For the second straight game, the Ohio men's basketball team won in dramatic fashion under guard Jeremy Fears' leadership. Fears had career highs with seven rebounds and seven made field goals while posting 14 points.
However, Fears' biggest play came with Ohio (15-9 overall, 9-6 Mid-American Conference) up three points with six seconds left, when he blocked the shot of driving Eastern Michigan guard Michael Ross and sealed Ohio's 68-65 victory.
I didn't even think about it
Fears said, He got past me and I went up and made a play.
Ohio jumped out to a large lead in the first half courtesy of two big scoring runs, including a 13-1 run going into the lockers. Forward Leon Williams led Ohio, scoring 11 points in the first half and helping Ohio to a 38-23 lead.
In the second half, Ohio's lead diminished with runs of 6-0 and 8-0 by the Eagles. Eastern Michigan continued to maintain its intensity and eventually tied the game with 7:35 left. Ohio made its final push with 5:28 left, highlighted by a Williams' dunk. The team never allowed Eastern within two points again.
The Eagles and Bobcats traded free throws throughout the rest of the game before guard Michael Ross tried to drive on Fears. But when Ross went to put up the shot, Fears rejected it, sending the ball into the hands of center Clay McGowen and all but sealing the game for Ohio.
Following the game, Ohio coach Tim O'Shea spoke about how different Ohio's play was during the second half.
The first half was fine he said. I thought it was a pretty good effort. Obviously
the second half wasn't the type of basketball we want to play
but we feel fortunate to have a win
and that's the most important thing now.
Williams also spoke about how Eastern Michigan never let up during the second half.
I think we just got complacent
Williams said, They came out and out-hustled us for rebounds
and we just didn't come out with the energy we wanted to.
Despite Ohio's lack of ability to maintain a lead that grew to as many as 17 points during the second half, O'Shea was still happy to defeat a veteran team like Eastern Michigan.
We know we're a lot better than that
O'Shea said. We don't have any false sense of who we are that we can take anyone lightly.
Ohio's next game is slated for Saturday when they travel to take on Marshall. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. in Huntington, W.Va.
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