Ohio (2-6 overall) has had one of the toughest and most competitive schedules to start the 2025-26 season. The common factor in each of the first seven games for the Bobcats was the offensive production of senior guard Jackson Paveletzke, who was averaging over 18 points per game coming into Wednesday night's 79-57 win against Maine (0-9 overall).
This midweek matchup in The Convo had a different tune, as Paveletzke turned in his quietest performance of the year with only six points. Ohio needed to produce points from somewhere else and did so early with the big men, senior forward Aidan Hadaway and redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons, who scored the first eight for the Bobcats, who jumped out to an early 8-4 advantage.
“We knew they were going to double team, but we knew they weren’t physical enough to compete with me, (redshirt senior forward Javen), Breath and Hadaway," Simmons said. “(The guards) cut, and if we didn't have it (down low), we would just hit them, and then we would get open buckets, but sometimes they would leave that double team early, (and we would be able to take advantage ourselves).”
Ohio took the lead and ran with it throughout the first half, and that would not have been possible without the stellar play from the bench unit that tallied 17 first-half points together, including six on two big three-pointers from Elijah Elliott and another three-pointer from senior guard Dior Conners. The bench group helped extend the lead as Ohio went into the locker room up 38-23.
“Great energy,” head coach Jeff Boals of his second unit said. “They did a lot of really good things. Breath didn't finish in the first half, but he did a really good job in the second half. Elliott gave great minutes. I think he was +25 in 20 minutes, so positively impacting the game. Conners hit a big three, had some good finishes off post feeds when he cut, and it was good to see Burris there, we want to give him a shot.”
Ohio finished the first half hot and came out even hotter due to the play of freshman guard JJ Kelly. Kelly was playing hard, scoring six of Ohio’s first eight points out of the break. He started six for six on the night, taking his point total up to 11, and Ohio’s lead 46-28. Kelly has been a bright spot all year for Ohio, but these past few games, he has certainly come into his own on both sides of the ball.
“As we go along through the season, I'm definitely starting to build my confidence, especially with the guys, and the guys are starting to build their trust with me,” Kelly said. “That's a great feeling when veteran guys who have been doing this for a long time start to get comfortable with you.”
Kelly has been a weapon for Boals and Ohio on the defensive end, and he showed that part of his game on Wednesday as well. Shortly after his offensive run, he swatted away a jumper into the Ohio student section as the crowd roared.
“I feel like my athleticism is a big play in it, like I might see something last second or a little late, but my body will give me enough time to recover, get there in time and make a defensive play,” Kelly said.
Simmons got back to work as Ohio looked to close the door down the stretch. He scored nine consecutive points for the Bobcats, including a physical and-one down low. The big men kept rolling as Breath got an and-one of his own on a pass from Hadaway. The clock dipped under the seven-minute mark with Ohio leading 68-46.
Led by Simmons with 17 points and Kelly with 14 points, Ohio dominated every facet of this game and walked away with a crucial win. Despite Paveletzke having a down night, the Bobcats found another way through depth and physical play to get it done. The Bobcats had 20 offensive rebounds and 15 second-chance points as the effort displayed helped them take home the 79-57 win.
“He's a big part of what we do, very cerebral,” Boals said of Paveletzke’s impact on Wednesday. “Obviously, he gets multiple paint touches, and the way they guard him, he drew a lot of traffic. On the kickouts, they're a very good defensive, three-point field goal percentage team, and they're gonna fly out at you. So he's not getting the system he would normally get, but he's creating the opportunities for those other guys. I thought that was big.”
ol415422@ohio.edu
