coach John Groce said. (Yesterday) we practiced as well as we've probably practiced all year
and I thought we had great carryover into tonight's game. The halftime spread on The Convo's scoreboard last night was almost like an alternative reality.
Ohio played an entirely different game than its last time on the court and cruised to a 90-74 victory against Western Michigan.
The defense fell apart in the second half of Ohio's 70-61 loss to Eastern Michigan Saturday, allowing Eastern Michigan to shoot 58 percent from the field after the break.
But Ohio put the clamp on the Broncos last night and let the offense do the rest.
Quick rotations and tight pressure forced Western Michigan to take many contested shots. The Broncos shot just 32 percent in the first half and scored 25 points. Ohio led 45-25 at the break, while capitalizing on its 16 forced turnovers by scoring 25 points off of them.
We didn't think our defense was where it needed to be in the second half Saturday against Eastern (Michigan) coach John Groce said. (Yesterday) we practiced as well as we've probably practiced all year
and I thought we had great carryover into tonight's game.
The Broncos (13-11, 5-6 Mid-American Conference) used the full-court press against the Bobcats (13-11, 4-6 MAC) to increase the pace of the game in the second half. They made a run at first, but Ohio's guards attacked the press and didn't let Western Michigan get within 13 points in the second half.
I thought that was the best we handled the press all year
and it led to some open shots
guard Tommy Freeman said.
Offensively, Ohio executed as well as it has all season. The Bobcats shot 54 percent from the field and made 14 3-pointers, both season highs.
Armon (Bassett) and D.J. (Cooper) were able to get into the lane
and I thought we collapsed their defense a lot
Freeman said.
We hit the one more guy when we kicked out to our guards the best we've done all year
also
he said.
Freeman scored a career-high 30 points and Bassett added 21 and nine assists. Bassett has averaged 20 points in the two games since being sent to the locker room during Ohio's game against Toledo last week.
It's not about individual matchups out there
Bassett said. We're trying to get the win and trying to get progress.
Junior DeVaughn Washington returned from his indefinite suspension - sort of.
Washington, who missed five games for violating team rules and policies, did not start but checked in at the 12:55 mark of the first half.
He entered the game with energy but continued a pre-suspension habit of constantly fouling the opposition. Washington committed four fouls in just six minutes of action.
He's been working extremely hard (on not fouling)
