CLEVELAND ' Bubba Walther knew he was sick, but he didn't play like it.
Walther surged for 19 points to lead the Bobcats to a 69-59 win over Bowling Green in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament yesterday.
After testing negative for mononucleosis on Monday, Walther was back to his old self against the No. 12-seeded Falcons as he gave the No. 5-seeded Bobcats a lift from the bench. After subbing in early in the second half, Walther found his stroke hitting three 3-pointers in just over a minute to give Ohio a 41-36 advantage with 15:56 remaining.
I got all the time in the world to rest if we lose
Walther said. I was going to do whatever to help my team win.
His spurt of nine points in 63 seconds was what the Bobcats needed as they took control of the contest down the stretch. Walther made five 3-pointers, including an NBA-range shot that capped his scoring barrage.
I get on those (sprees) from time to time and coach gave me the green light Walther said. I knew I was going to take that (deep) one before I shot it. I felt it was time for me to step up for my team after letting them down the game before.
Not only did Walther's shooting fill his stat sheet, but it also opened up the floor for Ohio's inside offense. After Walther punished the Falcons with his deep shot, they over-pursued the guard, which got forward Leon Williams open on offense.
Williams followed Walther's three 3-pointers with three layups. After getting the ball in the post a fourth straight time, Williams kicked it back to Walther for his fourth 3-pointer of the game.
We were taking what they gave us and didn't rush anything
but I thought Bubba was key tonight because he opened up our whole offense and we could spread their defense more
Williams said. We struggled a little in the first half
and then he hit those big threes
but he is a great shooter and that is expected.
Williams scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds on a night in which Ohio out-rebounded its opposition 46-26. Helping out inside was Jerome Tillman, who notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Like Williams, coach Tim O'Shea credited Walther with opening up Ohio's offense.
Bubba was huge. He hit those three 3s in a row
and that got our energy going and got us a bit of a lead
O'Shea said. From that point on
we played a lot better and we got the ball in to Leon in a critical part of the second half.
The victory will bring the Bobcats to another MAC Tournament matchup with Miami, the No. 4 seed, at 2 p.m. tomorrow. It is the third straight year the Bobcats will meet the RedHawks in Cleveland.
