Ohio wrapped up an overall successful season inside The Convo with a disappointing 83-79 loss to Eastern Michigan. The Bobcats never once gained a lead against the Eagles and trailed for over 38 minutes.
The prime contributor to such a lopsided game was a horrid start from Ohio on both ends of the floor. Ohio had only converted on one field goal five minutes into the first half while digging itself into a hole it would spend the remainder of the half trying to get out of.
After an 0-9 start individually, graduate guard Shereef Mitchell played a critical role in the Bobcats clawing their way back into the game. Despite a slow start, Mitchell ended the half with 11 points while being a disruptor on the defensive end.
Ohio’s end to the first half was its best stretch the whole game. To close out the half, Ohio amassed a 21-6 run, effectively eliminating what was once a 15-point Eastern Michigan lead.
“I thought the start of each half was probably the difference in the game,” Ohio coach Jeff Boals said. “We got down 9-2 in the first four minutes and then battled back to tie it. Then in the second half, the first four minutes, it was 13-8. That 22-10 difference obviously adds up.”
The Bobcats miraculously entered halftime with a 38-38 tie thanks to a buzzer-beater field goal by guard Jackson Paveletzke. With that bucket, Paveletzke surpassed 1,000 points in his career.
Ohio was lucky to enter the half without a deficit, but, similar to the first half, the team came out slow to start the second.
“We just weren't tough enough,” Mitchell said. “ We didn't have the urgency to execute our game plan.”
With 10 minutes to play in the game, Ohio once again found itself playing catchup to an Eastern Michigan squad that seemingly couldn’t miss.
The Eagles came into the night with two of the most prolific scorers in the conference, Jalen Terry and Da’Sean Nelson, both of whom had good games but didn’t headline an impressive night for their squad.
Terry, a two-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Week, scored 15 points on just 4-of-12 shooting. Nelson similarly scored 14 points on just 5-of-13 shooting.
“If you had told me that Deshaun Nelson was 5-for-13 and Terry was 4-for-12. I’d feel pretty good about that,” Boals said.
Ohio was hurt the most by guard Christian Henry, who tallied 23 points while shooting over 65 percent from the field. Fellow guard Arne Osojnik had an equally efficient night, shooting five-of-eight from the field and two-of-three from 3-point range.
“Give those guys credit for stepping up, that's what good players do,” Boals said. “Those guys are Division I athletes. (Osojnik) is a great shooter. (Yusuf Jihad) is a great role player, and those guys play their roles really well.”
Ohio played the whole game without starting guard AJ Brown, who was injured against Miami over the weekend. Brown, who contributes more than 13 points per game for the Bobcats, was dearly missed against Eastern Michigan. Injuries have been a consistent issue for Ohio throughout the season.
Ohio has already clinched its spot in the upcoming MAC Tournament but will still be playing for a better seed in its final game of the season this Friday at Toledo.
