PREGAME
The Bobcats start the 2013-2014 campaign Saturday against the Northern Iowa Panthers.
Ohio enters the season opener with eight newcomers on the season after bowing out in the NIT last season. The two squads met during the 2011 season in Cedar Falls, where the Bobcats defeated the Panthers 76-59. The Bobcats defeated Ashland in an exhibition contest last Saturday 66-44. Senior guard Nick Kellogg paced the Bobcats with 12 points while junior guard Stevie Taylor added 10 points and six rebounds. The Panthers, who participated in the CIT last season, have coasted through a pair of exhibition games. Northern Iowa is led by preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference junior forward Seth Tuttle.
FIRST HALF
Bobcats jump out to an early 17-11 lead with 11:40 remaining in the first half. Senior forward Ricardo Johnson leads all Bobcats with six points.
Ohio senior forward Jon Smith with an emphatic slam dunk as Ohio leads 19-12 with 11:00 minutes reamaining until halftime.
Junior forward Maurice Ndour with two turnaround baskets in the last two minutes, which has extended Ohio's lead to 23-16 with less than 8:13 left in the half.
Northern Iowa chips in four quick points with less than five minutes to go in the first half, as OHio still leads 25-22.
After a Ndour three-pointer Norhern Iowas quickly answers with a three of their own by senior forward Chip Rank to cut Ohio's lead to one. There is 3:42 remaining in the first half with a timeout on the floor.
Ohio leads at halftime 39-32.
SECOND HALF
Ndour adds another trifecta as Ohio pads their lead to 43-37 with 16:20 left in the contest.
Timeout at the Convo as the Bobcats lead the Panthers 50-44 with 11:42 remaining in the game.
Ricardo Johnson chips in two points as the Bobcats lead 61-57 with 7:01 left in the game. Johnson now has 14 points as well as three rebounds for the game.
Bobcats senior guard Nick Kellogg connects on his third three-pointer for the half. Ohio leads 67-59 with 4:35 left in the game. Kellogg now has 10 points for the game.
Ndour adds another block to his strong resume on the day as he blocks another shot. Ohio leads 75-64.
And Ohio starts the season with a win, as the Bobcats defeat Norhtern Iowa 75-64.
