ATHENS – Ohio had five players score nine or more points as the Bobcats won their 13th straight season opener, 77-67, over Southern on Saturday afternoon at The Convo.

Jordan Dartis led Ohio in scoring with 15 points, while Kenny Kaminski and Antonio Campbell each added 14 points. Jaaron Simmons had 11 points, and freshman Rodney Culver scored nine points.

The Bobcats (1-0) led 42-38 at halftime and did not trail in the second half. The Jaguars tied it at 44 before a 9-0 run on three 3-pointers – the first two by Kaminski and the last by Dartis – made it 53-44.

Ohio held its biggest lead, 64-51, on a Kaminski 3-pointer with 9:11 remaining, and Southern got only as close as seven, 69-62, with 2:58 to go.

Southern led much of the first half, however. The Jaguars had their biggest lead, 36-30, on a Shawn Prudhomme jumper with 3:54 left in the first half, but the Bobcats closed on a 12-2 run, beginning with a Dartis 3-pointer. Campbell hit a trey to tie it, and a Culver layup put Ohio on top.

Two Patrick Smith free throws tied it again, but a Culver follow dunk move the Bobcats back in front, and a Simmons layup made it 42-38 at halftime.

Southern outrebounded Ohio, 43-35, and both teams shot 43 percent, but the Jaguars could not overcome 21 turnovers.

Doug Taylor led Ohio with eight rebounds in just 13 minutes, while Campbell had seven boards. Simmons had five assists but six turnovers, and Dartis had four assists.

Chris Thomas led Southern off the bench with 15 points. Prudhomme scored 12 points, Trelun Banks scored 11 points, and Smith had 10 points and nine rebounds.

The Bobcats are back at The Convo hosting Sam Houston State at 7 p.m.