FOLLOW OHIO MEN'S BASKETBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram  

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (1-6) return to Athens on Wednesday, Dec. 3 when they host Maine (0-9). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center. The game 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. 

TIP-OFF
- This is the first all-time meeting between the Bobcats and the Black Bears.
- Former Bobcat player and graduate assistant coach, Tommy Freeman is a the currently Director of Basketball Operations for Maine.
- 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.
- Senior forward Aidan Hadaway is coming off a strong week at the Sunshine Slam where he scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds against George Mason on Nov. 24 and then added 12 points and five boards against LMU on Nov. 25.
- Redshirt freshman Jesse Burris hit his first career three-pointer on Nov. 24 against George Mason.
- 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. He then followed that up with his second-straight 28-point performance against Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 19 in Athens.
- Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons had his best game of 2025-26 on Nov. 19 against Bethune-Cookman, recording 20 points and 10 boards for his first double double of the season.

SCOUTING MAINE
Maine is 0-9 to start the season after falling to Siena, Longwood and American at the American MTE in Washington DC last week. 

Overall, Maine averages 59.0 points per game, while shooting 43.2 percent from the field, 30.9 percent from three and 59.6 percent from the line. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 68.1 points per game, while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 25.9 percent from three and 65.7 percent from the line. 

Maine is averaging 29.0 rebounds, 10.2 assists, 7.4 steals and 3.8 blocks a game, while forcing opponents to turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times a game, scoring 12.0 points off them. Maine opponents are averaging 36.6 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 7.6 steals and 2.6 blocks a game, while forcing 14.6 turnovers a contest, scoring 15.6 points off them. 

Currently, TJ Biel leads Maine with 12.7 points and 5.0 rebounds a game, while shooting 44.9 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from three and 73.7 percent from the line. Ryan Mabrey adds 8.9 points a game, while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and Keelan Steele averages 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds a game, while shooting 51.2 percent from the field. 

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio is 1-6 overall after falling to George Mason and LMU at the Sunshine Slam last week in Daytona Beach, Fla.  

Ohio is averaging 71.1 points a game, while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 27.0 percent from three and 66.0 percent from the line. The Bobcats also add 33.6 rebounds a game, while dishing out 10.9 assists and recording 4.3 steals a contest. Ohio is also forcing opponents to turn the ball over 11.3 times a game, scoring on average 12.3 points off them. 

Meanwhile, Ohio opponents are averaging 84.4 points a game, while shooting 47.4 percent from the field, 40.1 percent from three and 73.2 percent from the line. Opponents are averaging 39.4 rebounds, 15.1 assists and 7.0 steals a game, while forcing Ohio to turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times a game, while scoring on average 13.7 points off them. 

Individually, Ohio is led by senior guard Jackson Paveletzke with 18.1 points and 4.0 assists a game, while shooting 50.6 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from three, while adding 1.1 steals a game. Senior forward Aidan Hadaway adds 14.1 points and 6.6 rebounds a game, while shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 76.5 percent from the line, while redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons adds 12.7 points and 5.0 rebounds a game, while shooting 42.9 percent from the field. 

ALL-TIME AGAINST MAINE
This is the first all-time meeting between Ohio and Maine. 

Former Ohio player and graduate assistant Tommy Freeman currently serves as the Black Bears Director of Basketball Operations. 

CONVO MAGIC
Ohio has registered an impressive 579-187 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.

Ohio is 74-19 in the Convo under Boals in the last seven seasons.

PAV LEADS THE WAY
Senior point guard Jackson Paveletzke continues the hot start to his season. 

So far this season, Paveletzke is averaging 18.1 points a game, while shooting 50.6 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from three and 74.4 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. 

Paveletzke recorded his second-straight 28-point performance on Nov. 19 against Bethune-Cookman, going 10-of-15 from the field and 6-of-7 from the line. 

FROM FOE TO FRIEND
Redshirt junior Javan Simmons made his Ohio debut on Nov. 3 after starting his career at Toledo. 

So far this season, Simmons is averaging 12.7 points a game, while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 21.4 percent from three and 61.5 percent from the line, while adding 5.0 boards a game. 

The Columbus native scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds with one block in 23 minutes on the court in his Convo debut on Nov. 3 against Arkansas State. 

Simmons picked up where he left off on Monday in Nov. 6's win against Illinois State, scoring 16 points and grabbing four rebounds, while going 5-of-12 from the field. 

On Nov. 15 at No. 12 Louisville, Breath grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

Simmons' best game of the season thus far came on Nov. 19 against Bethune-Cookman where he registered his first double double of the season with 20 points and 10 boards. 

UP NEXT
The Bobcats are back in Athens on Saturday, Dec. 6 when Ohio hosts Marshall. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+. 

#OUohyeah