After seven losses by five points or less, the Bobcats finally had a couple go their way.
Ohio's two most recent wins - 64-59 against Wright State last Saturday and 70-68 over Miami Wednesday - broke the pattern of four consecutive losses in games decided by five or less points and improved the team's record in those games to 3-7.
We've been in a lot of close games over the season and come up on the short end on the majority of them
junior Tommy Freeman said. So we really worked hard with our execution late game - especially with the few plays we have.
One of the plays Freeman may have been referring to was the full-court press that the Bobcats employed Wednesday.
Behind by a point with 29.3 seconds remaining, Ohio forced Miami to inbound the ball three times by tipping passes out of bounds.
When the RedHawks finally put the ball in play, junior DeVaughn Washington stole it in the backcourt and scored on two free throws.
The timing of the recent wins is beneficial because it gives the team a boost heading toward the postseason, Freeman said.
To be able to pull out these last two close one gives us real good confidence going into the tournament Freeman said
We're trying to finish strong in (Mid-American Conference) play and hopefully get a home game in the first round of the tournament.
With just two games remaining on the regular-season schedule, the MAC tournament looms. The Bobcats lost to Bowling Green in the second round of last year's tournament and have not advanced past that point since the 2005-2006 campaign.
The amount of close games Ohio has played - 15 decided by nine points or less - can benefit the team in the postseason, Freeman said.
We feel like we can play with any team in the MAC night in and night out
Freeman said. If we can execute late game - because most of the games in the MAC do end up less than 10 points - then we feel like we put ourselves in a better position to come out with wins.
As always, coach John Groce said he wants his team to take things one day at a time and not think too far down the road.
Right now
we're focused on Buffalo
Groce said.
2
Sports
Vince Nairn
30814a.jpg
