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Chippewas start fast, coast past Bobcats

Central Michigan scores game's first 15 points


ATHENS - Ohio could not overcome a slow start and fell 68-57 against Central Michigan on Tuesday night at The Convo.

The Bobcats (9-13, 4-7 Mid-American Conference) shot just 25 percent in the first half, fell behind 15-0 and trailed 39-20 at halftime. Ohio warmed up in the second half but never got its deficit into single-digits.

Stevie Taylor paced Ohio with 15 points, and Maurice Ndour and Javarez Willis each had nine points.

John Simons led the Chippewas (17-5, 7-4 MAC) with 18 points and 13 rebounds, with Rayshawn Simmons adding 14 points.

The disaster first half saw the Bobcats make just 7-of-25 shots from the field while also committing 10 turnovers and giving up nine offensive rebounds.

"The energy level had been good all week, but it certainly did not translate to tonight's game, and, without question, some of that lies on the team, but some of that lies with me," Ohio coach Saul Phillips said.

Simons lit up Ohio early, beginning with a 3-pointer on Central Michigan's opening possession He added a jumper, and after two Luke Meyer free throws and a steal and layup by Braylon Rayson, Simons drained two more treys.

Finally, after six misses and five turnovers, Willis hit a jumper to get Ohio on the board with 14:18 remaining in the first half.

Although Central Michigan did not keep up its hot start, it eventually pushed its lead to 39-20 at halftime. Its biggest lead was 56-31 midway through the second half on an Austin Stewart layup.

The Bobcats followed with an 11-0 run, cutting their deficit to 56-42 with 6:32 remaining, but Simons struck again with a 3-pointer.

After being named the MAC East Player of the Week, Willis was just 3-of-14 on Tuesday, including 0-for-6 on 3-pointers. He had five assists and four turnovers.

Ohio actually finished with a higher shooting percentage than Central Michigan, 40-39, but the Chippewas got far more opportunities with eight more offensive rebounds and five fewer turnovers than the Bobcats.

"We've got to look inside," Ohio's Treg Setty said. "We've got to be introspective and try to figure out what's wrong so we can go to Miami and get a win."

The Bobcats play the RedHawks at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Oxford.








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