Ohio falls to Kent State, 89-82, after second-half comeback.
KENT — Ohio’s Kenny Kaminski's and Antonio Campbell’s games are beautiful.
Campbell utilizes his big body off screen-and-rolls to punish interior defenses. Kaminski, on the other hand, uses finesse to come off perimeter screens and harass defenses beyond the arc.
The opposite styles of plays were smothered, however, Saturday night in mustard yellow jerseys and fan screeches, as Ohio (10-6, 1-3 Mid-American Conference) dropped its second-straight MAC game to Kent State, 89-82.
“It’s extremely disappointing,” Kaminski said. “This is the hardest I’ve worked in my life. We got a group of guys that love each other and do anything we can for each other. It sucks.”
Both scored 21 points, but the Bobcats slipped up in the second half after trailing just 38-37 at the half. Treg Setty and Gavin Block — who was hampered by a hamstring injury earlier this week — added 12 points along with 44 and 50 percent shooting from the field, respectively.
Campbell said after the loss that Ohio will harp on on-ball defense before Tuesday’s matchup with Western Michigan. Kaminski added that the Bobcats need to foul less.
Ohio committed 26 fouls in the loss while playing without freshman Jordan Dartis, who sat because of a concussion suffered during Friday’s practice.
“In our second halves, I think teams have gone in at halftime and said ‘OK, we’re just gonna drive it down their throat,' ” Ohio coach Saul Phillips said. “And some of it is individually. We got to do a better job of defending without fouling, of angling players east and west. Some of it is personal. Who is my lockdown defender? I don’t really have one yet and I got to get one. So if any young defensive stoppers are listening right now, there’s a 'Help Wanted' sign at Ohio University.”
In the second half, Ohio gave up 51 points as Kent State took advantage of being inside the bonus. The Golden Flashes went 27-36 from the free-throw line Saturday.
Despite Kaminski's and Campbell’s beautiful play at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center and a 15-point comeback in the second half, Ohio’s weakness continues to be its defense. Since the start of MAC play, the Bobcats have surrendered 83 points per game.
The Bobcats will have the chance to halt it's two game slide on Tuesday inside The Convo.
“When we can guard the ball … we’ll become a great team,” Campbell said. “Until then, we keep getting blown by and guys are getting in foul trouble, like myself.”
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