Everything happened on Saturday in order for Ohio to secure a No. 1 seed in the MAC Tournament. Everything except for an Ohio victory.
The Bobcats (17-10 overall, 11-7 Mid-American Conference) let a chance at a tie for a MAC East title slip through their fingers with an 82-65 loss at Kent State (19-11, 11-7 MAC). Instead, the Bobcats find themselves as a No. 4 seed, and will take on Marshall tonight.
I'm just really pleased with my team because we were picked 13th by just about everybody
Ohio coach Tim O'Shea said. Obviously it would've been phenomenal to win here today and get the No.1 seed but you've got to keep that in perspective. A Miami loss to Marshall earlier in the afternoon opened the door for Ohio to move up in the standings. Then Western Michigan and Akron both fell and Toledo won, leaving the No. 1 seed Ohio's for the taking.
But foul trouble and poor shooting in the second half hurt Ohio. The Bobcats were whistled for 27 fouls on the night, 16 in the second half. Most costly for the Bobcats was foul trouble for Sonny Troutman, who scored 19 points in only 23 minutes, fouling out with 6:53 left in the game.
It was very frustrating he said. I felt like I was going good I felt like I could've been out there to help my team. Unfortunately I got charged with a couple fouls early and had to sit. Poor shooting also plagued the Bobcats in the second half. Ohio shot 38 percent in the second half, making only eight field goals as they were outscored 49-30 in the second half.
Kent State was also whistled for a lot of fouls, 22 on the night, but overcame it by shooting 61 percent in the second half.
Mychal Green also was in foul trouble for much of the game and only played 25 minutes.
We just stopped making shots
Green said. They got to the free throw line a lot
so that's what helped them. They didn't really execute their offense too well. They knocked down a lot of free throws and that was good for them. Jeremy Fears and Leon Williams were held to a combined nine points, just days after the two combined for 55 points.
Kent State was led in scoring by its lone senior, Jason Edwin, who scored 17 points. DeAndre Haynes put in 16 points for Kent and Jay Youngblood contributed 14 points.
The Bobcats now turn their focus on the MAC Tournament, where they face Marshall (6-21, 3-15 MAC), a team they swept in the regular season. Despite its poor record, the Thundering Herd still have big wins under their belt. Three of their six wins have come against West Virginia, Ball State and Miami.
We've beaten Marshall twice
but that will certainly have no bearing Monday night
O'Shea said. I'm sure they're going to come all guns blazing and give us everything we can possibly handle. Ohio and Marshall will play for a chance to go to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament with tip-off scheduled for 9 p.m. tonight in The Convo.
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Kevin Wiseman
