It has been documented this year that the Bobcats are a different offensive team when guards Nick Kellogg and Stevie Taylor produce for Ohio.
The Bobcats' contest against Longwood on Monday was no different, as the duo scored 20-second half points to defeat the Lancers 78-43.
Kellogg, who scored nine points in the first half, led all scorers with 17 points in the game.
The Bobcats (9-3) closed out 2013 on a winning note against
Longwood (5-9) thanks to an offensive-heavy second half, where they scored 46 of their 78 points.
Ohio used a balanced offensive scoring attack to overcome the Lancers as five Bobcats recorded double figures.
The Bobcats opened the game with a lethargic start that yielded nine turnovers. Although they outrebounded the Lancers 10-2, they were unable to gain momentum until late in the first half, when they led by ten.
However, the Lancers clawed back to decrease the deficit and the Bobcats closed out the first half clinging to a four-point lead. Ohio shot 35.7 percent from the field and 20 percent from behind the arc in the first stanza.
Coach Jim Christian said he was proud of the team’s effort in the second half, after a less than stellar first half.
“We had to challenge some guys (at halftime),” Christian said. “They responded in a way I would expect them to respond and was proud of it. Every guy that stepped in did what we wanted them to do.”
Ohio looked like a completely different team in the second half, capitalizing on Longwood’s missed opportunities, as the Lancers opened the half making four of 13 baskets. On the flipside, the Bobcats converted their first six attempts from behind the arc, which set the tempo for the remainder of the contest.
Taylor set the tone on Ohio’s first possession when he buried a three-pointer and recorded a block at the other end of the floor. After a dunk by junior forward Maurice Ndour, the offensive onslaught began.
Ohio opened the second half with a 13-4 run and increased its lead to 22 points with 10:48 remaining in the contest.
The Bobcats excelled defensively, as they held the Lancers to less than 50 points and grabbed 34 defensive rebounds.
Ohio had 54 total rebounds in the game, while Longwood scored just 15 points in the second half.
The Lancers were held to zero field goals in the last 8:45 in the contest. Longwood averaged 74.5 points a contest before the bout with Ohio.
Ohio did an admirable job of holding Lancers senior guard Tristan Carey to seven points, much below his average of 20 points per game.
Bobcat’s senior guard Ricardo Johnson said containing Carey was a major emphasis for the squad.
“Our scouting report was circled around him (Carey),” Johnson said. “So if we take him out of the picture (we wanted to) make other guys that aren’t players-make them players.”
