Guard Tommy Freeman played the villain Sunday when he returned home to Muncie.
The Muncie, Ind., native went 5-5 from beyond the arc during Ohio's 85-77 overtime win at Ball State in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Freeman did not score any points in a 51-44 loss last season to the Cardinals.
Freeman erased last year's performance and hit a 3 with 1:15 remaining in the extra period, giving the Bobcats a 79-75 advantage.
Ball State didn't recover in the final minute.
Oftentimes
it's just one play that changes the momentum of the game or sways it in one direction said coach John Groce. I thought that was a really big possession out of that timeout when (Freeman) made that 3.
The Bobcats had multiple opportunities to close out the game, just like when the Cardinals defeated Ohio 67-66 earlier this season.
Many of those opportunities centered on D.J. Cooper.
The freshman guard's teardrop tied the game with 1:44 remaining, completing a five-point comeback.
Both teams traded baskets on their next possessions to tie the game at 69. Cardinals center Jarrod Jones missed a layup and guard Randy Davis fouled Cooper, who went to the line and missed both free tosses.
Following a desperate 3-point attempt by Ball State, the game went into overtime.
The Bobcats scored on all seven overtime possessions to pull out the win.
We had some determined players out there Bassett said. D.J. and me
we missed three free throws down the stretch
and we both bounced back in overtime to hit some clutch free throws. We have a bunch of resilient people.
Way before those missed free throws, a slow start the second half put Ohio in a hole as Ball State went on an 8-2 run in the first four minutes.
The Bobcats made two mini-comebacks, but the Cardinals kept Ohio at bay. Both times, Ohio came within three points before Ball State extended the lead.
Terrence Watson posterized Reggie Keely and Brawley Chisholm drained a 3-pointer at the 10:29 mark as Ball State pushed the lead out to a game-high 10 points.
The Bobcats went on fire from beyond the arc, converting five straight 3-pointers. Freeman hit three and Bassett dialed in two from distance, allowing the Bobcats to climb back, 58-56.
DeVaughn Washington dunked an inbound lob underneath the basket and was fouled. He put the Bobcats within one, 60-59.
Foul trouble for Cooper and Bassett forced Groce to play freshman David McKinley early in the game.
Without Bassett and Cooper, Davis caused problems for the Bobcats. The sophomore guard hit a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired with 1:30 remaining, and then he dished to Myron Green for another 3-pointer.
Still, Ohio kept it a one-possession game, down 36-33 going into the break.
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Matt Wagner
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Ohio guard DJ Cooper blocks Bowling Green forward Scott Thomas in the first half of the game in The Convo Thursday, March 4. (Kyle Grantham | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)
