Bobcats move above .500 in MAC Play
Kaminski hits go-ahead shot against Ball State
By Lonnie McMillan / Contributor Tuesday, February 9, 2016
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ohio held off Ball State, 72-69, to move above .500 in Mid-American Conference play for the first time this season Tuesday night at Worthen Arena.
Kenny Kaminski hit a go-head 3-pointer with 1:02 remaining, and after two free throws by Jeremiah Davis made it 70-69, Treg Setty put Ohio up by three. Ryan Weber missed in the closing seconds for the Cardinals.
It was the Bobcat’s fourth win in their last five games.
"The growth had been incremental and seen on tape by me, and now, I think the world is seeing it,” Ohio coach Saul Phillips said.
Antonio Campbell dominated again with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Kaminski was 5 of 11 on 3-poiners and scored 20 points for the Bobcats (15-8, 6-5 MAC). Setty had nine points, and Jaaron Simmons finished with six points and seven assists.
Frank House had 13 points to lead a balanced effort by the Cardinals (15-9, 6-5 MAC). Bo Calhoun had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeremiah Davis finished with 11 points. Jeremie Tyler and Sean Sellers scored nine points each.
Ball State went up five on a Tyler 3-pointer with 12:53 remaining and then again a minute later on a Trey Moses layup. But Ohio quickly took the lead with Campbell converting a three-point play and then hitting a 3-pointer.
Francis Kiapway hit a pair of free throws before a 9-1 Ohio run started by Simmons. Kaminsky added a 3-pointer, and then Campbell and Mike Laster scored layups to make it 57-50 with less than eight minutes remaining.
The Cardinals cut their deficit to two twice before Kaminski’s three-point play with five minutes left made it a seven-point game again, but Ball State scored seven of the next nine points, tying the game at 67 on a layup by Davis at the 1:47 mark.
Ball State began the game strong, opening up a 14-6 lead in the first seven minutes, and it held an advantage the rest of the half until a Setty jumper with 47 seconds to go made it 32-31 Ohio at halftime.
The Cardinals shot 51.9 percent from the field, but were just 5 of 18 on 3-pointers and 8 of 14 on free throws. The Bobcats shot 48.2 percent, including 8 of 20 from long range, and were 10 of 14 at the foul line.
Ohio plays at 7 p.m. Friday at Buffalo on ESPNU.
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