CLEVELAND - The Bobcats held the championship trophy high above their heads to celebrate the finish to their improbable run.
Ohio completed its underdog journey through the Mid-American Conference Tournament with an 81-75 overtime victory over Akron at the Quicken Loans Arena.
Fans cheered and the players hugged each other and their families at midcourt as Ohio earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The ninth-seeded Bobcats won three games in as many days - against teams they went 1-5 against in the regular season - to capture its first tournament berth since 2005.
Each member of the team individually climbed the ladder and cut a piece of the net, an act synonymous with college basketball this time of year.
For us to be here right now
it's amazing said junior Armon Bassett. It's still unbelievable.
Bassett continued his dominance in Cleveland. The tournament MVP scored a game-high 25 points, including the final bucket of the tournament - a breakaway slam dunk - that secured the title.
The game had all the intensity and drama that a conference championship in March was supposed to have. The lead changed 24 times, and neither team led by more than six.
Akron guard Steve McNees hit two game-tying 3-pointers - one to send the game into overtime, and another in the extra period - but the latter would be Akron's final points as Ohio ended the game on a 6-0 run.
I have a lot of respect for (McNees) Groce said. He plays hard. He plays to win - not just him but their team in general.
Two free throws by Bassett after a stolen inbound pass gave Ohio a 68-65 lead. But McNees came to the center of the court and nailed the long-range shot to tie the game with 6.8 to go.
D.J. Cooper drove the length of the court, but his floater hit too far right on the backboard at the buzzer.
Ohio struck first in the extra period as DeVaughn Washington made a layup, and Akron answered right back. But a 3-pointer by Cooper and free throws by Washington helped the Bobcats go back up three, 75-72, before McNees hit another deep jumper.
But Ohio did not panic. Bassett hit a jumper to put the team ahead for good, and a missed 3-pointer ended Akron's hopes of winning.
(It's great) to have a chance to represent our conference and our university at the NCAA Tournament
Groce said. I'm really proud of our guys.
After two quiet games in Cleveland, Cooper exploded for the Bobcats. The freshman scored 23 points and added six assist and seven rebounds. He made two clutch free throws in the final minute of overtime.
He's a special player
Bassett said. He was banged up
he didn't make any excuses
and he was due for that good game.
The Bobcats run to the NCAA Tournament had its struggles. The team suspended four different players during the season, including the dismissal of freshman Jay Kinney.
But it all helped the players grow closer and mature as a team, Groce said.
Everything we've been through as a team to get to this point made us stronger
Groce said. Sometimes it's not fun to go through
but it's a great lesson for these guys.
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