE MAC-SBC CHALLENGE
The third year of the MAC-Sun belt Challenge kicks off on opening night for all 13 league teams.

The third installment of a scheduling alliance in men's and women's basketball -- will tip off on Monday, Nov. 3 with 13 MAC men's basketball programs hosting 12 Sun Belt teams, while the 13 MAC women's basketball programs will visit 13 SBC teams.

The second MAC-SBC Challenge contest for each team will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, with the matchups based on real-time NET rankings and announced in January. The MAC women and Sun Belt men will host the February matchups. 

Each MAC and Sun Belt team included in the MAC-game each season. 

Scheduling assistance is provided by Ordinal Sports Group. In addition to relevant NET data, geography and frequency of past contests is considered in determining the matchups.

UP NEXT
The Bobcats are back in action on Thursday, Nov. 6 when Ohio hosts Illinois State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+. 

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