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ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (10-8, 4-2 MAC) is back in action on Friday, Jan. 16 when the Bobcats head to Muncie, Ind. to take on Ball State (4-13, 0-5 MAC). Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET inside Worthen Arena and can be seen on CBS Sports Network where Dave Ryan and Jordan Taylor 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 college basketball analyst 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 94th all-time meeting between Ohio and Ball State.
- Ohio leads the all-time series, 57-36.
- The Bobcats are 17-1 against Ball State in their last 18 matchups.
- Ohio is 20-4 against Ball State since 2009-10, while the Bobcats are 8-1 against the Cardinals under Jeff Boals.
- Ohio and Ball State met once last season in Athens, with the Bobcats winning, 86-71.
- Senior guard Jackson Paveletzke was named the MAC Player of the Week on Jan. 12 for his performance the week of Jan. 5.
- Ohio is coming off a 101-85 loss at Toledo on Jan. 13.
- Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons recorded a season-high 21 points against the Rockets.
- Against Buffalo on Jan. 10, senior forward Aidan Hadaway had 27 points and 10 rebounds, while senior guard Jackson Paveletzke finished with 23 points, six rebounds and eight assists.
- Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons is recorded his 1,000 career point on Jan. 6 against UMass.
- Against UMass, redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons led the Bobcats with 20 points and five rebounds in the win.
- Redshirt freshman guard Jesse Burris recorded a career-high 13 points and hit three 3-pointers against UMass on Tuesday, playing 17 minutes off the bench for the Bobcats.
- Senior guard Ajay Sheldon scored a season-high 13 points and hit three 3-pointers, while recording four steals on Tuesday against UMass.
- Senior guard Jackson Paveletzke scored 14 points, including the game-winning three, at EMU on Jan. 3, while redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons led Ohio with 15 points and six rebounds.
- The Bobcats are currently ranked 208 in the latest NET rankings, with opponent Ball State in at 328.
SCOUTING BALL STATE
Ball State is currently 4-13 overall and 0-5 in MAC play. Ball State is coming off an 87-77 loss at Akron Tuesday night.
Overall, Ball State averages 68.0 points per game, while shooting 42.2 percent from the field, 31.1 percent from three and 69.2 percent from the line. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 70.8 points per game, while shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from three and 75.1 percent from the line.
Ball State is averaging 31.9 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 7.8 steals and 2.7 blocks a game, while forcing opponents to turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times a game, scoring 13.5 points off them. Ball State opponents are averaging 36.1 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 5.1 steals and 3.7 blocks a game, while forcing 10.9 turnovers a contest, scoring 12.1 points off them.
Leading Ball State is Armoni Zeigler with 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a game, while shooting 43.0 percent from the field and 78.3 percent from the line. Davion Hill adds 11.8 points a game, while shooting 47.1 percent from the line, while Joey Hart adds 9.0 points and is shooting 54.5 percent from the field. Former Bobcat Elmore James adds 8.8 points a game, while shooting 40.5 percent from the field.
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio is 10-8 overall and 4-2 in MAC play after falling to Toledo on the road on Tuesday night.
Ohio is averaging 78.4 points a game, while shooting 47.6 percent from the field, 30.7 percent from three and 67.8 percent from the line. The Bobcats also add 34.6 rebounds a game, while dishing out 14.1 assists and recording 6.9 steals a contest. Ohio is also forcing opponents to turn the ball over 12.9 times a game, scoring on average 15.4 points off them.
Meanwhile, Ohio opponents are averaging 77.2 points a game, while shooting 45.3 percent from the field, 34.7 percent from three and 73.2 percent from the line. Opponents are averaging 35.7 rebounds, 13.9 assists and 7.1 steals a game, while forcing Ohio to turn the ball over an average of 12.3 times a game, while scoring on average 13.1 points off them.
Individually, Ohio is led by senior guard Jackson Paveletzke with 17.1 points and 4.8 assists a game, while shooting 52.4 percent from the field and 37.0 percent from three. Senior forward Aidan Hadaway averages 13.7 points and a team-leading 7.6 rebounds a game, while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, while redshirt junior froward Javan Simmons adds 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds, while shooting 51.9 percent from the field.
ALL-TIME AGAINST BALL STATE
This is the 94th all-time meeting between Ohio and Ball State.
Ohio leads the all-time series, 57-36.
The Bobcats are 17-1 against Ball State in their last 18 matchups.
Ohio is 20-4 against Ball State since 2009-10, while the Bobcats are 8-1 against the Cardinals under Jeff Boals.
LAST AGAINST BALL STATE
Ohio and Ball State met once last season in Athens, with the Bobcats winning, 86-71.
Aidan Hadaway and Jackson Paveletzke both led Ohio with 15 points and five rebounds, while Paveletzke dished out six assists, while Ajay Sheldon added eight points.
MARCH TO 1,000
On Jan, 6, 2026 against UMass, redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons scored his 1,000th career point, becoming the 49th member of the 1,000-point club for the Bobcats.
Simmons is also the ninth Bobcat to do so under Jeff Boals.
OHIO IN THE MAC
Senior guard Jackson Paveletzke is currently sixth in the conference in scoring (17.1), fourth in assists (4.8) and first in minutes (35.7).
Senior forward Aidan Hadaway is fourth in the league in rebounding (7.6).
Freshman guard JJ Kelly is ninth in the MAC in field goal percentage (.587).
Senior guard Ajay Sheldon is sixth in the MAC in steals (1.7).
OHIO IN NET
The Bobcats are currently ranked 208 in the latest NET rankings, with Ball State ranked at 328
Akron leads the conference in NET this week at 58.
BOBCATS IN THE NCAA
Ohio is currently ranked 73rd in the nation in field goal percentage.
Senior guard Jackson Paveletzke is currently 19th in the nation in minutes per game, 77th in assists, 80th in assists per game and 100th in field goal percentage.
Senior forward Aidan Hadaway is 74th in rebounds, 71st in defensive rebounds per game, and 100th in rebounds per game. He is also 88th in double doubles.
Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons is 64th in the nation in free throw attempts.
Senior guard Ajay Sheldon is 89th in the NCAA in steals.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats head back to Athens, Ohio on Tuesday, Jan. 20 when the Bobcats host Northern Illinois for the final time as a member of the MAC. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center and can be seen on ESPN+.
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