When Ohio’s starters were being introduced before their matchup against No. 10 Ohio State, a pair of Bobcats received a thunderous applause from the crowd at Value City Arena from their hometown faithful.
Guards Nick Kellogg, a senior, and Stevie Taylor, a junior, are not only roommates off the court, but Central Ohio natives that didn’t disappoint their Columbus fans Tuesday, when each scored 21 points to help pace the Bobcats in a 79-69 loss to Ohio State.
The Bobcats trailed 64-53 with six minutes left in the second half when Kellogg drove the lane for a reverse layup, and Ohio State senior guard Aaron Craft missed a layup on the Buckeyes’ ensuing possession, both before Taylor converted a three-point play to continue Ohio’s second half comeback.
“It was definitely a good feeling after getting an and-one,” Taylor said. “Me and Nick kind of lost our minds a little, but we were so energized. There was a lot of energy; we had to let it out some way, so I think it was a good feel point for our team and helped us get back in the game.”
Craft said he was familiar with the duo’s potential, which they certainly showed against the Buckeyes.
“(Kellogg and Taylor) are great players,” Craft said. “We saw that this summer when they came (to Columbus) and played. Obviously they made a couple shots early and they started playing with a lot of confidence. Nick hit a big shot down the stretch and Stevie really carried them in the first half, keeping them in it.”
Tuesday was the first time the Bobcat guards had collegiately played in Value City Arena, but they previously competed there in state final four games while in high school.
Kellogg played in the Buckeyes’ home arena during the state final four with St. Francis De Sales High School in his freshman and junior years, where he posted a 25-point performance in his second appearance. Taylor also competed in the arena in 2010 in the final four with Gahanna Lincoln High School his junior year, when his squad lost to Massillon Jackson.
“(2010) was a bad experience,” Taylor said. “So I’m glad I got to release the demons and play well (on Tuesday).”
The duo scored 61 percent of Ohio’s total points and Taylor’s 21 points were a career-high. Kellogg had not surpassed 20 points in a game since Jan. 5 last season when he scored 22 points against Marshall.
The guards also finished with career-high eight field goals apiece, which was a stark difference in comparison to other players, as no one else finished with more than four makes from the field. Kellogg and Taylor also combined for all five of Ohio’s makes from beyond the arc and committed just two of Ohio’s 34 fouls.
Kellogg, who is one of five seniors on the team, enjoyed returning to the former school of his father Clark, an alumnus of Ohio State, where he played basketball from 1979-82.
“Obviously, growing up in Columbus and my pops being who he is, I guess this in a sense is home,” Kellogg said. “At the end of the day, I prefer Athens, but it was nice to come back to Columbus.”
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@Brandon_Kors
