The Bobcats couldn't ring in the new year on the right note.
Despite efforts from D.J. Cooper and Jay Kinney, the Bobcats failed to erase a horrific first half, losing 81-79 to Robert Morris Saturday night.
This marks the fifth game in a row that Ohio (8-5) fell behind early. In three of the four previous games, the Bobcats clawed their way back to victory, but that didn't happen at Robert Morris.
We really focused on (getting a better start) the last two days
coach John Groce said. I don't know why that's the case.
Following a Tommy Freeman 3-pointer to start, the Colonials went on a 22-3 run that lasted until the 11:55 mark in the first half, giving Robert Morris (6-7) a 16-point lead.
But Kinney gave Ohio life, going on a 10-0 run by himself, which was fueled by two 3-pointers. He finished the half shooting 4-of-4 for 3s and scoring 16 points, while the Bobcats went into halftime down 39-35.
He led all scorers with a career-high 25 points, going 6-of-7 on 3-pointers.
(Kinney) was the big reason we were able to make the comeback Groce said. He had been shooting the ball like that the last two days at practice and we're glad for him to be able to do that in game setting.
The teams started the second half trading baskets before Kinney was fouled on a 3-point basket. Kinney hit the free throw with 15:28 in the second half to tie the game. A Kenneth van Kempen free throw 30 seconds later gave Ohio its first lead since 19:27 remaining in the first half.
The Bobcats held the lead until Mezie Nwigwe scored a fast break layup for the Colonials at 9:52 to give Robert Morris a 59-58 lead, the last lead change of the game.
However, it wasn't because of a lack of effort from Cooper.
The freshman guard scored seven points and had four steals in the final nine-and-a-half minutes of the game. He finished the game with 22 points and six steals.
(Cooper) made a ton of plays to put us into position to have a chance to win the game
Groce said.
However, Cooper missed a couple of opportunities to give Ohio the lead in the closing minutes.
The Bobcats scored only five points off his four steals. Cooper missed two jumpers on the fast break, including a jumper with 2:59 remaining that would have given Ohio a 74-73 lead.
Cooper was also called for a questionable charge call in the final 10 seconds and with a chance to tie the game at 79. His disallowed shot went in, but it didn't mean a thing and didn't help the Bobcats.
Cooper's and Kinney's efforts were undermined by the Colonials' offensive rebounding effort.
Robert Morris grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and scored 17 second-chance points on their way to a 41-28 edge on the boards. At halftime, the Bobcats trailed by just three in the rebounding column.
We got to find a way to get down and dirty and nasty-gang rebound the ball as a group
Groce said. We didn't do that very well in the second half.
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Sports
Matt Wagner
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Ohio guard Steven Coleman is fouled by Alphonso Dawson as he breaks toward the basket in the first half of Ohio
