By Stretch Jenkinson

12/22/2023

FOLLOW OHIO MEN’S BASKETBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

BOX SCORE

https://ohiobobcats.com/boxscore.aspx?path=mbball&id=8537

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Ohio men’s basketball team (6-5) returned to action one last time before the holidays on Friday night (Dec. 22), falling to Austin Peay (7-7), 71-67, in a physical battle inside F&M Bank Arena.

Overall, Ohio shot 38 percent from the field, 31 percent from three and were 17-of-21 from the line, while Austin Peay shot 48 percent from the field, 59 percent from three and were 15-of-24 from the line. Ohio outrebounded Austin Peay, 37-34, while also dishing out 14 assists to their eight.

Individually, graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell (Omaha, Neb.) led Ohio with 14 points, followed by sophomore guard Elmore James (Cleveland, Ohio) with 13 points and eight rebounds. Junior forward AJ Clayton (Roseville, Ohio) added 12 points, while sophomore forward Aidan Hadaway (Lafayette, Ga.) added six points, a career-high 10 rebounds and five assists.

Ohio won the tip and got on the board first with a three from James. After Austin Peay went on a 7-0 run, a three from Clayton cut the Ohio deficit to 7-6 going into the first media timeout. After a three from Clayton tied the game at 11-11, the Bobcats and Governors traded baskets, with a three from redshirt sophomore guard/forward Ike Cornish (Baltimore, Md.) and a jumper from Mitchell cutting the Austin Peay lead to 19-18 with 9:26 remaining in the half.

Out of the timeout, free throws from Mitchell gave Ohio a one-point lead. However, Austin Peay went on a 5-0 run to take a 24-20 lead entering the under-eight media timeout. After Austin Peay went up six, baskets from Hadaway and senior guard Jaylin Hunter (Manchester, Conn.) cut the deficit to two. However, a three from the Governors stopped the run, before another basketball from Hadaway cut the Bobcat’s deficit to 29-26 with 3:58 remaining in the half.

Out of the timeout, free throws from James cut the deficit back to three, but a 5-0 run from Austin Peay forced the Bobcats to burn a timeout with 1:58 remaining in the half. A jumper and a layup from Mitchell stop the run, cutting the deficit to 36-32 going into halftime.

In the half, Ohio shot 38 percent from the field, 25 percent from three and were 4-of-6 from the line, while Austin Peay shot 52 percent from the field, 63 percent from three and were 3-of-4 from the line. Ohio outrebounded Austin Peay, 20-14, while the Bobcats dished out six assists to their five.

Individually, Mitchell led with eight points, while James added seven points and five rebounds, with Hadaway leading the way with six boards.

After Austin Peay opened the second half with a jumper, Ohio went on a 9-2 run with a three from Clayton to give the Bobcats a 41-40 lead. However, Austin Peay stopped the run with a free throw and a layup, taking a 43-41 lead into the first media timeout of the half. After free throws from James and a three from fifth year guard Miles Brown (Rochester, N.Y.) put Ohio up three, Austin Peay went on a 5-0 run to take a two-point lead. Moments later, free throws from senior center Gabe Wiznitzer (Walhalla, S.C.) tied the game back up at 48-48 with 11:43 remaining in the game.

After the two teams traded baskets, Austin Peay went on a 5-0 run to take a 56-51 lead with 9:32 remaining, however, Ohio battled back with a layup from Wiznitzer cutting the deficit to 57-56 going into the under-eight media timeout. After free throws from James cut the Ohio deficit back to one, Austin Peay hit back-to-back jumpers to take a five-point lead once again with 3:12 remaining.

A three from Hunter cut the Ohio deficit to two, however, Austin Peay matched it with a layup to go back up four. The Bobcats were able to cut the deficit down to two, however free throws from Austin Peay and pivotal missed opportunities from the Ohio offense could not overcome the deficit, with Ohio ultimately falling, 71-67.

For Austin Peay, DeMarcus Sharp scored 21 points, while Isaac Haney added 14.

Up next, the Bobcats head to Cleveland, Ohio Saturday, Dec. 30 for the Legends of Basketball Showcase where Ohio will take on Davidson. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and is the first game of a basketball tripleheader.

COURTESY OHIO ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS