Michael Allen has walked up to the free-throw line countless times and calmly swished free throws.
As a 70 percent foul shooter, Allen definitely makes more free throws than he misses.
But Sunday against first-place Buffalo, he missed two crucial free throws that would have given the Bobcats a chance to beat the Bulls on Senior Day.
Rather than thinking about those misses, though, Allen has tried his best to put it behind him.
You can't dwell on the past
Allen said. You have to keep staying positive.
Like Allen, coach John Groce has tried to keep his team positive after the Bobcats lost a game where they held a 10-point lead with three and half minutes to go.
He said that before the breakdown at the end of the game, his team had played its most complete basketball week of the season, including Ohio's 75-56 victory over Miami last Thursday.
Groce said Ohio (14-14, 7-7 Mid-American Conference) can't forget about the way it lost the game.
You learn from every circumstance Groce said. We've got to build on that and not allow the last three or four minutes of Sunday's game deter us from moving forward.
Ohio's game against Buffalo wasn't the first time it had a breakdown at the end of a game.
On Jan. 17, the Bobcats let a double-digit lead evaporate against the Bulls. The Bobcats held a 10-point lead against Akron on Jan. 20 and let the lead slip away before winning in overtime.
I don't think it's rocket science Groce said. To close a game
well you've got to take care of the basketball
you've got to get stops
and you've got to step up to the line and make free throws.
It was like the perfect storm for us against Buffalo.
Since the game against Akron back in January
the teams have gone in opposite directions. While Ohio has gone 4-7
the Zips have gone 9-3 to position themselves at the top of the MAC.
Ohio guard Tommy Freeman knows revenge will certainly be on the minds of Akron after the Bobcats' victory in Athens.
They're definitely going to be ready for us once we get off the bus, Freeman said. They expected to come in here and physically out tough us.
The Bobcats will need to show toughness on the road - a place that has plagued them all season.
In the final week of the season
Ohio has two chances to improve its 2-11 road record.
Everybody is going to think we can't get it done, Allen said. But as long as we believe, that's all that matters.
,",2,Sports,Steve Gartner,27397a.jpg,Ohio guard Michael Allen drives the ball to the hoop during the Bobcats
