FOLLOW OHIO MEN'S BASKETBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio men's basketball team (9-7, 3-1 MAC) are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 10 when the Bobcats host Buffalo (13-2, 3-0 MAC). Tip-off is set for 2 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 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 60th all-time meeting between Ohio and Buffalo.
Ohio leads the all-time series, 39-20.
Ohio is 8-3 against Buffalo since Jeff Boals took over in 2019-20.
The two teams met once last season, with Ohio defeating the Bulls, 88-79 in Buffalo.
Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons is recorded his 1,000 career point on Jan. 6 against UMass.
The Bobcats are coming off an 86-63 win over UMass at home on Tuesday.
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 198 in the latest NET rankings, with opponent Buffalo in at 136.
SCOUTING BUFFALO
Buffalo is currently 13-2 overall and 3-0 in MAC play. Buffalo is coming off a home win over Ball State on Jan. 3.
Overall, Buffalo averages 79.9 points per game, while shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 39.5 percent from three and 74.9 percent from the line. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 70.5 points per game, while shooting 43.8 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from three and 75.0 percent from the line.
Buffalo is averaging 32.5 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 7.8 steals and 2.5 blocks a game, while forcing opponents to turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times a game, scoring 14.1 points off them. Buffalo opponents are averaging 31.4 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.2 steals and 2.3 blocks a game, while forcing 10.3 turnovers a contest, scoring 11.5 points off them.
Leading Buffalo is Daniel Freitag with 19.7 points and 4.9 rebounds a game, while shooting 43.7 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from three and 82.6 percent from the line. Ryan Sabol adds 17.1 points, while shooting 44.0 percent from the field and 92.0 percent from the line, with Angelo Brizzi adding 11.3 points and a 49.5 percent field goal percentage.
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio is 9-7 overall after defeating UMass, 86-83, Tuesday night in Athens.
Ohio is averaging 77.3 points a game, while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 30.0 percent from three and 67.0 percent from the line. The Bobcats also add 34.8 rebounds a game, while dishing out 14.2 assists and recording 7.0 steals a contest. Ohio is also forcing opponents to turn the ball over 14.2 times a game, scoring on average 14.9 points off them.
Meanwhile, Ohio opponents are averaging 75.6 points a game, while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from three and 72.8 percent from the line. Opponents are averaging 36.4 rebounds, 13.6 assists and 6.8 steals a game, while forcing Ohio to turn the ball over an average of 12.1 times a game, while scoring on average 12.7 points off them.
Individually, Ohio is led by senior guard Jackson Paveletzke with 16.5 points and 4.5 assists a game, while shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three. Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons adds 13.2 points and 4.8 rebounds a game, while shooting 50.0 percent from the field, while senior forward Aidan Hadaway adds 12.7 points and 7.7 rebounds a game, while shooting 45.1 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from the line, while
ALL-TIME AGAINST BUFFALO
This is the 60th all-time meeting between Ohio and Buffalo.
Ohio leads the all-time series, 39-20.
Ohio is 8-3 against Buffalo since Jeff Boals took over in 2019-20.
LAST AGAINST BUFFALO
The two teams met once last season, with Ohio defeating the Bulls, 88-79 in Buffalo.
In that game, Aidan Hadaway scored 17 points, going 7-of-10 from the field and grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds.
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 seventh in the conference in scoring (16.5), fifth in assists (4.5) and first in minutes (35.5).
Senior forward Aidan Hadaway is third in the league in rebounding (7.7).
OHIO IN NET
The Bobcats are currently ranked 198 in the latest NET rankings, with Buffalo ranked above them at 136.
Akron leads the conference in NET this week at 53.
BOBCATS IN THE NCAA
Senior guard Jackson Paveletzke is currently 20th in the nation in minutes per game.
Senior forward Aidan Hadaway is 73rd in rebounds, 53rd in defensive rebounds per game, and 97th in rebounds per game.
Redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons is 69th in the nation in free throw attempts.
CONVO MAGIC
Ohio has registered an impressive 584-188 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
Ohio is 79-20 in the Convo under Boals in the last seven seasons.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats are back on the road Tuesday, Jan. 13 when Ohio heads to Toledo, Ohio to take on Toledo. Tip-off is set fro 7 p.m. ET inside Savage Arena and can be seen on ESPN+.
#OUohyeah
