The Ohio men's basketball team had a lot to be down about after rolling back into Athens from Eastern Michigan at 3 a.m. following an 11-point defeat that kept the team winless on the road in the Mid-American Conference.
The one bright spot for the Bobcats? The next time Ohio (9-17 overall, 6-9 MAC) tips off it will be in The Convo as the Bobcats play host to Marshall (9-15, 6-9 MAC), jockeying for a first-round tournament seeding.
In order for us to get a home game or at least get a better seed I think we have to win the games at home
Ohio forward Jeff Halbert said. We definitely have to win this one to get that edge on them and then we've got Buffalo and Kent after that but we're not looking ahead yet.
Although foul trouble plagued Marshall forward Marvin Black in the first contest between the two teams, the Bobcats must deal with one of the hottest big men in the conference.
Black tied his career high of 30 points against Ball State Tuesday night while also tallying 12 rebounds, but Ohio forward Terren Harbut is looking forward to the match-up against the all-league performer.
A prolonged scoring drought of more than 10 minutes cost Ohio the first game at Marshall and allowed the Herd to run away with the game, Ohio forward Delvar Barrett said.
Both Ohio coach Tim O'Shea and the players asserted the importance of the game because the Bobcats have not been able to capitalize in close road situations.
You don't get that many opportunities
unless you're a dominant team
to win on the road
O'Shea said. So when you have opportunities that are right there
when you're talking one play
one possession and you don't get it
you don't get that every game on the road.
While many Ohio players appeared to sleepwalk their way to practice yesterday, a day O'Shea intended to go light in practice, the team can take solace in the fact that the game is Sunday rather than Saturday.
I'm tired
and I know everyone else probably is too
Halbert said. It's taking its toll
