ATHENS, Ohio — The Ohio men’s basketball team (0-1) returns to Athens on Saturday, Nov. 9 for its home opener when they take on UNC Asheville (0-1). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET inside the Convocation Center.The game can be seen on ESPN+ where Marty Bannister, Dave Cecutti and Sam Hyman will have the call.

The Bobcats’ matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Jason Toy begins his first season on the mic for the Bobcats, and will be joined by Ohio alum Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades. WXTQ (Power 105) in Athens returns as the 11-station network’s flagship.

STORYLINES
• This is the third ever meeting between Ohio and UNC Asheville.
• Ohio leads the all-time series, 2-0.
• Ohio and the Bulldogs last met on January 4, 2014 when the Bobcats won, 79-70 on the road.
• The first matchup between the two occurred on Feb. 18, 2012 in Athens during the ESPNU BracketBusters, with Ohio winning, 81-62.
• Head coach Jeff Boals is currently at 98 wins at Ohio, sitting two away from 100.
• Junior forward Aidan Hadaway led the Bobcats in their season-opening loss at James Madison on Monday, scoring 17 points.
• Ohio has registered an impressive 566-182 (.756) all-time record at the Convocation Center, which opened in 1968.
• Ohio finished 14-1 in the Convo last season.
• Ohio is 61-14 in the Convo under Boals in the last five seasons.
• The Bobcats were picked first in this year’s MAC Preseason Poll. Earning 11 out of 12 first-place votes the secure the league title, while also collecting eight votes to win this year’s tournament.
• Senior forward AJ Clayton earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC First Team and the MAC Blue Ribbon Forecast Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Graduate student guard Shereef Mitchell and redshirt sophomore guard AJ Brown both earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAC Second Team.
• Ohio returns eight from last year’s roster, including five who started at one point last season.
• Ohio welcomes two transfers, junior guard Jackson Paveletzke from Iowa State and graduate student forward Vic Searls from Ashland.
• Ohio also welcomes five freshman to the roster.

SCOUTING UNC ASHEVILLE

UNC Asheville enters the Convo with a 0-1 record after falling to No. 2 Alabama, 110-54 on Nov. 4 in Tuscaloosa.

Asheville is predicted to finish fourth according to the Big South Conference preseason poll and Josh Banks was named to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team. Asheville is returning two of its top-three scorers from last season in Josh Banks and Fletcher Abee. Banks and Abee both played in all 34 games for Asheville. Banks had 436 points, averaging 12.8 a game and Abee had 361, averaging 10.6. Meanwhile, Asheville also welcomes nine newcomers to this year’s squad, six transfers and three freshmen.

After the first game of the season, Asheville averages 54.0 points a game, while shooting .274 from the field, .231 from three and .571 from the line, while opponents average 110.0 points a game, while shooting .633 from the field, .444 from three and .703 from the line.

The Bulldogs are averaging 29.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 6.0 steals a game, while forcing 10.0 turnovers. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 55.0 rebounds, 21.0 assists and 5.0 steals a game, while forcing 9.0 turnovers.

Individually, Jordan Marsh is averaging 13.0 points a game, while shooting .353 from the field, .250 from three and 2.0 rebounds a game. Toyaz Solomon adds 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, while shooting .571 from the field. Kameron Taylor is averaging 10 points a game, while shooting .571 from the field and is 2-for-2 from three.

SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio opened the season with a 88-78 loss to James Madison on the road to open the season on Nov. 4.

After one game, Ohio is averaging 78.0 points a game, while shooting .508 from the field, .389 from three and .550 from the line. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 88.0 points a game, while shooing .544 from the field, .500 from three and .615 from the line.

Ohio is averaging 23.0 rebounds, 11.0 assists and 8.0 steals a game, while forcing 15.0 turnovers. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 41.0 rebounds, 15.0 assists and six steals, while forcing 9.0 turnovers a game.

Individually, Aidan Hadaway leads the Bobcats with 17.0 points a game, while .583 from the field and .500 from three. Jackson Paveletzke adds 16.0 points, while shooting .500 from the field and grabbing 5.0 rebounds a game. AJ Brown adds 14.0 points a game, while currently going 5-of-5 from the field 2-of-2 from three. Shereef Mitchell is also averaging 14.0 points a game, while shooting .667 from the field and 4.0 steals a game.

ALL TIME VS. UNC ASHEVILLE

This is the third ever meeting between Ohio and UNC Asheville.

Ohio leads the all-time series, 2-0.

Ohio and the Bulldogs last met on January 4, 2014 when the Bobcats won, 79-70 on the road.

The first matchup between the two occurred on Feb. 18, 2012 in Athens during the ESPNU BracketBusters, with Ohio winning, 81-62.

Ohio Athletics Encouraging Support to Asheville Disaster Relief Fund
Ohio Athletics is encouraging its fans, supporters and members of the Athens community to assist in donating to the Asheville Disaster Relief Fund after the devastating effects to the university and community caused by Hurricane Helene in late September.

Fans can donate here.

AJB RETURNS
Redshirt sophomore guard AJ Brown returned to the court and the starting lineup on Nov. 4, after not playing since Dec. 9, 2023 due to season-ending shoulder surgery.

In the game against JMU, Brown was almost perfect in limited minutes, scoring 14 points, while going 5-of-5 from the field and 2-of-2 from three in 22 minutes on the court.

PAV MAKES HIS BOBCATS DEBUT
Iowa State transfer junior Jackson Paveletzke made his Ohio debut on Nov. 4 against JMU, inserting himself into the starting lineup.

Paveletzke finished the game with 16 points, going 7-of-14 from the field and 2-of- from the line, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out one assist.

JUST LIKE LINUS AND HIS BLANKET
Graduate student Shereef Mitchell as back in action in the Green and White on Nov. 4 against JMU, picking up right where he left off last season.

In 30 minutes on the court, Mitchell scored 14 points, going 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from the line, while grabbing three rebounds, dishing out three assists and grabbing four steals.

HADAWAY MAKES HIS MARK
Junior Aidan Hadaway opened the season on Nov. 4 as Ohio’s leading scorer.

After entering the starting lineup last winter, Hadaway has continued to grow as a leader and a proven scorer.

On Nov. 4 against JMU, Hadaway scored a team-leading 17.0 points, going 7-of-12 from the field, 3-of-6 from three and grabbed two rebounds, had one steal and one block.

ONE LAST GO FOR AJC
Senior AJ Clayton began his last season in the Green and White on Nov. 4 against JMU.

Overall, Clayton had eight points, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out a team-leading four assists to go along with one steal and one block.

ANOTHER BOBCAT DEBUT
Graduate student Vic Searls made his Ohio and DI debut on Nov. 4 at JMU.

Searls scored two points and had two rebounds in 13 minutes.

UP NEXT
The Bobcats hit the road for their first of five-straight on the road starting on Tuesday, Nov 12 at Illinois State. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET in Normal, Ill. and can be seen on ESPN+ .