Red-hot Bobcats defeat RedHawks in front of record crowd
By Zach Swartz, Staff Writer
January 13, 2008 | 8:49 p.m.
Driven by defense and a combined 37 points from forwards junior Jerome Tillman and senior Leon Williams, the Ohio University Bobcats (10-5, 1-1 MAC) reached the double-digit win mark with a 72-63 victory over rival Miami University RedHawks (6-8, 0-2 MAC) on Saturday afternoon in Athens.
The victory gave Ohio its first MAC win of the season after dropping a chance at Bowling Green State University last Saturday in the team’s conference opener. The win also extended the Bobcats’ home winning streak to six games. It was the team’s first game back at the Convocation Center since a Dec. 8 victory over the University of Delaware. The win added to victories over the University of Maryland, St. John’s University and Bucknell University on the Bobcats’ big-game résumé. The game also represented the ninth time this season the Bobcats' defense has allowed 65 points or fewer, a span over which the team is 7-2.
The Williams-Tillman duo combined for eight offensive rebounds and 15 total boards to accompany the duo’s 37 points while senior Bubba Walther chipped in seven assists and no turnovers despite going just 1-6 from beyond the three-point arc. Junior Allen Hester got his first start of the season, and despite only three points, his offense was offset by his spectacular defense. The ‘Cats had 10 steals on the afternoon to counter Miami’s five takeaways, and even 6-foot-10-inch center Kenneth van Kempen popped in a three.
“I just was playing my game. People just gave me the ball, and coach gave me the freedom to shoot the three,” said Tillman, who was 1-2 from the three-point line.
“The energy and quickness was where we needed it to be today," Ohio coach Tim O’Shea said. “The only thing that surprises me is that we won by nine. We got back in sync to where we played in Hawaii and against Bucknell, [but] we knew it was our day when KVK [van Kempen] threw in a three.”
The energy wasn’t only on the court. More than 9,000 OU students and fans packed the house to see the 185th meeting between the two Ohio schools, and they did not leave disappointed. The players responded with some intensity of their own, and after the big victory, gave their thanks to the O-Zone by jumping into the crowd and celebrating with the students.
“That was just us showing our love and support for our fans,” Williams said. “Any time you get a showing like that, you’ve got to show them your support.”
“It’s very tough [to play at the Convo],” said Miami forward senior Tim Pollitz, whose 13 points and seven rebounds led Miami but were not enough to bring his team a win. “We only won down [in Athens] one year, and a lot of it has to do with the fans. It doesn’t affect us, but I think it affects the Ohio team.”
This Ohio team is one that has overcome a disappointing season a year ago by responding with confidence and tenacity, climaxing with a 61-55 victory at Maryland on Dec. 12. To the Bobcats, their 97th all-time win against the RedHawks was no less important, especially since the RedHawks were predicted by many at the beginning of the season to win the MAC and return to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight year. Rivalry or no rivalry, taking a conference foe to a 0-2 start to its conference schedule no doubt gives the ‘Cats a leg up.
Miami coach Charlie Coles agreed.
“We ran into a very talented Ohio University team, and I was just thinking immediately after the game who was better, OU or Akron,” Coles said. “Based on what [Ohio] did, they’re just better than us right now. I’m not worried about the fact that they beat us but that they’ll always beat us.”
Ohio travels to Akron for another important MAC game this Thursday at 9 p.m. The game is set to be aired on ESPNU.
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