Ohio defeats C Michigan 64-80
Ohio Takes Down C Michigan 80-64 Behind Balanced Attack
The visiting Ohio Bobcats (AWAY) handed the home-standing Central Michigan Chippewas (HOME) a 16-point defeat on Tuesday night, cruising to an 80-64 victory at McGuirk Arena.
Behind a balanced attack and stifling defense, Ohio outlasted C Michigan in what was expected to be a close conference matchup. The Bobcats' ability to execute their offense effectively, particularly from the perimeter, proved too much for the Chippewas to handle.
The first half saw both teams trade baskets, with C Michigan holding a slim 29-31 lead at halftime. However, Ohio began to pull away in the second half, outscoring the Chippewas 49-35 to seal the win.
For Ohio, Jackson Paveletzke led the charge, scoring 23 points on 54.5% shooting from the field and dishing out nine assists. The senior guard's all-around performance set the tone for his team's balanced attack, which featured four players in double figures.
On the other side of the court, Tamario Adley paced C Michigan with 19 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome his team's struggles from beyond the arc (0-2 3PT). The Chippewas also struggled on the glass, allowing Ohio to outrebound them 40-38.
The statistics told a similar story. Ohio's advanced metrics showed an eFG% of 48.3%, while C Michigan's came in at 41.4%. The Bobcats' True Shooting percentage was a robust 53.4%, compared to the Chippewas' 47.0%.
With this win, Ohio moves one step closer to a strong finish in conference play, while C Michigan looks to bounce back from this tough road loss.
GAME LEADERS
* Points: Tamario Adley - 19 pts
* Rebounds: Keenan Garner - 7 reb
* Assists: Nathan Claerbaut - 4 ast
* Points: Jackson Paveletzke - 23 pts
* Rebounds: Aidan Hadaway - 11 reb
* Assists: Jackson Paveletzke - 9 ast