echoed through The Convo, a common symbol of protecting the team's home court.
As the lights went off for the men's basketball team's pregame introduction Saturday, Bon Jovi's This is Our House echoed through The Convo, a common symbol of protecting the team's home court.
Two hours later, the Bobcats failed once again to adhere to that message.
Ohio's 73-68 loss to Buffalo was the Bobcats' eighth home loss of the season - the most in The Convo's 43-year history. The Bobcats couldn't hold a 43-25 halftime advantage, their fourth blown double-digit, second-half lead at home this year.
(It was) quite honestly
as disheartening and embarrassing a loss that we've had here in three years
coach John Groce said after the game. I'm disappointed in the way that we responded to having a lead at the half ... we just didn't come out and respond the way we needed to.
The Bulls attacked Ohio by scoring the first eight points of the second half. Buffalo pulled even with the Bobcats 11 minutes into the period before eventually taking over the game in the closing minutes.
I just didn't like the look in our guys' eyes
Groce said. It's unacceptable. It starts with me. It's my fault. We shouldn't react that way respond that way
and that's my fault.
For much of the season, Groce said he wanted to focus on the team getting better as a whole, not necessarily win/loss records at home or on the road.
But the home losses can't be ignored anymore. Losing an 18-point halftime lead is uncommon. For it to happen at home, especially with a season-high 10,427 fans in attendance, reflects a deeper problem than the horrid 20-minute span of basketball.
Ohio had only nine losses at home in the previous four seasons, and last year's four defeats at The Convo were the most since 2003-04.
In my four years this is close (to rock bottom)
senior guard/forward Tommy Freeman said. I've never really known what it felt like
but this is probably as close to it as I've ever felt.
Some of Ohio's home struggles could be attributed to an increased level of competition, as the three of the teams to beat Ohio in The Convo - Oakland, Temple and Robert Morris - made the NCAA Tournament last year.
Still, the Bobcats have lost six of their past seven home games and haven't won in Athens since Dec. 30, a span including three Mid-American Conference games.
Whatever the reason for the struggles, if the Bobcats have any hopes of improving their overall record, finding a way to win at home has to be an important step.
Eight home losses is obviously the most I've ever been a part of
Freeman said. We can't really do anything to change it now
so we need to buck up and get on to the next game. We got another home one on Wednesday.
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