Jordan Dartis hit a clutch, late-game 3-pointer to push Ohio past North Carolina Greensboro.
Jordan Dartis has hit “big time” shots before, Jeff Quackenbush, his high school coach, said.
Quackenbush said it was one of main reasons Dartis and his brother, Jalen, were so dangerous playing for Newark High School, as the two took Quackenbush’s team to four district titles.
So when Ohio and North Carolina Greensboro were tied at 67 with 24 seconds to play Monday night, Dartis had no problem hoisting a falling 3-point shot to give the Bobcats a three-point lead.
“It’s (ranked) up there,” Dartis said when asked where the 3-pointer lands in his “all-time” clutch shots. “It’s ranked up there pretty high.”
The Bobcats held on to the lead and won 72-67, advancing to the College Basketball Invitational semifinal round, which will take place Wednesday night. Ohio will play Morehead State inside The Convo. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
Dartis finished with 14 points; Jaaron Simmons finished with 19 points and eight assists. Simmon’s eight assists broke D.J. Cooper’s season assist record (263) early in the first half.
“It’s a blessing, really,” Simmons said. “He’s known as the best point guard to ever come out of Ohio and I can’t even put it into words.”
After two close wins to open the CBI, the words, “Ohio,” “CBI” and “heart attack” have become almost synonymous.
The Spartans built up a 15-point lead by bombarding the Bobcats with 3-pointers and attacking the rim early and often. North Carolina Greensboro shot 6-of-13 from beyond the arc at halftime, before finishing 10-of-28.
Ohio, though, scrapped back with 11 stops in 14 North Carolina Greensboro possessions late.
“I think it’s pretty clear, although it’s a long process and you’re just adding more practices, it’s pretty clear that deep down in their hearts there’s no way they want to be done,” Ohio coach Saul Phillips said.
With six minutes to play, a thunderous Antonio Campbell slam dunk might as well have been the Greek god Zeus yelling for Ohio to finally wake up.
Down 62-51, Campbell took a pass from Simmons and slammed the ball with two hands — electrifying The Convo in the process. Campbell finished with 17 points and 19 rebounds Monday.
“Gotta tip your cap to those guys for the way they fought back in the second half,” North Carolina Greensboro coach Wes Miller said. “They made a nice, little run there. We were shooting it well.”
Ohio trailed 38-32 heading into the locker room.
But Dartis’ clutch 3-pointer, Simmons’ wizardy and tenacity to keep playing gave Ohio its 12th win in the previous 16 games.
“If you shelled out 20 bucks to come to the past two games, I’ve hoped you enjoyed them,” Phillips said. “They we’re both very fun and rewarding to be a part of.”
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