By Cord Rankin
11/14/2024
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ATHENS, Ohio — The Ohio men’s basketball team (1-2) is back in action Friday, Nov. 15 when they head to Memphis, Tenn. to take on Memphis (2-0). Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET inside FedExForum. The game can be seen on ESPN+ where Greg Gaston and Trey Draper 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 second all-time meeting between the Bobcats and the Tigers.
• The two teams last met on Dec. 5, 2012 in Memphis, where the Bobcats dropped the road matchup, 84-58.
• Head coach Jeff Boals is currently at 99 wins at Ohio, sitting one away from 100.
• The Bobcats signed three new members during the early signing period, adding Jordan Fisher, JJ Kelly and Zay Mosley to the roster for the 2025-26 season.
• Redshirt sophomore guard AJ Brown led the Bobcats on the road on Tuesday (Nov. 12) at Illinois State, scoring 20 points and going 4-of-8 from three.
• Senior forward AJ Clayton was clutch on Nov. 9 against UNC Asheville, scoring 19 points and hitting a late second-half three-pointer that sealed the victory for the Bobcats.
• Junior forward Aidan Hadaway led the Bobcats in their season-opening loss at James Madison on Monday, scoring 17 points.
• Freshmen Ayden Evans and Elijah Elliott made their Bobcat debuts on Saturday in the Convo, with Evans scoring his first points on a dunk in the first half.
SCOUTING MEMPHIS
Memphis enters the matchup with the Bobcats with a 2-0 record after defeating Missouri and UNLV to open the season.
Memphis was picked to finish second in the ACC Coaches Preseason Poll, while four Tigers were also recognized with preseason honors as PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter landed on the first team all-conference, while Colby Rogers earned a spot on the second team. Jared Harris was selected as the Preseason Freshman of the Year.
At the moment, Memphis averages 81.5 points per game, while shooting .482 from the field, .378 from three and .765 from the line, while opponents are shooting 74.5 points a game, while shooting .428 from the field, .327 from three and .686 from the line.
Memphis averages 38.0 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 6.0 steals and 3.0 blocks a game, while forcing 12.0 turnovers a game. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 31.5 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 10.5 steals and 3.0 blocks a game, while forcing Memphis to turn the ball over 14.5 times a game.
Individually, PJ Haggerty leads Memphis with 27.0 points a game, while shooting .500 from the field, .826 from the line and averaging 4.5 rebounds a game. Colby Rogers averages 13.0 points a game while shooting .476 from the field, .364 from three and grabs 4.0 rebounds a game. Tyrese Hunter adds 11.5 points a game and is shooting g.500 from the field, while Dain Dainja grabs 9.5 rebounds a game.
SCOUTING OHIO
Ohio is currently 1-2 overall after falling to Illinois State on Nov. 12 on the road.
Ohio is averaging 78.3 points per game, while shooting .476 from the field, .373 from three and .716 from the line, while opponents are averaging 83.0 points per game, while shooting .521 from the field, .484 from three and .656 from the line.
Ohio is averaging 28.7 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 3.7 blocks and 6.0 steals per game, while forcing 14 turnovers a contest. Meanwhile, opponents are averaging 34.7 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 2.7 blocks and 5.7 steals per game, while forcing Ohio to turn the ball over 10.7 times a game.
Individually, AJ Clayton averages 13.0 points a game, while shooting .433 from the field, .353 from three and averaged 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists a game. Aidan Hadaway adds 13.0 points a game, while shooting .500 from the field, while Shereef Mitchell adds 13.0 points and 4.0 assists. AJ Brown averages 12.3 points a game, while shooting .522 from the field, .538 from three and .857 from the line.
ALL TIME VS. MEMPHIS
This is the second all-time meeting between the Bobcats and the Tigers.
The two teams last met on Dec. 5, 2012 in Memphis, where the Bobcats dropped the road matchup, 84-58.
OHIO SIGNS THREE DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
The Ohio men’s basketball team added three to its signing class for the 2025-26 season, head coach Jeff Boals announced on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Jordan Fisher, JJ Kelly and Zay Mosely will join Ohio in 2025.
Fisher, a 6’5 forward, is a native of Pickerington, Ohio, where he was a team captain at Reynoldsburg High School during his senior year, while helping lead his team to be crowned OCC Champions during 2023-24.
Kelly, a 6’6 guard, is a multi-faceted athlete from Chambersburg Area Senior High School in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. While there, he earned varsity letters in track, basketball and football.
Mosley, a 6’7 forward, is a four-year varsity letterman and 1,000-point scorer, while helping head his team his junior year to a 27-2 record and advance to the state final four. The Winter Haven, Florida native currently plays for Oak Ridge High School.
BOALS LOOKING FOR 100 AT OU
Head coach Jeff Boals enters his sixth season at Ohio just one win away from 100 victories as the head coach of the Bobcats.
Boals would become the seventh Ohio head coach to make that mark and is 10 wins away from passing Danny Nee for the sixth-most wins at Ohio.
UP NEXT
The Bobcats are back on the road Nov. 21-24 for the 2024 Myrtle Beach Invitational. The Bobcats open the MTE on Thursday, Nov. 21 when they face off with Middle Tennessee at Noon ET. The game can be seen on ESPN2.
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