Resiliency is becoming a defining trait for the Ohio men's basketball team. On Saturday, the Bobcats answered every challenge that Western Michigan presented on their way to an 89-85 victory, their fifth win in a row and sixth win in seven games.
Western Michigan (15-7 overall, 8-4 Mid-American Conference) led for almost the entire game in a bid to end Ohio's home winning streak, but the Bobcats were not to be denied. They ended the game on a 22-8 run over the last 7:36, stayed undefeated at home and remained very much a factor in the conference race.
We always think we're going to win
guard Mychal Green said. We've got a never-die attitude.
Ohio coach Tim O'Shea said his team (12-7, 7-4 MAC) has now beat the elite of the league with the victory against the defending MAC champions.
Western Michigan came in here and played well he said. They made shots all over the place they made difficult shots
and we were still able to win that game.
Western Michigan's guard Ben Reed gave Ohio fits all day. He scored his team's first nine points, dropped in 18 in the first half alone and finished with a game-high 27. Reed twice put his index finger to his lips in a motion meant to quiet the O-Zone.
I was feeling good tonight
Reed said. I'd rather have two points and a win then however many I had and a loss.
Much to the delight of the crowd in The Convo, Reed picked up his fourth foul with 9:45 remaining in the game when he fouled guard Sonny Troutman on a 3-point shot. After Troutman nailed all three free throws, the Ohio deficit was only five points, 70-65.
But the Broncos proved they had players other than Reed. Levi Rost -who contributed 20 points and whose 3-point shot put the Broncos up 77-67 -helped lead a 7-2 Broncos run with Reed on the bench.
Ohio showed very quickly that it was not down and out, as the Bobcats took only two minutes to go on a 10-0 run to tie the game, 77-77. Two Green 3-point shots accounted for six of the points.
Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins put Reed and his four fouls back in the game, and as the Broncos did for most of the game, they answered an Ohio run. Reed and Rost both nailed 3-point shots as Western Michigan pushed its lead back up to six points with only 2:49 remaining.
But guard Jeff Halbert exemplified Ohio's resiliency facing the deficit. He calmly hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 83-80 on the next possession. At that point, Halbert was zero-for-seven from the field and had missed five 3-point shots in a row, but he didn't hesitate to take the shot.
In the final minute of regulation, the Bobcats looked to Green, and as he did last Saturday, he came through for Ohio. Green scored five consecutive points to give Ohio its first lead since the opening minutes of the game, 87-85. His go-ahead 3-point shot in front of the Ohio bench came with 24 seconds left and launched the crowd into a frenzied state.
They got confidence in me
Green said of his teammates. So I told Sonny if you drive
and you thought you can't get it
just kick it out
and I'll make it. And I just shot it
and it went in.
Ohio's defense rode the momentum and forced Reed into a missed jump shot close to the basket. Guard Jeremy Fears grabbed the rebound and then made two free throws for the final score of 89-85.
Troutman had an all-around spectacular game for Ohio as he scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds and tallied six assists. Green led the team in scoring with 25 points and also collected eight rebounds. Green and Troutman shot nearly 70 percent from the field, combining to go 18-for-26. Troutman has scored 41 points and added 13 assists in the past two games.
We've been running a couple plays that I've been penetrating
and the defense has been letting me get to the middle of the lane
