Ohio holds Cleveland State to 32.2 percent shooting in 71-53 win
Bobcats pull away in 2nd half
By Lonnie McMillan / Contributor Saturday, December 17, 2016
ATHENS – Ohio held Cleveland State to 32.2 percent shooting and took a 71-53 victory Saturday at The Convo.
Antonio Campbell had 14 points and six rebounds, Gavin Block scored 11 points, and Jaaron Simmons had 10 points and eight assists.
The Vikings were as close as 31-26 on a Rob Edwards 3-pointer early in the second half, but the Bobcats pulled away with a 10-0 run following.
After a Simmons basket, Block hit a 3-pointer to push Ohio’s lead to double digits, and after free throws by Doug Taylor, Jordan Dartis drained a trey to make it 41-26 with 15 minutes left.
Cleveland State (3-7) got no closer than 12 the rest of the way. A Campbell 3-pointer gave the Bobcats (7-2) their biggest lead, 53-32, midway through the second half.
Ohio took control with a 10-0 run after Cleveland State scored the game’s opening two points. The Vikings got as close as 17-15 halfway through the first half and then again got to within two at 23-21 with 5:45 left. The Vikings did not score again until the second half, and the Bobcats led 28-21 at the break.
Cleveland State shot just 26.7 percent in the first half and missed all nine of its 3-point tries. Ohio finished the game at 47.9 percent shooting, helping it to overcome 23 turnovers, including eight by Simmons.
The Vikings did not have any players reach double digits in scoring. Kasheem Thomas led them with nine points.
The Bobcats hit the road to face Western Kentucky at 9 p.m. Wednesday at E.A. Diddle Arena.
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